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Odors Associated with the Growing and Harvesting of Industrial Hemp in Ventura County

In recent weeks, the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) started receiving a growing number of odor complaints from nearby residents associated with the growing and harvesting of industrial hemp in Ventura County. Please be advised that the Ventura County APCD has no enforcement authority over odors associated with agricultural operations, including the growing and harvesting of industrial hemp. This is because Section 41705 of the California Health and Safety Code and Ventura County APCD Rule 51, “Nuisance” specifically exempt odors emanating from agricultural operations. Such operations are regulated and permitted by the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office. Therefore, any questions regarding the growing and harvesting of industrial hemp or concerns about odors associated with that activity should be directed to the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner at (805) 933-2926 or ag.inspector@ventura.org.

Additional information and FAQ’s regarding the growing and harvesting of industrial hemp can also be found at the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s website.

Emergency Generators and Public Safety Power Shutoff Events

Using a generator on a temporary basis in response to a power outage is considered an “emergency use” by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, which requires a permit only under limited circumstances. Permits for emergency use are required only for diesel powered generators, not for generators powered by natural gas, gasoline, or propane. Also, air pollution permits are not required if a generator is used for a residence with four of fewer families, nor if the generator is less than 50 bhp, nor if it is a portable rental. Generators requiring a permit are usually limited in their operating hours by the conditions of the permit, but these limitations are lifted during an emergency.

For a list of emergency backup power options please see https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/community-air-protection-program/emergency-backup-power-options-residential

CARB Advisory on:

SALE, OFFER FOR SALE, AND IMPORTATION OF U.S. EPA CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL-TYPE GENERATORS INTO CALIFORNIA

RESPONSE TO EPA’S LETTER

Ventura County Clean Air Incentive Programs

Year 21 (2019) Carl Moyer Program, Year 2 FARMER Program, and Year 2 Community Air Protection Program combined applications are now available! Please submit your application as soon as possible, but no later than June 12, 2019. Click HERE for more information.

Community Air Protection Program (AB 617)

AB 617 is likely the most significant air quality legislation in the past 30 years and provides a new vision and call to action to ensure that all communities benefit from California’s clean air programs. AB 617 builds on the foundation of existing air quality legislation by providing additional tools to target actions in communities that bear the greatest air emission related burdens. This first-of-its-kind effort adds a new community-focused planning framework including community air monitoring, emissions reduction programs, and support for early actions through targeted incentive funding to deploy cleaner technologies in these communities. AB 617 also includes new requirements that help advance our air pollution control efforts throughout the state through accelerated retrofit of pollution controls on industrial sources, increased penalty fees, and greater transparency and availability of air quality and emissions data.

For more information go to Community Air Protection (AB 617) page.

New Compliance Advisory: Woolsey Fire Debris Removal At Residential Sites Affected by the Fires

APCD Issues a Compliance Assistance Advisory

regarding debris removal at residential sites that were affected by the recent Woolsey Fire.

Hundreds of Ventura County residential structures were either completely destroyed or partially destroyed due to the Woolsey Fire. These guidelines were created to provide guidance for crews that will be removing residential fire debris resulting from the Woolsey Fire. They are intended to facilitate the prompt removal of residential fire debris while also protecting public health and safety.”

En español: Asesoría en la Asistencia al Cumplimiento

District Issues New Compliance Assistance Advisory: New State Regulation for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities:  Reporting and Registration Requirements

APCD Issues a Compliance Assistance Advisory regarding the new State greenhouse gas regulation for crude oil and natural gas facilities.

The regulation, officially known as “Greenhouse Gas Standards for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities”, applies to owners or operators of equipment and components associated with crude oil and natural gas production; crude oil, condensate and produced water separation and storage; natural gas underground storage, gas gathering and boosting stations, processing plants, and transmission compressor stations.

The regulation establishes emission standards that are achieved by: meeting equipment standards for various equipment and processes; leak detection and repair (LDAR) requirements; and vapor collection system and vapor control requirements. It applies to all on-shore facilities in Ventura County.

While much existing equipment and many components in Ventura County are exempt from portions of the regulation, the new regulation requires owners or operators to register equipment with the California Air Resources Board (ARB) and to submit reports to ARB.

The reports were due to be submitted to ARB no later than January 1, 2018. However ARB will be using its enforcement discretion to allow this information to be reported no later than July 1, 2018.

Please see the Advisory for more details and contact ARB if you have any questions regarding the reporting.

HEALTH NOTICE - Safe Clean-Up and Work Practices During and After the Thomas Fire

(Ventura County, California) -- Please be aware that the Ventura County Public Health Department and the Air Pollution Control District are strongly recommending NO USE OF LEAFBLOWERS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. No ash clean-up at residential and commercial properties should occur until this health notice is changed.

District Issues New Compliance Assistance Advisory:
Breakdowns at Facilities with Interruptible Grid Power

APCD Issues a Compliance Assistance Advisory regarding breakdown conditions and voluntary curtailment of electrical service.

APCD Rule 32, “Breakdown Conditions; Emergency Variances”, allows for, under certain conditions, breakdowns of air pollution control devices and continuous emissions monitoring systems where the operator will be allowed temporary relief from District enforcement action.

APCD Rule 32, states, in part: “…a breakdown condition means an unforeseeable failure or malfunction…”. It goes on to state that a breakdown condition cannot be “the result of an intentional or negligent act or omission on the part of the owner or operator.”

Electricity providers have historically offered reduced electrical service rates for account holders who agree to participate in a program that would allow periodic curtailment of electrical service to a particular facility in exchange for a reduced electric service rate. According to District policy, voluntary curtailment of electrical service due to contractual obligation is not an “unforeseeable failure or malfunction” and such a curtailment does not meet definition of a breakdown, as defined in APCD Rule 32.

District will no longer accept any voluntary electrical curtailment as a breakdown and the operator will not be afforded relief from District enforcement action if a violation occurs as a result of such a curtailment.

2016 Ventura County Air Quality Management Plan

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board adopted the 2016 Ventura County Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) on February 14, 2017. The 2016 AQMP presents Ventura County’s strategy (including related mandated elements) to attain the 2008 federal 8-hour ozone standard by 2020, as required by the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and applicable U.S. EPA clean air regulations.

Photochemical air quality modeling and related analyses, including a Weight of Evidence assessment conducted for the 2016 AQMP, indicate that Ventura County will attain the 2008 federal 8-hour ozone standard by 2020 using local, state, and federal clean air programs. Similarly, the required Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) demonstration shows that Ventura County will achieve the required annual incremental emissions reductions for the purpose of ensuring attainment by the attainment year.

The 2016 AQMP was prepared to satisfy federal Clean Air Act planning requirements for areas designated as serious federal 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas, including, but not limited to, updated air quality information, an updated emissions inventory, local and state air pollutant control measures, new emission forecasts and projections, a new federal conformity budget for transportation projects, a reasonable further progress demonstration for precursors of ozone (reactive organic gases and nitrogen oxides), a demonstration that Ventura County will attain the 2008 federal 8-hour ozone standard, and contingency measures.

To view and download of the 2016 AQMP, please click here.
 

New Compliance Assistance Advisory: APCD to Temporarily Suspend Enforcement of the Upcoming 2017 Fleet Emission Standards and Fleet Reporting Requirements for Portable Diesel Engine Fleets.

APCD Issues a Compliance Assistance Advisory directed at owners and operators of portable diesel engine fleets. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has determined that widespread compliance with the upcoming 2017 Fleet Average Emission Standard and associated reporting requirements in the state’s Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Diesel Particulate Matter from Portable Engines (ATCM) may not be feasible.

In light of the uncertainty regarding the 2017 standard (and 2020 standard), ARB intends to revise the ATCM. ARB has asked local air districts to temporarily suspend enforcement of sections of the ATCM related to the upcoming fleet average emission standard and associated reporting requirements until the regulation can be revised and approved by its governing Board. This applies to all portable diesel engines whether they are registered with the Statewide Portable Engine Registration Program (PERP), or operating under an APCD Permit to Operate.

To that effect, ARB has released Advisory Number 347, informing the regulated community of its intent to suspend enforcement and revise the ATCM. You can download a copy of Advisory Number 347 here.

Carl Moyer Program Awards $39 Million in Incentives to Ventura County Businesses

The Year 20 (2018) Carl Moyer application period is now closed. Year 21 applications will be available in early spring 2019.

The Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program (Carl Moyer Program) is an incentive program offered jointly by the California Air Resources Board and California’s local air districts that provides grants for cleaner-than-required engines and equipment to help improve air quality in California. The grants are administered by the local air districts. The program is named after the late Dr. Carl Moyer in recognition of his work in the air quality field and his efforts in bringing about this incentive program. Details of the Ventura County Carl Moyer Program can be found here.

Recent Revisions to APCD Rule 74.15.1 Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters

APCD issues a Compliance Assistance Advisory regarding the June 23, 2015 revisions to APCD Rule 74.15.1 Boilers, Steam Generators and Process Heaters. The revised rule includes a number of changes, including new emission limits and testing requirements for a number of applicable units. The Advisory address a number of those changes.

To view the advisory, please click here.
 

Air Streams

Check out the latest Air Streams video for 2015! See what local businesses, individuals and agencies are doing to clean the air and help the environment. From a Thousand Oaks wastewater treatment plant to an Oxnard electric vehicle charging station; from a solar rooftop in Ventura to an Ojai oil field; from a LEED certified building to a “green” veterinary hospital, find out what’s happening on the clean air front in Ventura County.

Replacing Tier 1 & Tier 2 Ag Engines: Check Before You Buy!

APCD issues a Compliance Assistance Advisory regarding the California Air Resources Board’s Air Toxic Control Measure for Stationary Compression Ignition Engines (ATCM) requirement to replace Tier 1 and Tier 2 diesel Ag engines.

The ATCM prohibits the operation of Tier 1 and Tier 2 agricultural engines after December 31, 2014 for engines rated at 175 BHP or greater and December 31, 2015 for engines rated at 50 to 174 BHP.

Check before you buy! This advisory informs owners or operators of Tier 1 & Tier 2 Ag engines that not all Tier 4 or Interim Tier 4 diesel engines will meet the upcoming ATCM emission standards, and advises them to check before they buy a new engine. The upcoming emission standards are contained in the advisory. Another option is to buy an electric motor instead of a diesel engine.

There will be a limited amount of funding available to qualified applicants to help purchase a new diesel engine, or electric motor.

All Ag engines 50 horsepower and greater, including new replacement engines, are required to be registered with the APCD. For information on the District’s agricultural engine registration program please click here.

For the District's "Engine Location Change Policy Memo" and notification form, click here.

Portable Diesel Engine Fleet Reporting and Emission Requirements – Upcoming Enforcement Action

APCD Issues a Compliance Assistance Advisory directed at owners and operators of portable diesel engines who have not yet complied with the state’s Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) for Diesel Particulate Matter from Portable Engines reporting requirements, or who have fleets that do not meet the fleet emission requirements. These requirements apply to all portable diesel engines whether they are registered with the Statewide Portable Engine Registration Program (PERP), or operating under an APCD Permit to Operate.

New State Greenhouse Gas Regulations

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is working on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from multiple sectors of California’s economy, as part of the implementation of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act. Several of ARB’s regulations take effect in 2011 and will affect businesses in Ventura County. ARB’s regulations effective this year will apply to operators of larger industrial and commercial refrigeration systems and semiconductor manufacturers. To assist those affected by ARB’s regulations, the APCD has prepared several Compliance Assistance Advisories. Read more...

Air – the search for one clean breath

To view film, click here.

Electric Drive 805 Coalition

Using an electric vehicle reduces carbon emissions by 75% compared to gasoline cars. Electric Drive 805 is a collaborative effort between multiple local agencies to provide relevant information for the public and businesses in the Ventura/Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo Counties to reduce our carbon footprint. Find out about rebates, incentives, and how easy and simple it is buying and owning a Zero Emission Vehicle at www.ElectricDrive805.org

EV Readiness Plan, Charging Station Grants,& EV Incentives

On January 23, 2014, Ventura County APCD and Plug in Central Coast hosted a public workshop to discuss the recently released EV Readiness Plan and EV Charging Station Maps. This Plan was developed under the California Energy Commission Grant No. ARV-11-002. In addition, this workshop provided information on current grant opportunities to install publicly accessible EV charging stations in the county.

EV Incentives from VCAPCD no longer available

The Ventura County APCD Electric Vehicle Rebate Funds have been depleted and are no longer available. APCD has stopped issuing reservations. Please contact Holly Galbreath at (805) 303-3666 if you have any questions. We do not anticipate any new funds for this program in the foreseeable future.

New Advisory for Large Water Heaters and Small Boilers

APCD issues a Compliance Assistance Advisory regarding the January 1, 2014 compliance date for manufacturers, suppliers and installers of large water heaters and small boilers. On September 11, 2012, the Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board amended Rule 74.11.1, Large Water Heaters and Small Boilers. The amended Rule includes a reduction to emission limits from natural gas-fired large water heaters and small boilers. Only those units that meet the new emission limits may be sold, offered for sale or installed in Ventura County.

Manufacturers of water heaters, boilers, steam generators and process heaters are required to have them certified by the Ventura County APCD before they may be sold in Ventura County.

Only those units meeting the emission limits specified in the rule can be sold, offered for sale or installed in Ventura County. Persons selling, offering for sale or installing non-compliant units may be subject to enforcement action by the Ventura County APCD and possible civil penalties.

To view the advisory, please click here.