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June 3, 2005
The Southland’s air agency today approved changes to three of its
regulations governing agricultural sources previously exempted by state law
from air pollution regulations.
“We worked closely with the agricultural industry on the new requirements
and their specific industry needs,” said Barry R. Wallerstein, executive
officer for the South Coast Air Quality Management District. “We believe
the rules are fair while complying with state law.”
Amendments approved today to Rule 461 - Gasoline Transfer and Dispensing;
Rule 403 - Fugitive Dust; and Rule 1110.2 - Emissions from Gaseous and
Liquid-Fueled Engines incorporate provisions of Senate Bill 700 (approved by
the California Legislature in 2003) that require best available pollution
control measures and best available retrofit control technology standards
for these sources.
Specifically, the rule amendments will:
- require all agricultural sources to control fugitive dust emissions by
January 1, 2006 by using the best control measures available. Dust
control programs currently exist for some agricultural sources including
crop farmers and dairies; and
- require agricultural sources to meet the same emission standards as
stationary source engines. Approximately 40 engines in the four-county
area will be affected.
Overall, the new measures are expected to reduce approximately 142 tons
per year of nitrogen oxides, 54 tons per year of particulate matter (PM10),
10.5 tons per year of volatile organic compounds and 99 tons per year of
carbon monoxide.
In February, the AQMD Governing Board approved the allocation of $4
million from the state’s Carl Moyer Program, which provides incentives for
purchasing cleaner burning engines, to assist agricultural sources in
complying with the new requirements.
In other action, the Board:
- Adopted a $105.1 million budget for the fiscal year 2005-06. The
Board also adopted a 6% across-the-board fee increase to help offset
declining emission fee revenues;
- Approved $1.1 million in funding – including co-funding from the
California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency – to help reduce nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and toxic
diesel emissions from idling truck engines by providing power for heating,
cooling and auxiliary power to big-rig truck cabs while drivers rest at 60
to 75 truck stop spaces along the Interstate 5 and Interstate 10
corridors;
- Awarded over $200,000 to enhance the natural gas refueling
infrastructure in the four-county region. The funding will offset the
costs of purchasing and installing two new natural gas fueling stations –
one compressed natural gas station in Riverside and one liquefied natural
gas station in San Bernardino; and
- Approved implementation of web casting monthly AQMD Governing Board
meetings beginning with the July 8 meeting.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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