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 $6.2 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.
In rule development efforts, the District is committed to a transparent public process that includes stakeholder, industry, and other-agency input at every step possible. Early in the rule development process, District staff researches technologies and explores options for emissions reductions, gathering preliminary data and performing literature reviews of relevant studies. Through a series of public workshops and focus group meetings, staff presents draft rule concepts and receives feedback on specific technology costs, technical insight, and general public comments. Staff uses this information gathering and discussion to refine the rule throughout the rule development process. Using this iterative process of gathering the most up-to-date cost and technical information, staff analyzes cost-effectiveness and potential emissions reductions. These analyses are shared with the public through the rule development process.
During the ongoing public workshop process, the District enlists the services of an economic consultant to analyze the proposed rule’s socioeconomic impact, pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 40728.5. As with draft versions of the rule, the District gives the public and stakeholders the opportunity to review the analysis and provide further feedback. To the extent possible, the District minimizes significant economic and socioeconomic impacts by evaluating viable alternatives, adjusting proposed limits, or extending compliance schedules.
Staff presents the final draft version of the staff report and proposed rule, including the cost-effectiveness analysis, socioeconomic impact report, emissions reductions analysis, RACT analysis, and California Environmental Quality Assessment (CEQA), to the Governing Board during a public hearing. The Governing Board ultimately determines the balance between air quality improvement and rule impacts when adopting proposed rules.
Once adopted, the District forwards the rule through CARB to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for inclusion into the State Implementation Plan (SIP), as appropriate. EPA evaluates the rule, determines if the rule meets federal requirements, and provides an opportunity for further public comment. After this review and comment period, EPA will amend the SIP to include the new rule, as appropriate.
Beyond the rule development and adoption process, District staff will continue to engage the public and affected source operators throughout implementation and compliance. Additionally, District staff continues public outreach and education through notifications to stakeholders of the rule adoption, issuance of compliance assistance bulletins, and assistance through the District’s Small Business Assistance program.
Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 40923, each air district with a state approved air quality attainment plan shall publish a list of regulatory measures scheduled or tentatively scheduled for consideration for that year.
During 2024, the Governing Board of the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (District) may consider amending the rules listed below. Rules not adopted or amended by the Governing Board in 2024 may be adopted in subsequent years. The District Governing Board may also consider adopting or amending other rules, as required to comply with local, state or federal requirements, or to address technical issues that may arise.
| Rule | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Prior to adopting or amending any rule, a notice is published in selected San Joaquin Valley newspapers and the District Governing Board accepts testimony at a public hearing. Copies of any proposed rules would be available via mail subscription at the District, at the District's website here when the rule is developed, and via email using the District’s email list located here. Information on District rule development is available from District staff at (559)230-6000.
