| December 4, 2009 The
South Coast Air Quality Management District today approved a wide-ranging
measure to ensure that pollution control devices minimize particulate
emissions at more than 1,500 facilities across the Southland.
The new measure prohibits visible emissions
from any device that captures and controls directly emitted particulates
beginning April 1, 2010. Industries covered by the rule include concrete
and asphalt plants, wood and textile manufacturing, and the making and
packaging of food products.
“Reducing fine particulates is one of the
toughest challenges we face and particulates cause the most harm to the
public we serve,” said William A. Burke, Ed.D., chairman of AQMD’s Governing
Board. “This measure will help ensure the reduction of fine particulates
from over 5,000 control devices in the region.”
Beginning April 1, 2010, Rule 1155 –
Particulate Matter (PM) Control Devices –prohibits the release of visible
emissions from PM pollution control devices, including baghouses,
electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers and other dust collecting equipment.
In addition, facilities must begin weekly monitoring for visible emissions
by trained personnel.
For larger PM control devices, facilities
must install a bag leak detection system on the device and meet a new,
strict emission limit. Material transfer activities must also be enclosed
and some equipment upgrades may be necessary.
Pollution control devices are used in the
manufacturing process to filter out small particles, capture them and
prevent their release into the air. When operated properly these devices
are considered to be the best available control technology available to
effectively reduce fine particulate emissions. However, if not maintained
properly, such devices may malfunction, causing emissions to escape. Rule
1155 requires facilities to implement inspection and maintenance practices
to help identify and quickly repair any malfunction or leaks before visible
emissions can be released.
Baghouses account for about 76 percent of
all PM air pollution control devices in the Southland. Electrostatic
precipitators and wet scrubbers are also used to reduce PM emissions from
various operations.
Numerous studies have linked particulate
matter to health effects. When inhaled, fine particles are readily trapped
deep in lung tissues and are associated with a wide range of health effects
from increased hospital visits to exacerbation of respiratory diseases
including asthma, and premature deaths.
Rule 1155 implements a measure in the 2007
Air Quality Management Plan to further reduce fine particulate emissions.
In other action today, the AQMD Board:
• Approved $2.8
million in local incentives to enhance incentive funding from the California
Air Resources Board’s Air Quality Improvement Program for hybrid trucks and
buses, plug-in hybrid and zero-emission passenger cars, and electric lawn
mowers to ensure these clean technologies are deployed in the Southland;
• Approved amendments to Rule 1112.1 – Emissions
of Particulate Matter and Carbon Monoxide from Cement Kilns – to allow
compliance flexibility to facilities that manufacture grey Portland cement.
The amendments establish an alternative optional emission limit for cement
kilns to allow the continued reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions to
ensure that any spikes in carbon monoxide (CO) emissions will not compromise
local air quality standards; and
• Approved amendments to Rule 1145 – Plastic,
Rubber, Leather and Glass Coatings to add a new category for coating glass
panels used in refrigerated glass door assemblies and also revise the
current volatile organic compound (VOC) limit for the multi-color category
to be consistent with the U.S. EPA’s 2008 Control Techniques Guidelines.
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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