Strict guidelines on new outdoor wood-fired boilers adopted by the state Environmental Board Wednesday require new heaters sold in the state to burn at least 90 percent cleaner than older models

The regulation will go into effect 30 days after it is filed with the Secretary of State.

“This is about ensuring that new outdoor wood boilers burn cleaner -- not only for people who buy OWBs and their families, but also for their neighbors,” said Acting Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Peter Iwanowicz.

“It’s not unlike the switch to cleaner cars,” the commissioner said. “It’s also to ensure that OWB stacks are high enough to disperse emissions rather than having them blow directly into houses and other dwellings.”

“Also, we have listened to the agricultural community and made appropriate exceptions for farming operations,” Iwanowicz said.

The regulation approved Wednesday includes stack height requirements for new OWBs that will reduce the impact of emission plumes on neighboring property owners. In addition, new OWBs will be required to be set back a minimum of 100 feet from neighboring properties -- except for OWBs used in agricultural operations, which must be at least 100 feet from neighboring homes. Both new and existing OWBs will be subject to restrictions that ensure that only appropriate fuels are used.

Provisions in the proposal to phase out the use of older OWBs and place restrictions on their use in the meantime have been removed. DEC says they will be addressed through a new public process to address concerns of residents.