BOARD MEETING DATE: March 7, 2003
AGENDA NO. 37

Annual Report for 2002 on AB 2588 Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Program

SYNOPSIS:

The Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Information and Assessment Act of 1987 requires local air pollution districts to prepare an annual report. This report summarizes the program progress over the 2002 calendar year. Highlights for last year include review and approval of 32 health risk assessments, holding of nine public notification meetings, and elimination of the backlog of unapproved health risk assessments. Proposed future activities for 2003 include the risk prioritization of over 500 facilities newly considered for the AB 2588 Program and the development of public notification procedures for the industry-wide categories of retail gasoline stations and dry cleaners.

COMMITTEE:

Stationary Source, February 28, 2003, Reviewed

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Under the requirements of the California Air Toxic "Hot Spots" Information and Assessment Act of 1987 (AB 2588), the AQMD approves facility emission inventories, determines which facilities must prepare health risk assessments (HRAs) and ensures that HRAs are prepared according to state and AQMD guidelines; and, when needed, conducts public notification meetings or announcements. An additional requirement of the Act is for local air districts to provide an annual report of risk assessments and air toxics rulemaking.

Accomplishments

The attached report provides a summary of major program activities during the calendar year 2002 and anticipated activities during 2003. Continuing with the streamlining approach, 32 HRAs were reviewed and approved, nine public notification meetings were held, and one set of newspaper notifications for the historical risk of six facilities was published. The HRA approval backlog has been eliminated thus satisfying the commitment in last year’s annual report for its elimination. To date, ten facilities have fully implemented their risk reduction plans. The AB 2588 universe of facilities has been significantly expanded for the first time since the early 1990’s with the addition of over 500 new facility toxic inventories. Lastly, 2002 marked the second year of AQMD’s effort to consolidate the reporting of requirements of AB 2588 and the Annual Emissions Report Program. To date, roughly half of the AB 2588 facilities have updated their toxic emissions through this consolidated process, which means the process is on schedule.

Future Activities

Over the upcoming year, staff plans to:

• Prioritize the risks of the 500 newly added facility toxic inventories;
• Develop District industrywide notification procedures for specific source categories;
• Monitor and participate in the development of statewide procedures for addressing diesel emissions in the Hot Spots Program; and
• Provide risk assessment assistance for permit applications, CEQA projects, and other special studies (e.g., MATES-II follow-up and Mira Loma warehouse operations).

Attachment

Annual Report for 2002 on AB 2588 Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Program

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