BOARD MEETING DATE: January 9, 1998 AGENDA NO. 29
REPORT:
Status Report on Rule 403 Agricultural Operations Working Group
SYNOPSIS:
On February 14, 1997, amendments to Rule 403 were adopted to implement Best Available Control Measures (BACM) for fugitive dust sources. Under the amendments, agricultural operations may submit a control plan (plan) by September 1, 1998 to maintain a Rule 403 exemption. In the Rule 403 adoption resolution, staff was directed to work with the agricultural community to develop appropriate BACM for agricultural activities prior to the effective date. Through a cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, local Resource Conservation Districts, Farm Bureau, and AQMD staff, a draft plan template based on crop type has been developed. This is a status report on development of the plan template and acceptability criteria.
COMMITTEE:
Mobile Source, December 11, 1997; fewer than three members were present and therefore, pursuant to the Procedures for Standing Committees of the Governing Board, the Committee provides this communication but no recommendation.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
- Receive and file this report.
- Direct staff to bring an Agricultural Dust Control Plan template and acceptance guidelines to the Governing Board for approval no later than June 1998.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Acting Executive Officer
Background
The Board adopted amendments to Rule 403 (Fugitive Dust) on February 14, 1997 in response to federal Clean Air Act requirements to implement Best Available Control Measures (BACM) for fugitive dust sources. Under the BACM amendments, agricultural operations within the South Coast Air Basin (Basin) become subject to Rule 403 requirements beginning January 1, 1999, unless a control plan is submitted to the AQMD by September 1, 1998. Based on feedback from Working Group members, the soil erosion control plan has been renamed Agricultural Dust Control Plan (plan). All agricultural operations outside the Basin and those with less than 10 acres within the Basin are exempt from all Rule 403 provisions.
The Rule 403 adoption resolution directed staff to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), local Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs), and local agricultural groups to develop BACM intended to reduce fugitive dust and the corresponding PM10 emissions from agricultural operations. The resolution further directed staff to work with these agencies to establish guidelines for approval of the plans to be submitted by individual growers.
Agricultural Operations Working Group
In response to Board directives, staff developed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the AQMD, the NRCS and each of the Basin's RCD offices that identifies the individual responsibilities for each agency in the development of appropriate soil erosion control practices to reduce PM10 emissions from agriculture. At its April 11, 1997 meeting, the Governing Board authorized its Chairman to execute this MOU on behalf of the AQMD. After the MOU was signed by all parties, staff established the Rule 403 Agricultural Operations Working Group (Working Group), comprised of staff from the NRCS, Riverside-Corona RCD, Inland Empire West RCD, East Valley RCD, and Riverside County Farm Bureau, as well as individual growers. Attachment 1 is a current membership roster of the Rule 403 Agricultural Operations Working Group.
Initially, the Working Group met to discuss candidate soil erosion control practices and plan implementation issues. In subsequent meetings, individual growers and Cooperative Extension staff were invited to comment on the soil erosion control practices and to provide suggestions for plan acceptability criteria. Attachment 2 contains a summary of the outreach and meetings related to development of the MOU, candidate soil erosion control practices, the plan template, and acceptability criteria guidelines.
Proposal
Attachment 3 is a draft Agricultural Dust Control Plan template, that would be used by local farmers to meet Rule 403 requirements. This template was originally developed by AQMD staff, but is being extensively modified based on feedback from the Working Group. Each template lists possible best management practices (BMPs) for reducing soil erosion. The choice of BMPs can be customized by the farmers for their particular operations. To simplify the process, acceptability guidelines are being included in the plan template. These guidelines call for one required minimum action for each of the designated source types, as well as a certain number of supplemental actions for soil preparation activities and windblown dust prevention.
The Rule 403 adoption resolution originally called for staff to bring acceptance guidelines to the Governing Board for approval by January 9, 1998. The Working Group has been working expeditiously to establish appropriate BMPs for reducing soil erosion and guidelines for acceptability of plans. In addition, the Working Group is preparing plan templates to reduce the administrative burden on the farmers, as well as AQMD staff. While the task of developing the BMPs and acceptability guidelines through the Working Group is almost complete, staff believes that a few months of additional time is necessary to allow for public outreach to solicit input from a broader segment of the agricultural community. Staff requests that the Board direct staff to return to the Board with acceptance guidelines when this process is completed, no later than June 1998.
Resource Impacts
Existing District resources will be sufficient to implement the Agricultural Dust Control Plan approval and implementation process.
1) Rule 403 Agricultural Operations Working Group Membership Roster
2) Rule 403 Agricultural Operations Outreach Efforts and Working Group Meetings
3) Draft Agricultural Dust Control Plan Template
/ / /