BOARD MEETING DATE: November 13, 199 8 AGENDA NO. 25
PROPOSAL:
Status of the Home Rule Advisory Group
SYNOPSIS:
This report is to apprise the Governing Board of the status of recent efforts undertaken by the Home Rule Advisory Group.
COMMITTEE:
Stationary Source, October 23, 1998, Discussed
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file.This letter provides an overview of the charter, recent activities/accomplishments, and 1999 goals and objectives of the Home Rule Advisory Group.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D. Env.
Acting Executive Officer
Background
The Home Rule Advisory Group (The Group) was chartered July 14, 1995, by the Governing Board to help develop approaches to simplify and streamline regulatory compliance as part of AQMD’s Business Clean Air Partnership.
Co-chaired by Governing Board members Norma Glover, Nell Soto, and Roy Wilson, the Group seeks consolidation of overlapping federal, state, and local regulations and provides proactive regional input on pending legislation and regulatory proposals.
Group members are appointed by the Governing Board, and include up to thirty representatives from EPA, CARB, SCAG, AQMD, three environmental groups, eight business organizations, and twelve communities (see attached table listing current members and their respective affiliations).
Key Accomplishments
The Group has reviewed and provided comments on a wide range of important federal, state and AQMD programs. Key accomplishments include:
Continuation of Variances and Alternate Operating Scenarios
Obtaining EPA approval to allow variances to continue under the Title V federal operating permit program culminated in the successful adoption of AQMD Rule 518.2.
Title III Air Toxics Conference – October 7, 1996
The Group sponsored a day-long conference to provide local businesses with information about the new federal air toxics program. Over 400 attended this event featuring presentations and panel discussions with federal, state, and local regulators.
New Source Review (NSR)
Contributions to the successful adoption of amendments to Regulation XIII in 1996 provided additional regulatory flexibility while meeting NSR air quality objectives for state and federal law.
Permit Streamlining Pilot Program
Proposals to streamline AQMD permit processing led to the implementation of the Permit Enhancement Pilot Program (PEPP) in October 1996.
Visibility Analysis and Federal Land Manager Notice
The Group helped secure an agreement with Federal Land Managers to limit visibility requirements to very large sources.
MACT Equivalency Task Force
Group members, along with staff, are participating in a coalition of state and local representatives seeking EPA support to simplify the determination of equivalency for the new federal MACT standards.
SIP Gap Resolution
Group members, along with staff, have sought EPA support to close the SIP gap by fast-tracking its review and adoption of AQMD rules and rule amendments into the SIP.
BACT/LAER
Group members, along with staff, are working with EPA to coordinate BACT/LAER determinations and provide additional flexibility to permit applicants subject to AQMD BACT. Recent specific BACT Guidelines updates were also reviewed by the Group. EPA's LAER Clearinghouse and such consideration as the inclusion of cost in LAER determinations have been reviewed extensively by the Group. This work is being continued as part of the Group's 1999 Goals and Objectives.
Continuing its work with the California Congressional Coalition, a group of industry and local government representatives throughout the state of California, the Group and staff have been successful in raising issues before the California Congressional delegation and senior EPA management officials. All 54 members of the California delegation signed letter to EPA expressing concern with the duplicative, burdensome nature of EPA's Title III and V regulations, the need for recognizing local variances, and the need for EPA to proceed immediately with its review and adoption into the SIP of rules and rule amendments that affect businesses in the South Coast Air Basin. In a recent meeting with Carol Browner and her senior management staff, EPA staff committed to deal with these issues. Efforts to address these issues with EPA are continuing.
The Group continues to review and comment on a number of other issues including emissions trading program guidance, the BACT/LAER determination process, and EPA's enforcement authority under Section 114 and the availability of federal funds.
1999 Goals and Objectives
Recently, the Group has worked to define its goals and objectives for the coming year. BACT/LAER, Air Toxics, Credit Trading, Clean Air Act and Title V subcommittees were formed to develop and recommend specific issues for the Group to address. Based on subcommittee recommendations, the Group as a whole defined the following goals and objectives for the coming year:
Membership Roster
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