高级课程» 第5 单元» 第7 课时» 活动中心

 1 Fireplace Users Could Get Fined — Basic Story

Many people use wood stoves and fireplaces to heat their homes. Scientists have become worried about the
smoke that they give off. Harmful chemicals are in the smoke. The smoke is causing air pollution. The pieces of
pollution, called soot, are floating in the air. They are too tiny to see. Scientists must use a microscope to see
them.
Small amounts of soot are safe, but large amounts can be dangerous. The government wants to limit this kind of
pollution. It may stop people from using their fireplaces.
The air is tested every day. When soot levels are high, more than 65 micrograms of soot per cubic meter,
factories must stop making smoke. The government thinks that limit should be much lower.
Factories produce the most smoke and soot. But the government thinks that all types of burning should be
limited. The soot levels from factories and homes could be limited. Home owners may have to install new
wood stoves that comply with the new law. Or, they may not be able to burn on days when the air quality is
bad.
Residents of some towns are fined if they violate the burning ban. Scientists hope these new regulations will
make the air cleaner and less harmful to breathe.

 2 Fireplace Users Could Get Fined — Full Story

Fireplace and wood stove owners in the Sacramento area could soon be subject to stricter regulations on
burning under new pollution standards proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Under the changes proposed Tuesday, states would be held to more stringent daily limits on what concentration
of microscopic particles of air pollution, or soot, is considered safe.
Currently, industries must curtail burning when the concentration of soot particles averages is greater than 65
micrograms per cubic meter. The EPA's expert advisory panel recommended drastically cutting the daily limit
to only 30 micrograms per cubic meter.
Even in areas with little industry, such as Sacramento County, area air quality districts could be forced to enact
tougher regulations on all types of burning to meet the new federal guidelines.
To help curtail air pollution, homeowners could be forced to either install new low-polluting fireplace inserts or
forego burning wood on days when pollution concerns are at their highest, Jamie Arno with the Sacramento
Metropolitan Air Quality Management District said.
Residents of several San Joaquin Valley communities already face similar regulations with $50 fines enforced
against fireplace or wood stove owners who violate daily burning bans.
The proposed standards now face a 90-day public comment period, leading to a final rule from the EPA by next
September.

 3 ban

a law or rule that prohibits

 4 comply

to do what is asked

 5 cubic

having form in three dimensions

 6 install

to put into position and make ready for use

 7 microscope

a device that makes tiny things look big

 8 pollution

poisons, wastes, or other materials

 9 produce

to make or manufacture

 10 quality

a feature that makes a person or thing what it is

 11 soot

a fine, black powder made during burning

 12 violate

to break or fail to obey

课程中心