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 2023-2024 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 1020 (Definitions) | Amendments to the definitions of PM2.5, PM10, and VOC as a result of rule amendments to Rule 2201. | Amended April 20, 2023 |
| Rule 2201 (New and Modified Stationary Source Review, or NSR) | Amendments to comply with the federal new source review requirements and address EPA’s proposed limited approval / limited disapproval of the 2019 version of the Rule. | Amended April 20, 2023 |
| Rule 2301 (Emission Reduction Credit Banking) | Amendments to administrative mechanisms, definitions, and procedures and removal of banking for new greenhouse gas emissions reductions. | Amended April 20, 2023 |
| Rule 3171 (Federally Mandated Ozone Nonattainment Fee – 1997 8-hour Standard) | Implement Clean Air Act Section 185 fees for the federal 1997 8-hour ozone standard. | Adopted October 19, 2023 |
| Rule 3172 (Federally Mandated Ozone Nonattainment Fee – 2008 8-hour Standard) |
Implement Clean Air Act Section 185 fees for the federal 2008 8-hour ozone standard. |
In progress |
| Rule 3173 (Federally Mandated Ozone Nonattainment Fee – 2008 8-hour Standard) |
Implement Clean Air Act Section 185 fees for the federal 2015 8-hour ozone standard. |
In progress |
| Rule 4401 (Steam-Enhanced Crude Oil Production Wells) | Amendments to satisfy requirements of the District’s expedited BARCT review schedule under AB 617 to evaluate potential emission reductions of VOC emissions to the extent that such controls are technologically and economically feasible. | Amended June 15, 2023 |
| Rule 4402 (Crude Oil Production Sumps) | Potential amendments will satisfy requirements of the District’s expedited BARCT review schedule under AB 617 to evaluate opportunities for a potentially more stringent definition of clean produced water to determine the maximum degree of VOC emission reductions achievable, taking into account environmental, energy and economic impacts by each class or category of source. | In progress |
| Rule 4409 (Components at Light Crude Oil Production Facilities, Natural Gas Production Facilities, and Natural Gas Processing Facilities) | Amendments to satisfy requirements of the District’s expedited BARCT review schedule under AB 617 to evaluate potential emission reductions of VOC emissions to the extent that such controls are technologically and economically feasible. | Amended June 15, 2023 |
| Rule 4455 (Components at Petroleum Refineries, Gas Liquids Processing Facilities and Chemical Plants) | Amendments to satisfy requirements of the District’s expedited BARCT review schedule under AB 617 to evaluate potential emission reductions of VOC emissions to the extent that such controls are technologically and economically feasible. | Amended June 15, 2023 |
| 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 4623 (Storage of Organic Liquids) | Amendments to satisfy requirements of the District’s expedited BARCT review schedule under AB 617 to evaluate potential emission reductions of VOC emissions to the extent that such controls are technologically and economically feasible. | Amended June 15, 2023 |
| Rule 4624 (Transfer of Organic Liquid) | Amendments to satisfy requirements of the District’s expedited BARCT review schedule under AB 617 to evaluate potential emission reductions of VOC emissions to the extent that such controls are technologically and economically feasible. | Amended June 15, 2023 |
| Rule 4901 (Wood Burning Fireplaces and Wood Burning Heaters) | Amendments incorporate contingency provisions to satisfy contingency measure requirements under the Clean Air Act for the 1997, 2006, and 2012 PM2.5 standards. | Amended May 18, 2023 |
| Rule 8051 (Open Areas) | Amendments incorporate a contingency provision to satisfy contingency measure requirements under the Clean Air Act for the 1997, 2006, and 2012 PM2.5 standards. | Amended September 21, 2023 |
