REPORT:

Stationary Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Stationary Source Committee met Friday, August 22, 1997. Following is a summary of that meeting. The next Stationary Source Committee meeting is September 19, 1997, 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 began at 11:20 a.m. Present were Committee Chair Mee Hae Lee and Committee Members Ron Loveridge and Leonard Paulitz. Board Vice Chairman Norma Glover was also in attendance. Absent were Committee Members Richard Alarcón, Jon Mikels, and James Silva.

Summary

The Committee reviewed the items on their agenda (attached). Comments were noted on the following items:

1. Status Report on Permitting

Stationary Source Compliance Deputy Executive Officer Pat Leyden presented a major report on AQMD permitting. The presentation included: Permitting Overview, Processing Times, County Data, Processing Enhancements, and Resource Analysis (see attachment). In the presentation, Ms. Leyden compared permitting workload last year to the first half of this year. Title V permitting has significantly increased the workload this year. This increase will continue for the next three years, and will be increased again by permitting requirements of Title III (Air Toxics).

Major and Minor Permit workload was presented as well as an analysis of types of permits processed during the first half of this year. Last year, 10,587 permits were issued. During the first half of this year, 5,042 permits have been issued, along with 342 Draft Title V Facility permits, representing an additional 3,020 equipment permits.

The median processing time for permits to construct this year has been: 100 days for Major Permits, and 21 days for Minor Permits. Ms. Leyden also presented a summary of major factors influencing processing time in 1997, the reasons permits exceed average processing time, and additional AQMD action required for Title V permit applications. Ms. Leyden’s presentation also covered minor and major applications received by county in 1994-1997, and median processing times in January through June 1997. The Board members discussed the list of programs that the AQMD has initiated over the last few years to streamline the permitting workload. Board Member Norma Glover was interested in the effort to contract out some of the work. Chair Mee Lee and Board Member Ron Loveridge were interested in our progress to date in using computer technology. In general, the Committee was concerned about the gap between staffing and workload. Chair Mee Lee and Board Member Leonard Paulitz discussed the need for increasing staffing for permitting. Permit Enhancement Pilot Project (PEPP), which includes over-the-counter permitting and simplified permit application forms, and the AQMD Internet access were briefly discussed.

Lee Wallace, Pacific Enterprises, told the Committee about software his company sells which helps small businesses prepare equipment permit applications. He said they have had positive responses from their customers. Ms. Leyden said Facility Permit Processing Software (FPPS), designed to expedite facility permits should begin to benefit permitting in the fall of 1998.

2. Rule 1138 - Restaurant Operations (Update)

Stationary Source Compliance Senior Manager Jill Whynot gave a status report on this rule. The last Committee update was in February 1997. Ms. Whynot explained the four simultaneous efforts: rule development, MOU, technology advancement project for under-fired charbroilers, and BACT update. Ms. Whynot told the Committee that of the approximately 30,000 restaurants, about 800 operate chain-driven charbroilers and that only chain-driven charbroilers currently have a cost-effective control option.

Ms. Whynot said that catalyst is being added to the BACT Guidelines and part of the retrofit requirements. The rule will reduce PM2.5 by 0.5 tons per day and VOCs by 0.2 tons per day (out of approximately 10 tons per day of PM2.5 from all charbroilers). Adding controls will eliminate visible emissions violations, which occur often from restaurants, and will reduce neighborhood complaints.

She further explained that this proposed rule would require chain-driven charbroilers be installed with a catalytic oxidizer or equivalent equipment or method (85% reduction in PM2.5 and VOC); utilization of our existing equipment certification process; minimal recordkeeping; daily records only for restaurants seeking exemption; and an 18 to 24-month implementation period.

The adoption schedule, explained Ms. Whynot, involved extensive public outreach. Five workshops were held throughout the Basin (during the week of August 18, 1997), over 27,000 notices were mailed, and public outreach visits to restaurants have taken place. Ms. Whynot said industry has expressed qualified support. Other issues are: the implementation time, monthly instead of daily records for exempt sources, cost estimates, and the two-part rulemaking schedule for chain-driven and under-fired charbroilers. This rule will be heard at the November 14, 1997 Board meeting.

Gerry Breitbart, California Restaurant Association, said they are seeking correction to the cost estimates for retrofit technology, and an implementation schedule of two years for all restaurants. Mr. Breitbart said they would like to use the records that restaurants currently maintain for the recordkeeping on charbroilers requirements. Mr. Breitbart requested that electrostatic precipitators and scrubbers be removed from the BACT Guidelines.

Melissa Clack, California Environmental Associates, representing Burger King Corporation, said that regarding implementation time, a request was made for a 24-month period (instead of 18 months). All restaurants should be treated the same. A range of costs regarding installation is being looked at, and she will share the information with staff when it is available. Mike Kissel from Carl Karcher Enterprises stated that 24 months to implement the rule would be beneficial to their company. They would like all restaurants to be treated equitably under the rule and will work with staff on revising cost data.

3. Status Report on Port Activities

(Because of time constraints, this item will be presented at a future Stationary Source Committee meeting.)

4. Title III/MACT Conference

Pat Leyden gave a brief overview of the draft agenda for the October 7, 1997 Conference on the New Federal Toxic Regulations, which will be held at the Sheraton Industry Hills in the City of Industry.

5. Outreach for Architectural Painting

Stationary Source Compliance Assistant Deputy Executive Officer Jack Broadbent reported to the Committee on this item. He told the Committee that architectural coatings emit 60 tons per day of VOC emissions. The AQMP relies on promotion of low-emission technologies. Current efforts include conducting site visits and field inspections. The Eastern Michigan University study is nearly complete. Zero-VOC and low-VOC interior and exterior coatings are available for a variety of uses.

Mr. Broadbent distributed two alternate draft brochures titled "Painter’s Guide to Clean Air." The brochure was created to increase public awareness of availability of zero-VOC paints, and will be disseminated through major hardware store chains (e.g. Home Depot, Home Base, etc.). Mr. Broadbent said the brochure will be placed on the AQMD’s Internet home page and distributed to permit holders. The first version of the brochure lists all companies that produce these products; the second version omits the company names.

Mr. Broadbent told the Committee that the paint industry filed a suit challenging a similar brochure in the past. The case was dismissed prior to a decision. He said that outreach activities are vital to the success of the program, and that the AQMD complies with state laws that require development of public education programs to reduce emissions from areawide sources. Recommendations include mailing advance copies of the brochure to key industry representatives, seeking future Board approval, and proceeding with dissemination of the brochure.

Ray Robinson of the Environmental, Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy Program of Southern California Painting and Coatings Association (ELRAP), objected to some of the text in the brochure which compared emissions from architectural coatings to the amount of emissions from all refineries. Mr. Robinson said this was not representative and was "like comparing apples with oranges." Also, he challenged a statement in the brochure which said, "The chart above lists the bulk of the paints used by the do-it-yourself market for painting the interior and exterior of their homes. Other types of zero-VOC paints are also available for a variety of other uses." Mr. Broadbent said his issues would be looked into and modifications could be made.

Board Member Ron Loveridge felt the brochure was a good idea and should list the companies. Chair Mee Lee agreed and noted that this was analogous to the Board’s Clean Air Solvent program, where products are certified as meeting a zero or extremely low (50 g/l VOC) standard.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

Attachments

1. August 22, 1997 Committee Agenda (without its attachments)

2. AQMD Permitting

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