Introduction
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District places a high
priority on providing good customer service to our permit holders. Over the
past several years the APCD staff has found many ways to streamline our
services, permits and requirements. The following table lists several of
these improvements. Our efforts to improve customer service are ongoing. If
you have comments or questions about our programs, call the General Source
Division Manager, Peter Cantle, at (805) 961-8827.
Streamlining Measures Enacted
For more information or assistance, call the APCD at
(805) 961-8800, or e-mail us at
engr@sbcapcd.org
Engineering
Streamlining Measures Enacted
The AIDoc is issued to businesses by APCD inspectors instead of a Notice
of Violation for the violation of administrative permit conditions. The
AIDoc means less paperwork for businesses and the APCD than a Notice of
Violation. Also, no monetary fine is associated with an AIDoc.
Application Fee Refunds
This streamlining measure requires the APCD to refund the application
filing fee to sources if the timelines required for the issuance of an ATC
as outlined in Section E of Rule 208 are not met. The procedures for
application fee refunds are detailed in the APCD Policy and Procedure No.
6100.066.97.
The Business Assistance Line provides a single point of contact within
APCD to the public and businesses. The dedicated phone line provides a quick
response to general questions, and ensures the caller is connected with the
best person to answer more detailed questions.
APCD staff will explain our Rules and Regulations and assist businesses
in filling out forms and preparing required reports. APCD Rules and permit
conditions are easier to understand, therefore it is easier for businesses
to maintain compliance. For assistance, e-mail or call the
Business Assistance Line, (805) 961-8868, or ask your permit engineer or
inspector.
APCD permit formats, conditions, requirements, calculation methodologies
and engineering evaluations have been standardized and computerized.
Computerization and standardization allow APCD staff to process permits
quickly, saving time for both businesses and the APCD. Computerization also
enhances consistency among similar permit categories.
For many years, the APCD has issued consolidated facility permits. These
permits replaced the previous practice of issuing a permit for each
"emissions unit." For example, in the past, a large electronic device
manufacturer could have over 20 different permits for their facility. With
the consolidated permit process, they have only one facility-wide permit.
The Consolidated Permit Process lifts a substantial administrative burden
off businesses. Businesses also benefit from consistent emission
calculations and permit conditions for all permitted emissions units.
The APCD conducts surveys to allow the public and businesses to rate our
performance in such areas as permitting, inspections, and public education.
The survey results help us identify ways to improve our service.
Upon request, an APCD Business Assistance Representative will provide an
on-site evaluation of business' compliance efforts. The educational site
visit allows businesses to work with a knowledgeable APCD staff person
without, except in extreme cases, the threat of a Notice of Violation. To
schedule an educational site visit, e-mail or call the
Business Assistance Line, (805)
961-8868.
APCD compliance staff offers step-by-step assistance for small businesses
needing to obtain a variance from the APCD's Hearing Board. This service
saves time and money for the small business by minimizing the complexity of
the variance application and hearing procedures.
This feature allows businesses to fax a permit application to the APCD.
The applicant is required to send in the required application filing fee any
attachments and related documents via regular mail within seven days of
faxing the application. The procedures for faxing an application are
detailed in the APCD Policy and Procedure No. 6100.065.97.
Inspections of vapor recovery equipment are performed by APCD inspectors.
As required by the Air Pollution Permit Streamlining Act, the APCD has
defined small, medium and large sources of air pollution and established
guaranteed permit processing timelines for each of the three categories. The
definitions and timelines are contained in Rule 102 and Rule 208 which where
revised on April 17, 1997. Guaranteed permit issuance timelines are
established by the businesses' potential to emit. Priority in issuance of
permits is given to each size category (small, medium or large) based on the
typical level of complexity.
Very small businesses emitting less than one ton of regulated pollutants
per year have been exempted from APCD permit requirements. This exemption
has eliminated the need for approximately 100 small businesses to obtain an
APCD permit, resulting in cost and time savings for those businesses and the
APCD.
If a business needs a permit or permit modification, they are put in
touch with an engineering staff person most familiar with that type of
business. The business person is given the correct information to ensure
their permit application is processed quickly and accurately.
Businesses are put in touch with technical and, in some cases, financial
assistance to develop pollution-reducing strategies. This service helps
businesses find alternative solutions for controlling air pollution.
Pollution prevention is any activity that reduces or eliminates the creation
of pollutants or wastes at their source, instead of trying to control or
manage them after they've been created.
This is another state-wide program. Businesses are able to register
portable internal combustion engines with the California Air Resources Board
and operate them in any California air district without having to obtain
local permits. The ARB adopted this state-wide regulation in March 1997. For
details, contact the Air Resources Board Business Assistance Helpline at
(916) 272-4572.
All permit applicants are encouraged to schedule a pre-application
meeting to discuss their proposed project. During these meetings, APCD
engineers have the opportunity to provide the applicant with feedback and
guidance regarding specific air quality related questions that would
typically arise if the application was submitted. These meetings allow the
business to address the APCD's specific concerns in the initial application,
thus minimizing delays in the permit process.
Recordkeeping requirements of Rules 337 (Surface Coating of Aircraft
or Aerospace Parts & Products) and 339 (Motor Vehicle & Mobile
Equipment Coating Operations) have been modified to require monthly,
instead of daily, recordkeeping. The new requirements mean less time and
paperwork for businesses and the APCD.
The basic permit application and associated
supplemental information forms have been revised to include specific
equipment and process details required for processing permits. The revised
forms help ensure that a business applying for an APCD permit includes all
the information needed to process the permit. This results in fewer permit
applications returned to businesses due to insufficient information, thus
expediting the permitting process and saving time and money.
Recent revisions to APCD Rule 202 - Exemptions, allow for the use of
temporary equipment without the need to obtain a permit. The ability to
exempt temporary equipment or processes benefits businesses in all source
categories. It allows, for example, pilot scale testing of new equipment or
processes with few emissions without permit delays.
The California Air Resources Board
and local air pollution control agencies developed a training course outline
which is being implemented by University of California Extension Offices
throughout the State.
For more information or assistance, call the APCD at (805) 961-8800, or
e-mail us at engr@sbcapcd.org.
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