Reply #7: The editorial writer left out one pertinent fact: it's a ban for Spare the Air days only.

[Gormy Cuss]

That and it's already the law in other counties around the state for the same reason. The estimate is burning in fireplaces would be banned for only 20 nights per year. The rest of the time people are welcome to light a fire and add all the particulates they want. Earlier article with details:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/06/BA9TT6R60.DTL&hw=Bay+Area+Air+Quality+Management+District+fireplace&sn=002&sc=507

The editorial writer couldn't bother to look up the studies of particulate matter level to see how the 33% calculation was derived. Facts could undermine his argument, after all. I'm betting he thinks global warming is a myth too.