(1) The department shall convene and chair a work group to study the impacts of wood smoke from solid fuel burning devices on communities in Washington and make recommendations to the legislature on practical and cost-effective opportunities to reduce exposure to wood smoke from solid fuel burning devices and meet the new national air quality standards for fine particulates in Washington state. The work group shall be established by the director and include representatives from the department, the state department of health, regional air quality agencies, local health departments, related industry representatives, and nongovernmental health organizations. Recommendations may include statutory or regulatory changes, incentives, and other strategies that will reduce ambient PM 2.5 pollution. Recommendations should be presented to the governor and to the legislature by December 1, 2007.

     (2) In carrying out its assignment the work group shall include, but not be limited to, the following considerations:

     (a) Communities in the state that have elevated levels of PM 2.5 pollution;

     (b) The contribution of pollution from solid fuel burning devices to potential violations of federal air quality standards;

     (c) Strategies used in other states, regions, or cities to reduce wood smoke pollution levels and effectiveness of these strategies;

     (d) State laws, rules, fees, utility regulations, and other policies that may affect the ability to reduce emissions from solid fuel burning devices or encourage the use of cleaner burning devices; and

     (e) Potential financial incentives and sources of funding to change out older solid fuel burning devices to cleaner burning devices.

[2007 c 339 § 3.]