Legislative declaration

(1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that air pollution in the state of Colorado is a threat to the health and welfare of its citizens and that a major contributor to said pollution is wood smoke, which accounts for twenty-five to forty percent of the brown cloud, fifteen to thirty percent of small particulate matter, hereafter referred to as PM 10, up to ten percent of carbon monoxide, and a portion of toxic, cancer-causing chemicals. (2) The general assembly further finds, determines, and declares that PM 10 particulates created by wood burning threaten the public health in that said particulates are so small that they lodge in persons' lungs and inhibit the body's pulmonary function. Such pollutant is particularly damaging to persons with lung disease, cardiovascular disease, and chronic upper respiratory conditions, to the very young and elderly, and to pregnant women. The brown cloud is a threat to the economic health of the state because it discourages businesses and tourists from coming to Colorado. Wood burning is one of the most easily controllable sources of air pollution. New technologies can dramatically reduce pollution caused by wood burning. In addition, the reduction of wood burning can reduce the amount of fine particulate emissions into the air. (3) Therefore, the general assembly finds that it is necessary to implement a plan to further reduce wood smoke emissions in the AIR program area and, therefore, enacts sections 25-7-411 to 25-7-413 to encourage and promote the reduction of wood-burning devices and the use of less polluting devices by taking advantage of new technology.