Rule 1420.1 - Emission Standards for Lead and Other Toxic Air Contaminants from Large Lead-acid Battery Recycling Facilities
Rule 1420.1 was adopted on November 5, 2010 and applies to large lead-acid battery recycling facilities that have processed more than 50,000 tons of lead a year. The rule requires emission limits for lead as well as housekeeping, monitoring, and emission testing for the two applicable facilities that emit lead. On January 10, 2014, Rule 1420.1 was amended to establish requirements for owners or operators of large lead-acid battery recycling facilities to reduce arsenic emissions and other key toxic air contaminant emissions. Rule 1420.1 now includes requirements for ambient air concentration limits for arsenic, as well as hourly emission limits of arsenic, benzene, and 1,3-butadiene. As a result of the January amendment, Rule 1420.1 also contains additional administrative, monitoring and source testing requirements for stack emissions.
Based on letters from the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to Exide in December 2013 regarding the elevated levels of lead found surface dust and soil samples, the South Coast AQMD staff is concerned that lead contained in surface dust and soil can be re-entrained into the air impacting people that live and work near the Exide facility. DTSC indicated that the observed concentrations of lead constitute an immediate threat to human health. Lowering the lead point source emission rate of Rule 1420.1 would reduce the further accumulation of lead dust in the communities surround Exide. As a result, the South Coast AQMD staff made a recommendation at the January 10, 2014 Governing Board Meeting to begin rulemaking to consider lowering the lead point source emission rate and possibly other revisions to reduce further accumulation of lead dust to the surrounding communities. During the rulemaking process, a determination will be made regarding any appropriate adjustment to the current 0.045 lb/hr total facility mass lead emission rate.
Working Group Meetings and a Public Workshop have not yet been scheduled to discuss potential rule amendments.
Relevant Rules and Links
Rule 1420.1 Public Notifications
Paragraph (n)(2) of Rule 1420.1 requires lead-acid battery recycling facilities to notify the public when specific types of breakdowns or shutdowns occur and prior to certain maintenance activities. Contact Eugene Kang at 909-396-3524 or ekang@aqmd.gov if you would like to sign-up to receive Rule 1420.1 public notifications.
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