Illegal to burn Bituminous Coal?

I just got into a discussion with a friend about how it is illegal to burn Bituminous Coal anywhere in Allegheny County, PA

He said it was illegal, I said I'd have to find out

Is there any truth to this?

Thanks

I have never heard of such a thing, especially since that region produces so much bituminous.

Although these guys are active in the area... so who knows?

http://www.gasp-pgh.org/

You could probably get in contact with one of the coal producers on this site and find out.

http://patheoldminer.rootsweb.com/allindex1.html

I really wouldn't know but I'd imagine that would more likely be a local ordinance than a county one but I guess anything is possible. I could understand the need for such a ordinance in a densely populated area but that's about it.

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate ... rators.htm Here are all of the Bituminous coal company in PA

Edit: fixed link

Might be worth it to try one them if they are located in or near Allegheny County. They would certainly know.

I know there are some locations that won't allow you to burn soft coal in an outdoor boiler, the soot is tremendous as guys shovel in 200 # at a time and it smokes like a olde fashioned locomotive and stinks. I never heard of banning it inside your house though.

I must be warped, I love the smell of coal burning. I think it comes from my love of steam locomotives I new as a child.

Stink! What Stink?

BK

Anthracite isn't bad at all, reminds me of firecrackers or kitchen matches. But some of the bituminous I've burnt was pretty 'rotten-egg-y'. And the soot and volumous smoke!! More like movie 'special effects'.

Gotta love an athracite coal fire...

Greg L

JJLL wrote:I just got into a discussion with a friend about how it is illegal to burn Bituminous Coal anywhere in Allegheny County, PA

He said it was illegal, I said I'd have to find out

Is there any truth to this?

Thanks

I know in the state of Connecticut you cannot purchase any coal except anthracite. All others are banned by DEP. I believe you could legally bring in Bituminous to burn in your home and they can't really do anything about it. Try to sell it or burn it in a commercial business and you will have big trouble. It is probably a similar deal to what we have here.

LsFarm wrote:Anthracite isn't bad at all, reminds me of firecrackers or kitchen matches. But some of the bituminous I've burnt was pretty 'rotten-egg-y'. And the soot and volumous smoke!! More like movie 'special effects'.

Gotta love an athracite coal fire...

Greg L

I'll second that! I grew up with wood and Indiana bituminous. In a hand fed stove, the bituminous produced clouds of yellowish smoke from the sulfur content, as well as this nasty, oily, stringy soot. Granted, it wasn't being burned in a 'proper' bituminous stove. We burned it in either a Woodchuck add-on hot air furnace or a German Weso tile stove, which was beautiful, but really designed to burn anthracite.

I'd love to try to burn it in a proper stoker, but it's not easy stuff as Greg can attest to after trying it in his Iron Fireman stoker.

Chris

I believe what I was looking for is here - http://cip.cornell.edu/Dienst/UI/1.0/Su ... 1134144442

"The Enforcement of the 1941 Smoke-Control Ordinance and Italian-Americans in Pittsburgh"

The 1941 ordinance is a "smoke control" ordinance. So I don't think its specifically against bituminous coal, its against large plumes of any smoke.

I think ????

I heard that rumor from a few people myself.I live in Allegheny co.and burn high and low volitile bit. coal.I live in a residential community.I have neighbors on every side off my house,one 25 foot away.Ive been burning bit. coal for 4 years with no complaints.I ask one of my local coal suppliers if there was any restrictions on burning bit. coal in allegheny co. being the supplier was in allegheny co. I thought he would know.He told me he heard you can only burn bit.to supplement another heat source. Its all hear say.and rumors. I did a search on this issue and found no results. so what do I do.I shovel in another scoop. Joe

coaledsweat wrote, I know in the state of Connecticut you cannot purchase any coal except anthracite. All others are banned by DEP. I believe you could legally bring in Bituminous to burn in your home and they can't really do anything about it. Try to sell it or burn it in a commercial business and you will have big trouble. It is probably a similar deal to what we have here.[/quote] I have to slightly disagree with you. I purchaced 4 bags of bituminous coal at the Essex steam train ride many years ago. However I had to sign a paper to state that I would not burn the coal in Connecticut. Since I live in Pa. it wasn't a problem. They buy their coal from Va. for the train. a chinese built (2-8-2 correct me if i'm wrong), it was many years ago.

The Essex steam train is pretty nice ride. I used to live in Moodus just over the river so we went on the excursion a few times including the riverboat ride.

e.alleg wrote:The Essex steam train is pretty nice ride. I used to live in Moodus just over the river so we went on the excursion a few times including the riverboat ride.

I didn't get to ride the river boat, but driving a truck for a living, and seeing the signs on rt. 95 for the train ride, it was just too tempting to refuse. If you and your family like steam train rides, there are several near us. just pm me I will be happy to get you info!!