to be published
August 5, 2007

Proposed New Rule 361 Small Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters

Santa Barbara Public Workshop
Tuesday, August 28, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.
Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District
260 N. San Antonio Road, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Maria Public Workshop
Wednesday, August 29, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.
Board of Supervisors’ Hearing Room
511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria, CA

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) will hold Public Workshops at the times and locations listed above to accept comments on proposed new Rule 361.

Sources Potentially Affected

This new rule will affect all owners and operators of boilers, steam generators, and process heaters in Santa Barbara County that are rated at greater than 2,000,000 British thermal unit (Btu) per hour to less than 5,000,000 Btu per hour.

About the Proposed New Rule

The 2001 and 2004 Clean Air Plans identified the need for Rule 361. APCD currently has rules for smaller and larger units of this type. Rule 361 will complete our regulation of units in all size ranges. This rulemaking process includes a revision to Rule 202 to require permits for units subject to Rule 361.

Rule 361 will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) to a limit of 30 parts per million by volume and emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) to a limit of 400 parts per million by volume for those medium-sized boilers, steam generators, and process heaters that are modified or replaced after the adoption of the rule. These emission reductions will be achieved through the installation or replacement of units with low-NOx burners. The rule includes a sunset clause that gives owners and operators until January 1, 2020 to modify or replace their existing units with compliant units. The rule will limit emissions for new or modified units on or before January 1, 2020, and for existing units (not otherwise exempt from this rule) by January 1, 2020.

The APCD has determined that this new rule will have no significant adverse environmental impacts and thus no mitigation measures are required. The APCD finds that this rulemaking activity has been analyzed in the 2004 Clean Air Plan Supplemental Environmental Impact Report. Any subsequent changes to the project description will require additional environmental review.

A copy of the proposed Rule 361 may be reviewed on this website on this page, or at the following locations:

APCD – Main Office
 260 N. San Antonio Rd, Suite A
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 961-8800

APCD – Santa Maria Office
301 E. Cook StreetSuite L 
Santa Maria, CA 93454 
(805) 961-8800

Copies may also be obtained by contacting Liz Zavala at 805.961.8811. For more information on this rule action, contact Rebecca Armstrong at 805.961.8888 or ArmstrongR@sbcapcd.org, or write to the APCD at the Santa Barbara address listed above.

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