Jan. 7, 2005
The Southland’s air quality agency today adopted a new measure to
significantly further reduce health-threatening particulate pollution from
nearly 400 sand and gravel facilities in the region.
“Sand and gravel-related operations in the Southland produce significant
amounts of particulate pollution that can be both a nuisance to neighboring
communities as well as a health threat,” said Barry Wallerstein, executive
officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. “This will
reduce their emissions by 18 tons per day through improved housekeeping
practices and other cost-effective measures.”
The measure, adopted by AQMD’s Governing Board today, will take effect in
two phases in July and December 2005. Affected facilities include sand and
gravel mining and processing operations, concrete batch and hot-mix asphalt
plants. Such plants typically are located in foothill canyons and washes
throughout the Southland.
Today’s measure will help the region achieve a 2006 federally mandated
deadline for PM10 air quality. PM10 pollution – particles smaller than 10
microns, or about 1/7 the thickness of a human hair – are associated with a
long list of adverse health effects from increased hospital admissions to
increased premature deaths.
Requirements under AQMD’s Rule 1157 – PM10 Emission Reductions from
Aggregate and Related Operations, include:
- Dust emissions shall not exceed 20 percent opacity based on an average
of 12 consecutive visual readings, or 50 percent based on five consecutive
visual readings;
- Dust plumes shall not extend more than 100 feet from any emissions
source;
- Dust suppressants or other dust control measures will be applied to
conveyors, crushers, storage piles and other activities;
- Facility paved roads will be swept daily or every other day depending
on the facility’s size, and chemical stabilizers or gravel pads will be
used for all unpaved roads, parking and staging areas; and
- Mitigation measures such as “rumble grates” and wheel washers must be
used to minimize the amount of dust-causing materials tracked out of the
facility by trucks onto public roadways.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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