REPORT:

Stationary Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Stationary Source Committee met on Friday, September 20, 1996. Following is a summary of that meeting. The next Stationary Source Committee meeting will be held on October 18, 1996, at 10:30 a.m., in Conference Room CC8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file this report.

Mee Hae Lee
Chair, Stationary Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting was called to order at 10:50 a.m. by Committee Member Candace Haggard. Also present was Committee Member Ron Loveridge. Committee Chair Mee Hae Lee arrived at 11:00 a.m. and chaired the remainder of the meeting. Board Chairman Jon Mikels was in attendance.

Summary

The Committee reviewed the items on its agenda (attached, without its attachments). Comments were noted on the following items:

1. Streamlining Small Business Permits:

Jill Whynot gave a status report on Facility Registrations. She explained that under the Board’s Regulatory Reform Initiatives, the goal was to streamline 20,000 permits for small businesses; reduce permitting and increase registration; consolidate and simplify; and accelerate pre-approval of equipment. Jill further explained the Three Tiers: Tier 1 - No Permit Required; Tier 2 - Simple Registration; and Tier 3 - Small Business Facility Registration.

Larry Bowen discussed Exemptions (Proposed Rule 219) with the Committee. The rule intent is to exempt certain equipment categories from written permit. He also told the Committee of Proposed Amended Rule 219 objectives and the nine equipment categories which would be removed from the permit system. Two key changes include: portable engines (subject to state registration) and CFC recycling equipment (subject to federal regulation). Approximately 10,000 pieces of equipment will no longer need permits from the District, with a savings to industry of approximately $1.5 million. The proposed rule is scheduled for Public Hearing at the December Board meeting.

2. Rule 1113 - Architectural Coatings

Jack Broadbent briefed the Committee on the long history of the rule, including why the rule was overturned in the Court the last time it went before the Board. Jack reported that there has been significant technological improvement in architectural coatings, and lower VOC advances in wood lacquers and acetone-formulated traffic paints. He also said the 1997 AQMP requires 75 percent reduction in VOC of all architectural coatings by 2010. Current efforts being employed are: an ad hoc working group of coating manufacturers and contractors; a study by Eastern Michigan University that addresses thinning and performance issues with specialty coatings; numerous site visits of zero-, low-, and high-VOC coating applications; and field inspections. The Committee asked staff to continue to work with coating manufacturers on their concerns. The rule will go before the Board in October. The dates for implementation for proposed VOC limits are: flats (interior and exterior), 100 g/l, July 1, 2001 and 50 g/l, July 1, 2008; traffic, 150 g/l, January 1, 1998; lacquers, 550 g/l, January 1, 1998 and 275 g/l, January 1, 2005; and multi-color, 250 g/l, January 1, 1998.

3. Enhancements to Permit Processing System

A briefing was given by Alene Taber. Starting October 1, staff will issue some permits over the counter. Information for assisting applicants to obtain permits will be available at one location. Checklists have been improved to increase the efficiency of application prescreening. A table has been developed to easily link forms, rules, fees, and BCAT/CCAT information. Additional assistance includes: a new fee calculation worksheet; published application criteria; and amended criteria to distinguish and track 7/30/180-day permit applications. She reported that Internet is being used now and will be used more in the future. The program enhancements will begin October 1. Committee Chair Mee Lee commented that she would like the full Board briefed on this program at the October meeting.

4. Status Report on Compliance

Carol Coy reported on trends in Stationary Source Compliance activities which included inspection stops, Notices of Violations (NOVs), and Notices to Comply (NCs) for both Major Sources and Small Sources. The report was prepared to respond to an Advisory Council comment erroneously citing an absence of enforcement over the past 18 months. Her statistics compared the years 1991-1995. She pointed out the strengthened compliance program for Major Sources. Inspections have decreased for small sources, largely because the AQMD has focused its compliance efforts for small business on education to minimize violations - and thus emissions - rather than issuing an NOV after the emission has occurred. . The Committee asked for this item to also be reported to the Board at the October meeting.

5. Status Report on Petroleum Coke Storage

Bill Thompson reported on the petroleum coke storage meeting held August 17 in San Pedro. Approximately 375 people attended the meeting to discuss uncovered coke piles at Los Angeles Export Terminal. The permitting process and how the facility was permitted was discussed. Compliance activities were discussed, and the group was advised that an inspector was in the area almost every day and that air quality in the area was not as disastrous as their perceptions indicated. At this meeting, Pat Leyden suggested the formation of an advisory committee made up of the citizens in attendance that day. This group first met on September 19. Mr. Thompson reported that it was a very good meeting and that the committee members are gaining knowledge and, in particular, are learning that the particulates are not solely from the coke piles. Two items from this meeting were (1) a decision to delay testing until May and (2) a recommendation to provide outreach information to the community.

Attachment

September 20, 1996 Committee Agenda (without its attachments)