South Coast Air Quality Management District
South Coast Air Quality Management District
BOARD MEETING DATE: August 2, 2002 AGENDA NO. 26
Amend Rule 1171 – Solvent Cleaning Operations
SYNOPSIS:
Rule 1171 requires that by July 1, 2005, the VOC content of certain solvent activities be limited to 25 g/l. There are many low-VOC materials available which already meet this limit. The proposed amendment will lower the VOC content limit from 50 g/l to 25 g/l, as used, by January 1, 2003. The solvent cleaning activities affected by the proposed rule amendment include: general product cleaning and surface preparation; general repair and maintenance cleaning; general cleaning of ink application equipment; cleaning of flexographic and gravure printing ink application equipment; cleaning of removable press components in lithographic or letterpress printing; and cleaning of polyester resin application equipment. The proposed amendments will also add clarifying rule language, remove obsolete exemptions and may modify certain exemptions.
COMMITTEE:
Stationary Source, June 28, 2002, Reviewed
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt the attached resolution:
- Certifying the Addendum to the October 1999 CEQA Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed amendments.
- Amending Rule 1171 – Solvent Cleaning Operations.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Rule 1171 – Solvent Cleaning Operations, a key component of South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (AQMD) ozone reduction strategy, was adopted on August 2, 1991 to reduce VOC emissions from the use of solvents and solvent wastes generated during the production, repair, maintenance, or servicing of products, tools, machinery, and general work areas. Subsequent rule amendments expanded the scope of the rule to cover not only coating application equipment cleaning and surface preparation, but all solvent cleaning operations and activities at all facilities. Industries subject to the provisions of the rule include facilities that operate and maintain machinery or must remove organic material as part of the production process.
The rule was last amended on October 8, 1999 and established lower VOC content limits for all solvent cleaning activities in two steps. The first reduction in VOC content took effect on December 1, 2001, while the second phase is scheduled to occur on July 1, 2005. Both phases are expected to achieve VOC emission reductions through greater use of aqueous cleaning technologies and VOC-exempt solvents, or through the development of new cleaning materials and/or technologies.
The availability of low-VOC materials has greatly increased during the last several years. The 1999 amendment of Rule 1171 required the use of cleaning solvents with a VOC content limit of 25 grams per liter by July 1, 2005 for all general cleaning applications and other specific solvent cleaning activities. Today, there are many available low-VOC materials that already meet the 25 grams per liter VOC content limit for year 2005. The AQMD has certified over 150 Clean Air Solvents, and most of these products can meet the year 2005 VOC content limit for general cleaning applications.
Proposal
The scope and intent of the proposed amendments are to advance the compliance schedule where compliant products are readily available in the market. Staff is proposing to advance the requirement to lower the VOC content limit of 50 grams per liter to 25 grams per liter for cleaning materials used for several solvent cleaning activities from July 1, 2005 to January 1, 2003. There are many low-VOC cleaning materials readily available in the market that already meet the 25 grams per liter VOC content limit for year 2005. Over 150 Clean Air Solvents have been certified by AQMD, and most of these products can meet the 2005 VOC content limit for general cleaning applications. Staff's proposal will accelerate the reduction of 1.94 tons per day of VOC emissions from solvent cleaning activities by two and one-half years starting in 2003.
In addition, Proposed Amended Rule 1171 will add new terms to the definition section, clarify certain existing terms, and remove obsolete ones in order to enhance rule effectiveness. Other proposed amendments to Rule 1171 are as follows:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Analysis
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the AQMD�s Certified Regulatory Program (Rule 110), staff has prepared an Addendum to the October 1999 Final EA to address the environmental impacts of the proposed amendments to Rule 1171 - Solvent Cleaning Operations. The analysis concluded that accelerating the compliance dates to lower the VOC content limit for solvents used for specified cleaning activities does not result in new or more severe significant effects requiring substantial revisions in the previous EA. In particular, no new significant adverse project-specific or cumulative impacts in any environmental areas were identified, nor would any project-specific or cumulative impacts in any environmental areas be made substantially worse as a result of implementing the proposed project.
The Addendum to the October 1999 Final EA is included as part of the attached package for the public hearing on the proposed amendments. The October 1999 Final EA is provided for Board Members only and is available for review in the Public Information Center.
Socioeconomic Impact Assessment
The California Health and Safety Code Section 40440.8 requires an assessment of the socioeconomic impacts of the adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule or regulation that will significantly affect air quality or emissions limitations. The proposed amendments to Rule 1171 - Solvent Cleaning Operations will not result in increased costs to the affected industries and, therefore, will have no 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 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. The 1999 amendment of Rule 1171 implemented a control measure from the 1997 AQMP (CM#97ADV-CLNG) to meet state and federal requirements. The proposed changes to Rule 1171 accelerates part of the VOC emission reductions expected from the 1999 rule amendment.
Implementation Plan
Staff will continue the on-going implementation efforts on Rule 1171 with outreach to the sources affected by these amendments, including solvent suppliers. Furthermore, staff will continue to conduct public outreach and coordination regarding water quality issues associated with the rule.
Resource Impact
Current AQMD resources are sufficient to implement the proposed Rule 1171 amendments with no budget impact.
Summary of Proposal
Key Issues and Responses
Rule Development Process
Key Contacts List
Resolution
Proposed Rule Language
Staff Report
Addendum to the October 1999 Final Environmental Assessment
October 1999 Final Environmental Assessment (available to the public at SCAQMD's Public Information Center)
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