To achieve the District’s mission of improving air quality and public health for all Valley residents, the District has developed and implemented several air quality plans to reduce emissions from stationary sources. The control strategies outlined in existing District attainment plans include the adoption of over 670 of the most stringent rules in the nation, and strong voluntary incentive programs that have invested more than $5.7 billion of combined funds in clean-air projects. Similarly, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted regulations for mobile sources. Together, these efforts represent the nation’s toughest air pollution emissions controls. Over the past several decades, these air quality improvement efforts have reduced nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions (primary precursor for both ozone and PM2.5) from mobile and stationary sources by over 75%, including a greater than 93% reduction from stationary sources under the District’s jurisdiction, resulting in significant air quality progress towards meeting the health-based federal ozone and PM2.5 standards.
To achieve the significant emissions reductions necessary for expeditious attainment of federal ambient air quality standards, District staff are actively working on rule development efforts for a suite of rules and projects to be adopted throughout the 2024-2025 period. Rule development projects will also include an evaluation of District rules to determine whether they meet the State of California Best Available Retrofit Control Technology (BARCT) level of controls, as required under AB 617 and through the adopted Community Emission Reduction Programs.
| Rule | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 2520 (Federally Mandated Operating Permits) | Potential amendments will remove the affirmative defense provision within the Rule consistent with recent EPA actions. | In progress |
| Rule 4550 (Conservation Management Practices) | Potential amendments will satisfy commitments in the 2018 PM2.5 Plan to evaluate potential emission reductions of PM2.5 from agricultural operations, to the extent that further controls and/or work practices are technologically and economically feasible. | In progress |
| Rule 4692 (Commercial Charbroiling) | Potential amendments will satisfy commitments in the 2018 PM2.5 Plan to achieve additional emission reductions from commercial underfired charbroilers. | In progress |
| Rule 4905 (Natural Gas-Fired, Fan-Type Central Furnaces) | Amendments extend the emission fee period for the manufactured homes furnace category. | Amended 3/21/24 |
