A Hudson Valley newspaper reports that the DEC has been forced to delay its proposed regulations on outdoor wood boilers because of comments received from the public.

State Sen. Darrel Aubertine says he is pleased at news that public outcry has forced the Department of Environmental Conservation to delay action on its proposed regulations for outdoor wood boilers until at least next spring.

According to an article in the Kingston Daily Freeman, testimony from more than 2,000 citizens will require further review by the DEC. Aubertine, through his website, collected testimony from more than 130 residents from the district and across the state opposed to the regulations. This testimony was submitted with his own on July 2.

“It’s clear that the public is not happy with the idea of having the DEC interfere and effectively ban outdoor wood boilers in New York State,” Aubertine said. “This delay provides the opportunity for the DEC to step back, go back to the drawing board and protect the rights of rural New Yorkers.

“The outpouring of opposition to my office was substantial and the DEC knows that the Senate has already acted to unanimously pass legislation I sponsored to protect the rights of rural residents to own outdoor wood boilers, leaving regulation to local zoning boards not the DEC.”

On June 30, the Senate voted 61-0 to pass Aubertine’s legislation to allow for the continued use of outdoor boilers currently in operation, require any new boilers sold in New York to be EPA approved, and allow for local decision-making with respect to zoning issues such as setbacks and chimney heights.