In an effort to meet federal air quality standards, local Department of Environmental Quality officials have been working with city councils and Jackson County commissioners in placing restrictions on use of non-certified woodstoves, a major culprit of poor air quality in the Rogue Valley.

John Becker, air quality manager for the Medford DEQ office, said all but one of seven cities included in the air quality management area had passed or planned to pass ordinances requiring residents to abide by daily woodstove advisories.

The ordinances also mandate replacement of non-certified woodstoves when properties are sold.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 70 percent to 80 percent of woodstoves nationwide are non-certified. A non-certified wood stove emits up to three times more pollution than a certified woodstove operated properly. To put it in perspective, 40 non-certified older woodstoves put as much pollution into the air as a medium-size sawmill.

Cities mandating woodstove advisories and implementing ordinances requiring non-certified woodstove be replaced include Central Point, Medford, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Talent and Ashland.

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Jackson County commissioners are also expected to review an ordinance in coming weeks.

Eagle Point City Administrator Dave Hussell said his city will discuss an ordinance in January. He said the city might pass an ordinance more stringent than others, requiring all non-certified woodstoves to be replaced almost immediately.

"We just had some concerns about who was going to be the enforcement agent," Hussell said. "We're changing a few things around and we'll be working on an ordinance after the first of the year."

Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at buffypollock@juno.com.