New York City's Department of Environmental Protection has drafted new rules that would require pizzerias using coal-and-wood-fired ovens to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 75%. The move could impact iconic pizza joints like Lombardi's in Little Italy, Arturo’s in Soho, and John’s of Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. Owners of restaurants with such ovens installed prior to May 2016 may need to purchase emission-control devices, which can be expensive to install and maintain. Some restaurateurs are negotiating with DEP officials on whether to grandfather in or exempt the coal-and-wood-oven-fired pizza joints from the mandate. Under 100 restaurants total would be impacted by the rule.
