From The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Sunday, June 13, 2010:
A group trying to overturn new wood stove regulations has until June 24 to gather 2,379 qualified signatures to put a question before the Fairbanks North Star Borough voters on Oct. 5.“We are well under way,” said Rick VanderKolk, treasurer of the North Star Landowners, the group formed to promote the ballot measure. “There’s been a light signature gathering effort by various sponsors of the petition since April.”
The Borough Assembly on Thursday adopted new wood and coal stove restrictions along with chimney smoke emissions standards to combat a harmful pollutant known as PM 2.5.
VanderKolk said he’s already noticed heightened interest in the initiative since the assembly adopted the ordinance.
Supporters of the new regulations hope they help improve air quality, but opponents think they’re too restrictive.
Continue Reading: Opposition prepares ballot measure against new woodstove rules