CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD 

APCD/AQMD RULE EVALUATION FORM – Page 1 

(Electronic Format) 

I. GENERAL INFORMATION 

District: South Coast Air Quality Management District 

Rule No(s): 445 and 444 Date adopted/Amended/Rescinded: Amended May 3, 2013 excluding: Rule 445, subdivision 

(h), and Rule 444 paragraphs (b)(11) and (c)(7), subparagraph (d)(3)(G), and paragraphs (h)(5) and (h)(6). 

Rule Title(s): 445 (Wood-Burning Devices) and 444 (Open Burning) 

Date Submitted to ARB: May 31, 2013 

If an Amended Rule, Date Last Amended (or Adopted): Rule 445, March 7, 2008 and 444, November 7, 2008 

Is the Rule Intended to be Sent to the U.S. EPA as a SIP Revision? Yes No (If No, do not complete remainder of form)

District Contact: Tracy Goss Phone Number: 909.396.3106 E-mail Address: tgoss@aqmd.gov 

Narrative Summary of New Rule or Rule Changes: New Rule Amended Rule 

The rule amendments implement 2012 AQMP control measures BCM-01 [Further Reductions from Residential 

Wood-Burning Devices] and BCM-02 [Further Reductions from Open Burning]. Amendments to Rule 445 – Wood 

Burning Devices lower the threshold for a wintertime wood burning curtailment, establish criteria for a basin-wide 

curtailment, and set standards for solid-fuel labeling for wood and wood-based products by commercial firewood 

sellers. Amendments to Rule 444 – Open Burning incorporate the winter season burn restrictions consistent with 

amended Rule 445. 

Pollutant(s) Regulated by the Rule (Check): ROG (NOx) SO2 

 (CO) PM TAC (name): 

II. EFFECT ON EMISSIONS 

Complete this section ONLY for rules that, when implemented, will result in quantifiable changes in emissions. Attach reference(s) for emission factor(s) 

and other information. Attach calculation sheet showing how the emission information provided below was determined. 

Net Effect on Emissions: Increase* Decrease** N/A 

Emission Reduction Commitment in SIP for this Source Category: Amendments to Rule 445 represent a State 

Implementation Plan (SIP) commitment to reduce PM emissions from wood burning devices by up to seven tons per 

episodic winter day by the year 2014. Amendments to Rule 444 could potentially reduce Basin 2.5 emissions on 

episodic no-burn days by about 4.6 tons per winter day, however, since the open burning would likely be shifted to 

other days the total annual emissions would remain the same. 

Inventory Year Used to Calculate Changes in Emissions: 2014 Area Affected: South Coast Air Basin 

Future Year Control Profile Estimate (Provide information on as many years as possible): 

Emissions (Tons/Day) 

Rule 445 Rule 444 ' 

 2014 2019 2023 2014 2019 2023 

Average Winter Day: 9.4 9.4 9.4 Annual Average Day 4.6 4.6 4.6 

PM2.5 Reduction 7.1* 7.1 7.1 4.6** 4.6 4.6 

PM2.5 Remaining 2.3 2.3 2.3 0 0 0 

*Winter average day reduction based on episodic conditions and on 75% rule effectivness 

** Reduction based on episodic implementation. Overall annual average emissions will remain unchanged as open 

burning will shift to non-episodic days 
 

CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD 

APCD/AQMD RULE EVALUATION FORM - Page 2 

(Electronic Format) 

Baseline Inventory in the SIP for the Control Measure: 2008 

Emissions Reduction Commitment in the SIP for the Control Measure: Amendments to Rule 445 represent a State 

Implementation Plan (SIP) commitment to reduce PM emissions from wood burning devices by up to seven tons per 

episodic winter day by the year 2014. Amendments to Rule 444 could potentially reduce Basin 2.5 emissions on episodic 

no-burn days by about 4.6 tons per winter day, however, since the open burning would likely be shifted to other days the 

total annual emissions would remain the same. 

Revised Baseline Inventory (if any): N/A 

Revised Emission Reduction Estimate (if developed): N/A 

Note that the district’s input to the Rule Evaluation Form will not be used as input to the ARB’s emission forecasting and 

planning. 

III. SOURCES/ATTAINMENT STATUS 

District is: Attainment Nonattainment Split 

Approximate Total Number of Small (<100 TPY) Sources Affected by this Amendment: Unknown as sources are 

unpermitted

Percent in Nonattainment Area: Unknown% 

Number of Large (> 100 TPY) Sources Controlled: Unknown Percent in Nonattainment Area: Unknown% 

Name(s) and Location(s) (city and county) of Large (> 100 TPY) Sources Controlled by Rule (Attach additional sheets as 

necessary): Unknown 

IV. EMISSION REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY 

Does the Rule Include Emission Limits that are Continuous? Yes No 

If Yes, Those Limits are in Section(s) of the Rule. 

Other Methods in the Rule for Achieving Emission Reductions are: 

V. OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

The Rule Contains: 

Emission Limits in Section(s): N/A Work Practice Standards in Section(s): N/A 

Recordkeeping Requirements in Section(s): N/A Reporting Requirements in Section(s): N/A 
 

5/1/2002 

CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD 

APCD/AQMD RULE EVALUATION FORM - Page 3 

(Electronic Format) 

VI. IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY PLAN 

 No Impact Impacts RFP Impacts attainment 

Discussion: SCAQMD staff has estimated that the changes to the Rule 445 mandatory burning curtailment program could 

potentially reduce Basin ambient PM2.5 emissions on episodic no-burn days by about 7.1 tons per winter day (presuming 

75% rule effectiveness). Aligning the Rule 444 open burning restrictions with Rule 445 provisions could potentially reduce 

Basin PM2.5 emissions on episodic no-burn days by about 4.6 tons per winter day; however, since the burning would 

likely be shifted to other days, the total annual emissions would remain the same. Accordingly, no annual emissions 

reductions are anticipated under Rule 444 provisions for traditional open burning sources (agriculture/prescribed burns), 

but emissions reductions would be expected to be achieved on individual days where high PM2.5 levels are forecast, thus 

reducing public health impacts.