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REPORT:

Stationary Source Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Stationary Source Committee met Friday, September 17, 1999. Following is a summary of that meeting. The next meeting will be October 15, 1999, at 11:00 a.m., in Conference Room CC8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Mee Hae Lee
Chair, Stationary Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting began at 11:04 a.m. Present were Mee Hae Lee, Committee Chair, Jon Mikels and Leonard Paulitz. Absent was Ron Loveridge.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

1. Civil Penalty Assessment Procedures, Odor Nuisances
   
   Peter Mieras, District Prosecutor, was present to answer any questions the Committee might have on the civil penalty assessment procedure or the implementation of the District’s public nuisance policy. Leonard Paulitz asked if the District gives a warning first or if there is always a penalty assessed. Carol Coy, Deputy Executive Officer, Engineering and Compliance, responded by saying that often times a public nuisance develops over time and the District works with the source to abate the problem from the very first complaint. In these cases, the facility is aware of the problem, and the potential for a nuisance violation to occur. Public nuisance violations are not issued unless there are six or more verified complainants. Paulitz asked if AQMD always assesses a penalty on a public nuisance. Peter Mieras said that by the time the violation reaches his office, a penalty is always assessed. In the special case of public nuisances the company is often allowed to apply a substantial portion of the penalty toward the cost of correcting the problem. Paulitz was interested in the definition of a public nuisance. Mieras explained it includes annoyance, endangerment, or property damage. Mee Lee asked how the definition of a "considerable number of persons" affected by the odor is interpreted. Carol Coy responded that the policy in effect the past 20 years defines a considerable number to mean six or more separate households in the case of an odor nuisance. Mee Lee requested that the process of giving a warning to the source of a complaint wherever possible be formalized in the public nuisance investigation policy.

2. Notice of Violation Penalty Summary

   The Committee acknowledged the summary report attached to the agenda.

3. Rule 1121 – Emission Standards for New Commercial and Residential Water Heaters

   Jill Whynot, Planning and Rules Manager, presented this item. This rule was first adopted in 1978, and the measurement protocol was amended in 1995. Staff is now working with industry to amend this rule by the end of the year. This rule proposes the standard for NOx for new water heaters be lowered by 75%. The rule is directed at the sale of new water heaters. The cost increase would be approximately $15 – $30 per water heater. Rule adoption is set for December of this year. Mee Lee requested that staff add a provision to the rule for a technology assessment.

4. Rule 1402 – Control of Toxic Air Contaminants from New and Existing Sources

   Jack Broadbent, Deputy Executive Officer, Planning and Rules, briefed the Committee on staff’s efforts on Rule 1402. Staff has initiated efforts to develop a comprehensive plan, a fleet rule, and is expediting the completion of the outstanding HRAs under the AB2588 program. Staff is developing potential amendments to Rule 1402. Staff believes that by hiring a CEQA contractor it will help to move the schedule up to March 2000. Potential amendments to Rule 1402 include lowering the action level and improving the effectiveness of the rule.

5. Rule Forecast Report

   Jack Broadbent reported that at the October Board meeting there will be Rule 1171 amendments proposing lower VOC requirements for a number of clean-up solvent categories, and amendments to Rule 1130 – Graphic Arts.

6. Unpaved Road Emissions Briefing

   Jon Mikels expressed his concern to Elaine Chang, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer of Planning & Rules, that there might be emission reductions taking place that aren’t being captured if there are more roads paved than what was anticipated in the mile per year per jurisdiction estimates. He also provided guidance where the information can best be obtained. Elaine indicated that during the normal course of the AQMP emission inventory update, these surplus emission reductions are captured and staff will incorporate Committee comments in the next AQMP update.

7. Status of Environmental Justice Initiative #2: Ambient Air Toxic Monitoring

   Mel Zeldin, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, Science and Technology Advancement, reported that the program continues to progress well. At Barry Wallerstein’s request, Mel gave a brief report on sampling that was done in and around the Los Angeles Airport. What staff is seeing at the residences around the airport is a higher percentage of large combusted oil soot particles, much larger than PM10. Studies have been done at other airports, but not to this degree. At this time it cannot be determined if this fallout is from traffic around the airport or the aircraft itself. The purpose of the study, at this time, is to develop information for the Inglewood community.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m.

Attachments

September 17, 1999 Committee Agenda (without its attachments)

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