The upcoming 2023 rule calendar plans to be robust and ambitious as the agency begins working on over two dozen rule amendments and rule adoptions. These rules will assist in implementing control measures from both the 2022 Air Quality Management Plan and reduce risk or exposure in a series of toxic rules.

Upcoming rule activity includes:

Indirect Source Rules
New indirect source rules (ISR) for railyards and marine ports focused on reducing mobile source emissions from activities at these locations. 

Refinery Rules
New flaring requirements will be considered along with measures to ensure minimization of refinery flaring with more transparency of emissions data and flaring events. The agency is also working on amendments to large refinery storage tanks. 

Expanded Monitoring at Oil & Gas sites
Options to expand the applicability of fenceline monitoring plus increased detection of leaks from large petroleum tanks and components at oil and gas sites, as well as opportunities for further operation of emission control technologies at those locations will be explored. One rule will increase the types of oil and gas site well activity notifications and improve the existing online portal for more transparency and useful links to health information. 

Best Available Retrofit Control Technologies
South Coast AQMD will continue analyzing best available retrofit control technologies, including zeroemission equipment controls of commercial food ovens and nitric acid tanks. 

Zero and Near-Zero Emission Building Appliances
South Coast AQMD will begin advancing zero and near-zero emission building appliances for residential and commercial space and water heating, cooking, dryers, and pool heaters. 

Further Controls on Carcinogens
Toxic rules include one seeking further enhancements to existing requirements controlling ethylene oxide at sterilization facilities, and others controlling hexavalent chromium from torch cutting and welding, as well as from metal heat treating. 

For more information, please check the “Rule and Control Measure Forecast” item listed in each month’s Governing Board agenda.