Rule Development

Current Rules And Regulations

Air Pollution Control Board

Advisory Committee

Public Workshops

Public Consultation

Rule Development Calendar

Compliance Dates

Publication & Subscription Order Form


 

Tyler Harris, Manager – Planning, Rules and Incentives (805) 303-3661

 

Do Young Maeng, Air Quality Engineer (805) 303-3662

Danny McQuillan, Air Quality Engineer (805) 303-3678

 

CURRENT PROJECTS:

 

 

 

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) classify Ventura County as a non-attainment area for both the federal and state ozone air quality standards. In addition, Ventura County does not meet state particulate matter (PM) standards.

 

Therefore, the District must develop and implement rules designed to reduce air pollutants being emitted from local sources. The District's rules apply to many activities including open burning, incineration, gasoline storage, painting, solvent use, dry cleaning, screen printing, asphalt paving, chrome plating, fuel burning, landfills, and others.

 

With pollution still threatening our skies, the economy and public health continue to be at risk. The Rule Development Section is challenged with the task of developing rules to reduce emissions while minimizing their socioeconomic impacts.

 

Air Pollution Control Board Meetings

Calendar     |     Archives


 

September 12, 2023

Proposed New Rule 74.35, Flares

On September 12, 2023, the Air Pollution Control Board will consider adopting proposed new Rule 74.35, Flares.

Staff is proposing to adopt new Rule 74.35 to reduce reactive organic compounds (ROC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from flares with a heat input rating of 1 million Btu per hour and greater. Rule 74.35 is proposed as a feasible measure under the California Clean Air Act and as an implementation of Best Available Retrofit Control Technology (BARCT) required by Assembly Bill (AB) 617 (C. Garcia, Chapter 136, statutes of 2017). The rule requirements are based on similar standards adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (Rule 1118.1 Control of Emissions from Non-Refinery Flares).

YOU ARE INVITED to attend this meeting and be heard on this matter. For instructions on how to attend in person or virtually, or how to submit comments, you may read the instructions located inside the public agenda for the hearing, to be posted on our website the week prior to the scheduled hearing. You may visit http://www.vcapcd.org/agendas.htm#The_Air_Pollution_Control_Board to access the District’s Boards and Committees webpage.

The proposed rule language and staff report may be downloaded below. Contact Tyler Harris at (805) 303-3661 or via email tyler@vcapcd.org if you have questions or comments.
 


 

Advisory Committee Meetings

Calendar


 

November 30, 2023

Proposed Amendments to Rule 71, Crude Oil And Reactive Organic Compound Liquids and Rule 74.10, Components at Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production and Processing Facilities


The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) will hold an Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday, November 30, 2023, to consider proposed amendments to Rule 71 and Rule 74.10.

Staff is proposing amendments to Rule 71 to address revised or additional definitions in relation to proposed amendments to Rule 74.10 and the recent amendments to the California Air Resources Board’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities (CARB GHG Oil and Gas Regulation).

Staff is also proposing amendments to Rule 74.10 to reduce Reactive Organic Compound (ROC) emissions from crude oil and natural gas production and processing equipment as proposed in the VCAPCD Best Available Retrofit Control Technology (BARCT) schedule approved on December 11, 2018.

As amended by Assembly Bill 617 (C. Garcia, Chapter 136, Statutes of 2017), Health and Safety Code section 40920.6(c) requires each local air district that is a nonattainment area for one or more air pollutants shall adopt an expedited schedule for the implementation of BARCT by the earliest feasible date, but in any event, not later than December 31, 2023. On December 11, 2018, the Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board approved a BARCT Rule Development Schedule. As part of this Rule Development Schedule, VCAPCD staff are proposing to implement BARCT by adopting revisions to Rule 74.10 to reduce emissions from crude oil and natural gas production and processing equipment.

The Advisory Committee Meeting will occur virtually and in person at the following time and location:

Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Ventura County Air Pollution Control District
4567 Telephone Road, 2nd Floor
Ventura, CA 93003


The public is invited to attend this meeting and provide input on this rule development. The proposed amendments to Rule 71 and Rule 74.10 will be made available prior to the workshop in strikeout/underline format on the VCAPCD website (http://vcapcd.org/rules_division.htm). Contact John Henkelman at (805) 303-3656 or email john@vcapcd.org if you have any questions or comments. Written comments may be mailed to 4567 Telephone Road, 2nd Floor, Ventura, CA, 93003, or faxed to (805) 456-7797.

Remote Participation Instructions:

Remote participation is available in the following ways:

1. From your home computer, smart phone, or tablet by going to the link below at the scheduled time and date:


https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87896083003?pwd=UVhaRDFWd2p6M1RQNzVsQzYyMFJWdz09

2. From a phone by calling (669) 900-9128 at the scheduled time and date. When prompted, enter the meeting ID and password provided below:

Zoom Meeting Information
Meeting ID: 878 9608 3003
Password: 448686

This is a public meeting. Please contact John Henkelman at (805) 303-3656 if you have any questions or need additional information.
 

Documents


 

 

Public Workshops

 

No Public Workshops on new or amended rules are presently scheduled.

 

Public Consultation Meetings

No Public Consultation Meetings on new or amended rules are presently scheduled.

 

Rule Development Calendar

 

2020 Rule Development Calendar:

On December 10, 2019, the Air Pollution Control Board will consider adopting the 2020 Rule Development Calendar. Health and Safety Code §40923(a) requires the District to publish each January a list of regulatory measures scheduled, or tentatively scheduled, for consideration during the following year. Except for limited exceptions, the District may only propose consideration of regulatory measures during a year if those measures appear on the published list. State law does not require that the rulemaking calendar include control measures to comply with federal requirements, to abate substantial endangerment to the public health, to implement Air Toxic Control Measures published by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), or to implement contingency measures after a CARB determination of inadequate progress. The 2020 Rule Development Calendar is available below as a download. For additional information or questions, contact Ali Ghasemi by email at aghasemi@vcapcd.org or by telephone at (805) 303-4016

 

 

 

 

Compliance Dates

 

July 1, 2015

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Transfer and Dispensing

(Rule 74.33 – New): Effective July 1, 2015, all LPG Bulk Facilities are required to have vapor recovery or equalization systems for all LPG transfers with both vapor tight and liquid tight components. Also, effective July 1, 2015, both LPG Bulk Facilities and LPG Transfer or Dispensing Facilities are required to initiate a Leak Detection and Repair program. LPG Bulk Facilities are required to submit reports on prior year installation of Low Emission Connectors and Low Emission Fixed Liquid Level Gauges (FLLG) prior to July 1, 2017.

 

New requirements were adopted for both LPG Transfer or Dispensing Facilities and Mobile Fuelers for low emission equipment upgrades as follows:

 

  1. Stationary LPG storage tanks: Low emission FLLGs or closed during filling (installation schedule: when tank is taken out of service but no later than Jan 1, 2017.
  2. Cargo tanks: Low Emission FLLG (installation schedule: new cargo tanks or manufactured after Jan 13, 2015; whenever evacuated, or no later than 5 years after latest hydro test that occurred prior to rule adoption date.)
  3. Low Emission Connectors must be installed prior to July 13, 2016.

 

Both the adopted rule and staff report may be downloaded below. Appendix 1 of the staff report contains a table of qualified Low Emission Connectors. Other components may be installed provided the operator can demonstrate that the connector meets the low emission criteria as defined in Rule 74.33. For additional information, contact Danny McQuillan at (805) 303-3662.

 

 

 

January 14, 2014

Sulfur Compounds

(Rule 54 – Revised): Effective January 14, 2014 all sources of sulfur dioxide emissions must meet a new ground or sea level sulfur dioxide concentration limit of 75 ppb at or beyond the property line. Revised Rule 54 includes a description of the design value that must be compared to the concentration limit and options for demonstrating compliance. At this time, no action is required by existing sources to demonstrate compliance. In addition, all sources subject to the SO2 combustion emission limit in Rule 54 must meet the combustion emission limit on a dry basis and correct for a percent oxygen content based on the emission source. This clarification of the combustion emission limit for sulfur dioxide must be applied during the next regularly scheduled source test. Those sources subject to the planned flaring excess emission fee in Rule 54 and Rule 42 should note that the revised rules codify current District policy and practice.

 

For additional information, contact Tyler Harris at (805) 303-3661.