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

REPORT:

Stationary Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Stationary Source Committee met Friday, June 23, 2006.  Following is a summary of that meeting.  The next meeting will be
July 28, 2006 at 10:30 a.m., in Conference Room CC8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Ronald O. Loveridge, Chair
Stationary Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting began at 10:40 a.m.  Present were Ronald Loveridge (left at 11:25), Jane Carney (left at 11:00), Dennis Yates and Gary Ovitt (Acting Chair upon Ronald Loveridge’s departure).

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

1. Best Available Control Technology Guidelines Report and Amendments

Howard Lange, Air Quality Engineer II, presented the semiannual progress report on the AQMD BACT Guidelines.  The report included three new listings and three updates of existing listings in Part B, LAER/BACT Determinations for Major Polluting Facilities and proposed changes to Part D, BACT Guidelines for Non-Major Polluting Facilities.  In Part D, staff was proposing to update the guidelines for stationary and portable diesel engines to incorporate federally mandated Tier 3 engines to make two minor “housekeeping” changes in the guideline for lithographic printing.  Mayor Yates asked how portable engines are regulated by the District.  Carol Coy answered the question, describing the District and State portable engine programs.  A member of the public, Rita Loof, stated that the guideline for lithographic printing could not be met by printers using UV- or electron beam (EB)-curable inks.  The Committee directed staff to look into this matter.  It was suggested that the names of the Scientific Review Committee be added to the board letter, and the committee directed staff to make this addition.

2. Potential Links to Websites for EJ Enhancement of AB2588 Web Information

Tom Chico, Program Supervisor, demonstrated potential links to websites for the Environmental Justice (EJ) enhancement of the AB2588 website.  This is part of the EJ Work Plan for 2005-06 and the item has been discussed at several advisory group meetings (i.e., Ethnic Community Advisory Group, Local Government & Small Business Advisory Group, and Home Rule Advisory Group).  The intent is to provide health effects information on chemicals emitted from facilities in  Southern California.

Staff evaluated many sites and is recommending the three links that were shown.  Providing links allows access to up-to-date information on a large number of chemicals.   The websites shown consisted of two from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and one from the federal Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease Control and Prevention.   Updates will be implemented by the responsible agency.   The SCAQMD website will include appropriate background information, as well as caveats where needed.

There have been many suggestions for further improvements, which will be considered for next year’s work plan (e.g., video clips, additional information, more simplified formats, and a link to CHAPIS for mobile sources).  Stationary Source Committee members suggested that the website be tested by a focus group of non-technical people.  Also a member of the audience urged that the website include information on source apportionment (i.e., percent contribution from stationary and mobile sources).  Staff indicated that the website will also include links to the MATES-II report.

3. Update on Proposed Amended Rule 1171 – Solvent Cleaning Operations

Lee Lockie, Director of Area Sources, updated the committee on the proposal which is scheduled for consideration by the Board on July 7, 2006.  Staff has evaluated specific issues raised at the June 2006 public hearing pertaining to the cleaning of ultraviolet/electron beam (UV/EB) ink application equipment and the definition of “newsprint” operations.

She indicated that staff has reconsidered its earlier proposal and agreed to raise the interim VOC limit from 500 to 650 grams per liter for cleaning UV/EB ink application equipment.  In addition, the definition of newsprint was modified to include “mass distribution and flyers.”

During public comment on this item, Ms. Rita Loof, representing RadTech, an association of UV/EB equipment manufacturers, expressed satisfaction with the revised proposal.

4. Rule 219 – Equipment Not Requiring a Written Permit Pursuant to Regulation II

Lee Lockie presented an update on the proposed amendments to subsection (q) of this rule.   Board consideration of this section pertaining to agricultural sources was continued from the May 2006 meeting.  Staff is proposing a standard streamlined permit with significantly discounted permit application fees for new and modified internal combustion engines (ICEs) at agricultural sources.  In addition, staff is proposing to continue the current exemption for existing ICEs and new/modified emergency ICEs but will explore a streamlined alternative permitting process for this exempt equipment.  This alternative permitting evaluation will be considered as part of a future amendment to Rule 219 scheduled for next year.

During public comment, staff indicated that this upcoming amendment in July 2006 pertains only to ICEs at agricultural sources and that a proposal from Ms. Rita Loof to also consider an exemption for ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) using low VOC materials will be studied for a future amendment.

5. Reg. IX – NSPS Amendments

Ed Muehlbacher, Program Supervisor, presented this item.  U.S. EPA periodically promulgates NSPS and NESHAPs.  NSPS govern the operation of all new, modified, or reconstructed sources of air pollution identified in Part 60 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).  NESHAPs govern the operation of new and existing sources specifically identified in Part 61 of the CFR that emit substances that have been designated as hazardous air pollutants pursuant to Section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments.  In order to administer and enforce NSPS and NESHAPs at the local level, AQMD’s Board initially adopted by reference the NSPS federal standards as Regulation IX and the NESHAP federal standards as Regulation X on December 3, 1976.  The Board has since amended these regulations to incorporate new or amended standards as necessary.  In 1997, U.S. EPA delegated and redelegated its authority for specific Sections of 40 CFR Parts 60 and 61, as listed in the April 23, 1997 Federal Register.  Regulations IX and Regulation X were last amended December 2, 2005.

Five actions for NSPS are proposed for incorporation into Regulations IX.  There were no actions regarding NESHAPs, Part 61.  The NSPS amendments include:  adding alternative emissions monitoring requirements; corrections and definitions; and establishing a “cap-and-trade” program for mercury emissions from coal-fired electric utility steam generating units.  There are no coal-fired electric utility steam generating units permitted in the AQMD.

U.S. EPA held public workshops with public comment periods as part of its rule development process.  No public workshops were held by AQMD since the proposed amendments incorporate by reference existing federal requirements and therefore, do not significantly affect air quality or emissions limitations.

6. SCAQMD 8-Hour Ozone Reasonably Available ControlTechnologyState Implementation Plan

Ed Eckerle, Program Supervisor, presented a summary of the AQMD’s 8-Hour Ozone RACT (Reasonably Available Control Technology) SIP Demonstration.  The RACT analysis is required by the federal 8-hour ozone implementation rule, whereby regions classified moderate or above are required to determine if their rules which affect major sources are, at a minimum, as stringent as the requirements set forth in U.S. EPA’s Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG), and Alternative Control Techniques (ACT).  The determination and subsequent RACT analysis is required to be submitted by CARB to U.S. EPA by September 15, 2006.  AQMD staff conducted an analysis of District rules to satisfy the RACT SIP commitment.  Staff’s approach adhered to U.S. EPA Region IX’s guidance and focused on the areas where 1) CTGs have been recently published after U.S. EPA’s SIP approval dates, 2) rules have been approved into SIP but subsequently amended, and 3) rules that have not yet been SIP approved by U.S. EPA.  Staff’s analysis showed that all District VOC and NOx rules and regulations which affected major sources met RACT.  A public workshop was held on June 15, 2006 to discuss the RACT analysis prior to bringing the submittal to the Governing Board at its July meeting.  No public comments were received.  However, U.S. EPA has submitted preliminary comments which may require additional analysis.  AQMD staff will work with U.S. EPA staff on these comments with the goal of resolving their concerns prior to the Board Hearing. 

No Board member or public comments were received on this item.

OTHER BUSINESS

Carol Coy, Deputy Executive Officer, Engineering and Compliance, noted that CARB adopted the proposed Portable Equipment Registration Program rule revisions to implement the consensus program recommendations developed by the CAPCOA-CARB-Industry workgroup.  These measures to improve program enforceability and provide an adequate funding mechanism for local district field enforcement of the program were adopted at their June 22 meeting held at the South Coast AQMD.

WRITTEN REPORTS

All written reports were acknowledged by the Committee.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments at this meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

Attachments (DOC 57kb)
June 23, 2006 Committee Agenda (without its attachments)