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Compliance Programs
Compliance Division staff inspects all permitted air pollution-emitting facilities to assure their compliance with APCD rules and regulations and applicable provisions of the California Health and Safety Code and Environmental Protection Agency regulations. Permitted sources include gas stations, dry cleaners, auto body shops, oil field operations, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing facilities, municipal government operations, power plants, and chemical processing plants. Inspectors ensure that pollution-emitting facilities are properly permitted, operated, and source tested according to applicable rules and permit conditions. Unpermitted facilities are also inspected to determine if they are subject to the District’s permit requirements and rules and regulations. Inspectors may issue Notices of Violation, Notices to Comply, or Notices to Supply Information.
APCD Hearing BoardCompliance staff represents the District before the Air Pollution Control District Hearing Board; assists companies seeking variances; initiates petitions for Orders of Abatement; and assures that sources operating under variance and abatement orders maintain compliance.
Asbestos Renovation & DemolitionAsbestos renovation and demolition projects are reviewed and inspected by District inspectors to assure that the projects are conducted according to District and federal rules and regulations. This District program ensures that asbestos abatement renovation and demolition projects will not release asbestos containing materials that may harm the public health.
Boiler Tuning, Screening and Source TestingAPCD Rule 74.15.1, Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters applies to units with a rated heat input capacity equal or greater to 1 million BTU/Hr and less than 5 million BTU/Hr. It requires the owner/operator to conduct Tuning, Source Testing, and Screening on permitted Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters. The requirements for each unit vary based on the following:
For more information regarding required source testing, emission screening or tune up requirements, click on the links below:
You must notify the APCD 24 hours prior to performing any screening analysis. Be prepared to give your name, APCD permit number, company, company contact, telephone number, location, date and time of the screening, and the equipment involved.
To report a notification
Breakdown Conditions - ReportingDistrict Rule 32, Breakdown Conditions; Emergency Variances, requires the owner/operator of air pollution control equipment or continuous emission monitoring system equipment, to notify the District when there is a breakdown. When failures or malfunctions occur, a facility can continue to operate for a limited time under a breakdown condition, provided certain conditions are met.
You must notify the APCD of any occurrence as soon as reasonably possible, but not later than four (4) hours after its detection. Be prepared to give your name, APCD permit number, company, company contact, telephone number, location, date and time of the occurrence, equipment involved, and to the extent known, the cause or causes. Click here for more information.
To report a breakdown
Complaint InvestigationCompliance staff investigate air pollution-related complaints from citizens to determine the source of odors, dust, fumes, and other pollutants that may cause harm or discomfort to the public. Complaint investigations often require interaction with other agencies such as the County’s Environmental Health Department, fire agencies, building and safety and code enforcement agencies.
To register an air quality complaint
Compliance Assistance AdvisoriesFrom time-to-time the Compliance Division will issue Compliance Assistance Advisories to businesses affected by District or state regulations, or to specific segments of the community. Compliance Assistance Advisories may advise permit holders of revised rules or regulations, or specific requirements of a District rule. Click here to view recent Compliance Assistance Advisories.
Emergency Diesel Engine ReportingThe Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) issues Permits to Operate to facilities that have emergency standby diesel engines. These Permits apply conditions to assure compliance with the California Air Toxic Control Measure for Stationary Diesel Engines (ATCM) and APCD Rule 74.9, Stationary Internal Combustion Engines. Permit conditions set limits, based on the ATCM, for the annual hours of operation for maintenance and testing for each engine.
Companies with stationary emergency standby diesel engines are required to 1) record each engine's hours of operation, and 2) maintain logs that differentiate operating hours for maintenance and testing from emergency use, for each engine. Records of operation must be summed and submitted to the APCD in an annual report that is due February 15 each year..
A District report form can be used to submit the required data. Click here for the form. The form must be signed and can be mailed, faxed, or scanned and emailed. If the form is faxed or emailed, the original hard copy does not have to be mailed.
If the engine has changed or the information needs to be updated, please contact the APCD’s Engineering Division at (805) 303-3688.
If you have questions regarding the annual report form, please contact Supervising Air Quality Specialist, Mr. Neil Hammel at (805) 303-3827.
Mutual Settlement ProgramThe District’s Mutual Settlement Program offers a violator the opportunity to settle violations through payment of penalties in lieu of litigation. If the penalty is paid, the matter is resolved. This program allows the District staff to educate the violator about the District requirements and the necessity for compliance.
Notifications or Maintenance - ReportingAPCD permit conditions require the owner/operator of permitted portable equipment to notify the District either verbally or in writing at least 48 hours prior to the work commencing, except during an emergency*. When notifying the District, be prepared to provide your company name and contact information, APCD permit number, permitted portable equipment involved and the duration of the operation. Also, the name, address and contact phone number of location where the operation will occur.
APCD regulations require permit holder to notify the District either verbally or in writing at least 24 hours in advance of maintenance operations that occur on permitted equipment, except during an emergency*. For maintenance operations, provide your company name and contact information, APCD permit number, maintenance work to be conducted, and duration of the operation.
*If the notification or maintenance is in response to an emergency, the District shall be notified as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than four hours after completion of the operation.
To report notification or maintenance activity
Occupancy Permit ReviewState law requires that APCD give approval before occupancy permits are issued. This helps prevent the installation of unpermitted sources of air pollution, and unsupervised renovation and demolition of facilities containing asbestos. Staff interviews applicants for certificates of occupancy and building permits, and issues authorization to the planning or building and safety department only after the applicant complies with, or has been determined to be exempt from APCD requirements.
Title V – Annual Compliance Certification ReviewTitle V of the federal Clean Air Act requires major
stationary sources of air pollution to obtain operating
permits that assure compliance with all applicable federal
air pollution control requirements. Holders of Title V
permits are required to submit an annual certification of
compliance for the previous permit period. The APCD’s
Compliance Division reviews each Annual Compliance
Certification for accuracy, completeness and to determine if
there were any unreported violations, deviations or
excursions of any applicable federal air pollution control
requirements. Recent Annual Compliance Certifications are
available for review by clicking
here. Water Heater, Small Boiler, and Furnace CertificationsAPCD Rules 74.11 - Natural Gas-Fired Water Heaters, 74.11.1 - Large Water Heaters and Small Boilers, and 74.22 - Natural Gas-Fired, Fan-Type Central Furnaces require that the units be certified according to specific NOx emission limits before the units can be sold, offered for sale, or installed in Ventura County. For further information on the District’s certification program click here.
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