Notice of Public Hearing

SUBJECT: Notice of Public Hearing for Adoption of Amendments to Rule 202, New Source Review

The Board of Directors of the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (District) will conduct a public hearing on February 24, 2005 at 9:30 A.M. in Room 1450 (Board of Supervisors’ Chamber), County Administration Building, 700 H Street, Sacramento, California.

The District Board will consider the adoption of the proposed amendments to Rule 202, New Source Review. Rule 202 sets the requirements applicable to new and modified stationary air pollution sources. These requirements include Best Available Control Technology (BACT) and offsets. Rule 202 is being amended in order to:

• Lower the offset trigger levels from 7500 pounds of Reactive Organic Compounds (ROCs) or Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) to 5000 pounds per quarter. The proposed change is intended to make the rule consistent with the California Air Resources Board Transport Mitigation Control Requirements which were amended in 2003.
• Set an emission offset ratio for increases of 5000 pounds per quarter but less than 7500 pounds per quarter to 1.0 to 1.0.
• Require public notification whenever emission offsets are required.

The California Clean Act (Act) was amended in 2003 in order to minimize the impact to California air quality as a result of the changes to the federal New Source Review (NSR) program by United Stated Environmental Protection Agency on December 31, 2002 which substantially weakened that program. The Act prohibits districts from making amendments to their pre-2002 State Implementation Plan (SIP) approved NSR rules that would result in weakening their rules. The proposed changes to Rule 202 do not result in a relaxation of the SIP approved version of Rule 202 and therefore do not trigger the requirements of the Act.

The rule (PDF 77 Kb) and the staff report (PDF 62 Kb) may be downloaded and may also be viewed at the District offices at the address listed below.

By this notice, all interested parties are specifically requested to testify on the proposed amendments to the rule. Oral and written testimony may be directed to the Board of Directors at the public hearing on February 24, 2005, or to the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, 777 12 th Street, 3 rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814, ATTENTION: Ali Mohamad (916) 874-4850.