South Coast Air Quality Management District
South Coast Air Quality Management District
BOARD MEETING DATE: April 20, 2001 AGENDA NO. 39
Amend Rules 1303 – Requirements and 2005 - New Source Review for RECLAIM
SYNOPSIS:
The proposed amendments will revise the applicable modeling requirements in several subregions of the SCAQMD that are in attainment with state and federal ambient air quality standards. New or modified sources in attainment subregions will be allowed to increase their emissions provided such increase over the measured background concentration will not violate any air quality standard; BACT will be utilized; and offsets will be provided. Modeling requirements for sources in non-attainment subregions will remain the same.
COMMITTEE:
Stationary Source, February 23, 2001, Reviewed
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt the attached resolution:
- Certifying the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for Proposed Amended Rules 1303 – Requirements, and 2005 - New Source Review for RECLAIM; and
- Amending Rules 1303 – Requirements, and 2005 - New Source Review for RECLAIM
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Modeling is one of the key elements of the New Source Review program. Modeling is required for any new or modified source which is increasing emissions. The modeling requirement has been part of New Source Review since its inception on October 8, 1976. The form of the modeling requirement has varied over the years.
As originally crafted, the modeling requirement in the original Rule 213 required that the emissions not cause a violation of or interfere with the attainment or maintenance of any air quality standard. This language was modified in the original version of Regulation XIII (October 23, 1979) to require that the new emissions will not cause a violation or make measurably worse an existing violation of an air quality standard.
This requirement was changed to the current standard of the new or modified source not causing a significant increase in air quality concentrations with the May 3, 1991 amendments to New Source Review. This more stringent standard even applies to facilities located in attainment areas.
The improvement in air quality over the past decade has been dramatic. The District is now in attainment for NO2 and the breadth and severity of the violations for CO and PM-10 have been significantly reduced. Many sub-regions of the District are now in attainment for both CO and PM-10.
Proposal
The proposed amendments will revise the modeling limit for sources located in an attainment sub-region of the District such that the new emissions plus the measured background could not create a violation of the air quality standard. In sub-regions that do not meet the ambient standards, the modeling criteria will remain the same; the new emissions may not cause a measurable or significant increase in air quality concentration.
The proposed amendments do not affect Best Available Control Technology or Lowest Achievable Emission Rate standards or requirements. Sources will still be required to meet the same level of control. Also unaffected by the proposed amendments are the offset requirements. Offsets will still be required for all emission increases. The proposed amendments may allow for the permitting of larger new and modified sources than what would have been allowed under the current version of New Source Review.
No net air quality impacts are expected from the proposed amendment as offsets will still be required from all sources. There are no anticipated changes in air toxics as Rule 1401 still applies. All other applicable rules and regulations would also be in place for all new and modified sources.
CEQA and Socioeconomic Analysis
SCAQMD staff has reviewed the proposed Rules 1303 and 2005 pursuant to state CEQA Guidelines Section 15002 (k)(2). A Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) with no significant adverse impacts has been prepared because, although the Draft EA concluded that the proposed rule amendments have the potential to adversely affect air quality, the impacts will not be significant. The Draft EA was circulated for a 30-day public review and comment period which ended March 15, 2001. Four comment letters were received and the responses to the comments are incorporated into the Final EA for the proposed project. The proposed amendments are not expected to result in any adverse socioeconomic impact.
AQMP and Legal Mandates
The California Health and Safety Code requires the AQMD to adopt an Air Quality Management Plan to meet state and federal ambient air quality standards in the South Coast Air Basin. In addition, the California Health and Safety Code requires that the AQMD adopt rules and regulations that carry out the objectives of the AQMP. While Proposed Amended Rules 1303 and 2005 are not control measures listed in the AQMP, their requirements are consistent with its objective.
Implementation Plan
All known affected sources have been noticed on the proposed amendments. No major implementation problems are anticipated at this time. Additional actions will be taken as needed consistent with the rule requirements.
Resource Impacts
The proposed amendments are not anticipated to have a significant impact on staff resources.
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