| April 5, 2011 The South
Coast Air Quality Management District has approved a measure that will
streamline compliance and emissions reporting for landfills across the
Southland by consolidating federal, state and local requirements.
The rule incorporates greenhouse gas measures required by AB 32,
California’s global warming law, to control methane emissions at landfills.
“This measure improves efficiency while ensuring compliance with regulations
of multiple agencies,” said William A. Burke, Ed.D., chairman of AQMD’s
Governing Board. “It just makes sense to provide a streamlined approach to
regulations.”
AQMD has approved amendments to Rule 1150.1 – Control of Gaseous Emissions
from Municipal Solid Waste Landfills to incorporate provisions of the
California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) landfill rule to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. The changes also help local landfills more efficiently comply
with various emissions reporting requirements.
The measure also lowers the emissions limit for landfill control systems
from 50 to 25 parts per million by volume (ppmv), consistent with the state
rule and based on current operating data from landfill operators in the
Southland. Amendments also improve enforceability, clarify operational
standards for existing landfill control systems and eliminate duplicate
recordkeeping and reporting.
Landfills generate various gaseous emissions, including volatile organic
compounds, toxic air contaminants, and greenhouse gases. AQMD’s Rule 1150.1
has been in effect since 1985 to regulate emissions from active and inactive
landfills.
The rule applies to existing and future municipal solid waste landfills.
Currently, there are 19 active and 64 inactive landfills in the Southland.
The amendments to the measure that implement the CARB greenhouse gas rule
take effect no earlier than July 1, upon receipt of a delegation letter from
CARB stating that the AQMD rule would apply in its four-county jurisdiction.
In other action, AQMD’s Board:
• Approved a general strategy to expand outreach to fleet operators and the
general public to facilitate use of hybrid electric and pure electric
vehicles.
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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