Notice of Public Hearing 

Thursday, January 15, 2009, at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Board of Supervisors Hearing Room
511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria, California 93455
Proposed Revised Rule 316, Storage and Transfer of Gasoline,
and Rule 102, Definitions
Public Review Period December 7, 2008 to December 24, 2008  

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) Board of Directors will hold a public hearing at the time and location listed above to accept comments and consider adoption of modifications to existing Rule 316 (Storage and Transfer of Gasoline) and Rule 102 (Definitions).  

About the Proposed Revised Rules

Changes to Rule 316 will allow vehicle refueling without the use of Phase II vapor recovery systems.  The two exemptions would apply to:  1) dispensing of E85 (an ethanol-gasoline blend) and 2) non-retail gasoline dispensing into motor vehicles equipped with Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery.  The APCD also proposes minor revisions to Rule 102, Definitions, and Rule 316 to clarify the rule provisions.  

The addition of the proposed exemptions are consistent with the federal Clean Air Act Section 202(a)(6) and the 40CFR Part 86, Control of Emissions from New and In-Use Highway Vehicles and Engines, provisions.  These federal laws require that manufacturers equip newer vehicles with Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) systems.  Such systems perform the same function as Phase II vapor recovery system; to control gasoline vapors during vehicle refueling.  The proposed exemptions will not cause any changes in emissions.  

Sources Potentially Affected

E85 dispensing facilities and non-retail gasoline dispensing facilities typically operated by governmental agencies, car rental agencies, and corporations.  Modifications to Rule 316 will not require the installation of any additional control equipment.  Further, the Rule 316 changes will not affect the April 1, 2009 deadline for installing Enhanced Vapor Recovery on Phase II vapor recovery systems as mandated by California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 94011.  

The APCD has determined that the project (the rule revisions) will not have any significant adverse impacts.  The APCD finds that this rulemaking activity is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15061 (b) (3).  Any subsequent changes to the project description during the public review period will undergo additional environmental review under the CEQA.   The APCD has prepared proposed amended rules, which may be downloaded for review from the APCD’s web site, from this page, or viewed at the following locations:  

APCD   
301 E. Cook Street, Suite L     
Santa Maria, CA 93454   
(805) 961-8800                                                 

APCD
260 N. San Antonio Road, Suite A
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 961-8800                                              

Copies of the proposed amended rules may also be obtained by contacting Liz Zavala at 805.961.8811.  The APCD invites the submittal of written comments on this project via regular mail to the APCD at the Santa Barbara address listed above or via email to the address provided below.  

Please provide the written comments to Douglas Grapple via this email: GrappleD@sbcapcd.org. Written comments are to be received by December 24, 2008.    

to be published Sunday, December 7, 2008