BOARD MEETING DATE: April 7, 2006
AGENDA NO. 28

Annual Report for 2005 on AB2588 Air Toxics

SYNOPSIS:

The Air Toxics " Hot Spots" Information and Assessment Act of 1987 requires local air pollution districts to prepare an annual report.  Highlights for 2005 include: (1) approved air toxic inventory reports for 17 facilities; (2) requested updated health risk assessments for nine facilities; (3) finalized the health risk assessments for two facilities of concern to the community; (4) provided criteria and toxic emissions on the web and developed other website enhancements; (5) updated the risk assessment procedures for Rules 1401 and 212; and (6) maintained a backlog-free HRA evaluation.

COMMITTEE:

Stationary Source, March 31, 2006

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 HRAs and ensures that HRAs are prepared according to state and AQMD guidelines; and, when needed, conducts public notification meetings or announcements and requires risk reduction.  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 2005 and anticipated activities during 2006.  To date, SCAQMD staff has reviewed nearly 300 facility HRAs and has eliminated the HRA back-log.  Twenty facilities were required to reduce risks per Rule 1402 and nineteen of them have fully implemented their risk reduction plans with residual risks generally much below the Rule 1402 action risk levels and reductions implemented much sooner than the required 3-year timeframe.  During this reporting period, staff has approved air toxic inventory reports (ATIRs) for seventeen facilities and requested updated HRAs from nine facilities. 

In 2005, AB 2588 staff finalized the HRAs for two facilities of concern to the community, Venoco Inc. and Quemetco.  Also, a web-based tool to display emissions data was developed to satisfy an Environmental Justice initiative.  The web-based tool displays criteria and toxics emissions from facilities in the Annual Emissions Reporting and AB 2588 programs.  AB 2588 staff updated the risk assessment procedures for Rules 1401 and 212, an important permitting tool used by AQMD permitting staff and their clients.

Future Activities

Over the upcoming year, the staff plans to:

• Prioritize over 400 facility toxic inventories;
• Review and approve the HRAs for 26 facilities that are due the first half of 2006;
• Provide additional website enhancements;
• Develop and seek Governing Board approval of a Diesel Work Plan for incorporating diesel particulate matter into Rules 1401 and 1402; and
• Seek Governing Board approval for industry-wide notification procedures for retail gasoline service stations, perchloroethylene dry cleaners, and diesel internal combustion engines.

The annual report will be distributed to county boards of supervisors, city councils, and local health officers and will also be available on the AB 2588 web site.

Attachment (DOC 672kb)
Annual Report on AB 2588 Air Toxics “Hot Spots” Program