Missouri’s Senior Senator is putting pressure on the EPA as hey try to change the rules off wood by product disposal.

The Environmental Protection Agency is considering a rule change that would classify wood by products as solid waste. Under the rule change when saw mills and timber operations dispose of their by product, the emissions from disposal would be subject to new standards and ultimately new emission cuts. Bond says the EPA move would put wood by product in the same class as hazardous chemicals when it comes to thee rules of disposal. The senator says the EPA rule change will cripple the wood industry.

“Many of the foresters I know use biomass and air production and one forester said that he spends $200,000 a year on biomass to fuel his operation. If he had to get alternative fuels the cost would be $2 million and his operation would no longer be profitable,” says Bond.

The EPA has extended their comment period on the rule change until August 23^rd.