Notice of Public Workshops

Proposed Amendments to Regulation VIII,
(New Source Review), and Other Associated Rules

Thursday, September 17, 2015, 10:00 a.m.
Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District
260 N. San Antonio Road, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA

Friday, September 18, 2015, 10:30 a.m.
Santa Maria Public Library – Shepard Hall
421 South McClelland Street, Santa Maria, CA


General Project Description: 
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (District) will hold public workshops at the times and locations listed above to discuss proposed rule amendments. These amendments are designed to update the District’s current New Source Review (NSR) permitting regulations to reflect recent regulatory mandates, and to simplify the permitting process while maintaining an equally stringent rule set. Amendments are proposed for the following rules:

  1. Rule 102, Definitions;
  2. Rule 204, Applications;
  3. Regulation VIII, New Source Review (NSR);
  4. New Rule 809, Federal Minor Source NSR; and
  5. Rule 1301, Part 70 Operating Permits – General Information.

The NSR rules and proposed amendments only apply to criteria air pollutants. (Note that greenhouse gases are not criteria pollutants, therefore the proposed amendments have no applicability to greenhouse gases.) Changes include:

  • Replacing the Net Emission Increase (NEI) calculation methodology with the Potential to Emit (PTE) methodology;
  • Revising the offset thresholds, ratios, and calculations;
  • Adding offset exemptions for equipment replacements and emergency standby engines;
  • Adding PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter) to the attainment pollutant permitting requirements;
  • Revising the Air Quality Impact Analysis procedures; and
  • Creating new Rule 809, Federal Minor Source NSR, to address federal requirements.

Who is Affected?  Owners of stationary sources of air pollution (business and industry sources) whose construction or modification triggers the requirement for a permit from the District.

Document Availability: 
Copies of the proposed rules, the associated Staff Report, and all supplementary material may be downloaded for review from the District’s website at www.ourair.org/rules-under-development or www.ourair.org/news. Hard copies will be made available upon request.

How to Comment: 
Please provide written comments to the project manager, Timothy Mitro, by email at [email protected], or by mail at Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, 260 N. San Antonio Rd, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93110. The District requests that written comments be submitted prior to 5 p.m. on October 16, 2015. If you have a question about the project, please contact Mr. Mitro at (805) 961-8883 or at the above email address.

to be published August 16, 2015