SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

(Adopted Oct. 5, 1979)(Amended March 7, 1980)(Amended Sept. 10, 1982) 

(Amended July 12, 1985)(Amended Jan. 10, 1986)(Amended August 1, 1986) 

(Amended June 28, 1990)(Amended May 3, 1991)(Amended June 5, 1992) 

(Amended Sept. 11, 1992)(Amended December 7, 1995)(Amended June 14, 1996)

RULE 1304. - EXEMPTIONS

(a) Modeling and Offset Exemptions

Upon approval by the Executive Officer or designee, an exemption from the modeling requirement of 

Rule 1303 (b)(1) and the offset requirement of Rule 1303 (b)(2) shall be allowed, for the following 

sources.

1. Replacements 

The source is replacing a functionally identical source or is a functionally identical modification to 

a source and there is no increase in maximum rating, and the potential to emit of any air 

contaminant will not be greater from the new source than from the replaced source, when the 

replaced source was operated at the same conditions and as if current BACT were applied. 

2. Electric Utility Steam Boiler Replacement 

The source is replacement of electric utility steam boiler(s) with combined cycle gas turbine(s), 

intercooled, chemically-recuperated gas turbines, other advanced gas turbine(s); solar, geothermal, 

or wind energy or other equipment, to the extent that such equipment will allow compliance with 

Rule 1135 or Regulation XX rules. The new equipment must have a maximum electrical power 

rating (in megawatts) that does not allow basinwide electricity generating capacity on a per-utility 

basis to increase. If there is an increase in basin-wide capacity, only the increased capacity must 

be offset. 

3. Abrasive Blasting Equipment 

The source is portable abrasive blasting equipment complying with all state laws. 

4. Emergency Equipment 

The source is exclusively used as emergency standby equipment for nonutility electrical power 

generation or any other emergency equipment as approved by the Executive Officer or designee, 

provided the source does not operate more than 200 hours per year as evidenced by an enginehour meter or equivalent method. 

5. Air Pollution Control Strategies 

The source is subjected to a modification or process change solely to reduce the issuance of air 

contaminants. This exemption shall not apply to landfill gas control operations or to any 

modification or process change made for the purpose of achieving regulatory compliance. 

6. Emergencies 

The source is exclusively used in emergency operations, such as emergency soil decontamination 

or excavation, performed by, under the jurisdiction of, or pursuant to the requirements of, an 

authorized health officer, agricultural commissioner, fire protection officer, or other authorized 

agency officer. A person shall report any emergency within one hour of such emergency to the 

District or within one hour of the time said person knew or reasonably should have known of its 

occurrence. A specific time limit for each operation will be imposed. 

7. Portable Equipment 

The source is periodically relocated, and is not located more than twelve consecutive months at 

any one facility in the District. The residency time of twelve consecutive months shall commence 

when the equipment is brought into the facility and placed into operation. This paragraph does not 

apply to portable internal combustion engines. 

8. Portable Internal Combustion Engines 

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The source is periodically relocated, and is not located more than twelve consecutive months at 

any one facility in the District, provided that the provisions of subparagraphs (A) through (C) are 

met. For the purpose of this paragraph, the residency time of twelve months shall commence 

either when an engine is brought into the facility and placed into operation or removed from 

storage and placed into operation. The equipment owner or operator shall designate dedicated 

storage areas within the facility and demonstrate compliance with the residency time requirement 

by keeping records that show the equipment location and operation history. Such records shall be 

kept on site for at least two years and made available to the Executive Officer upon request. 

(A) Emissions from the engine, by itself, do not cause an exceedance of any ambient air quality 

standard;

(B) Emissions from the engine do not exceed the following limits: 

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 55 pounds per day 

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) 55 pounds per day 

Sulfur Oxides (SOx) 150 pounds per day 

Particulate Matter (PM10) 150 pounds per day 

Carbon Monoxide (CO) 550 pounds per day

(C) For an engine located in the SEDAB the following limits shall apply: 

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 75 pounds per day 

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) 100 pounds per day 

Sulfur Oxides (SOx) 150 pounds per day 

Particulate Matter (PM10) 150 pounds per day 

Carbon Monoxide (CO) 550 pounds per day

(b) Intra-Facility Portable Equipment

1. Upon approval by the Executive Officer or designee, using the criteria set forth below, internal 

combustion engines and gas turbines which must be periodically moved within a facility because 

of the nature of their operation shall be exempt from the allowable change in air quality 

concentration requirements as stated in Rule 1303 paragraph (b)(1), provided that all of the 

following conditions are met: 

(A) The engine or turbine is used:

(i) to remediate soil or groundwater contamination as required by federal, state, or 

local law or by a judicial or administrative order; or

(ii) for flight-line operations.

(B) The engine or turbine is not periodically moved solely for the purpose of qualifying for this 

exemption.

(C) Emissions from the engine, by itself, do not cause an exceedance of any ambient air quality 

standard.

(D) Emissions from the engine do not exceed the following limits: 

Volatile Organic Compounds(VOC) 55 pounds per day 

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Nitrogen Oxides (NOx

) 55 pounds per day 

Sulfur Oxides (SOx) 150 pounds per day 

Particulate Matter (PM10) 150 pounds per day 

Carbon Monoxide (CO) 550 pounds per day

(E) For an engine located in the SEDAB the following limits shall apply: 

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 75 pounds per day 

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) 100 pounds per day 

Sulfur Oxides (SOx) 150 pounds per day 

Particulate Matter (PM10) 150 pounds per day 

Carbon Monoxide (CO) 550 pounds per day

2. For the purpose of clause (b)(1)(A)(ii), flight-line operations mean operations for the ground 

support of military and commercial aircraft, and includes, but is not limited to, the operation of 

power-generating internal combustion engines and gas turbines used to support aircraft systems or 

start up aircraft power plants. 

(c) Offset Exemptions

Upon approval by the Executive Officer or designee, an exemption from the offset requirement of Rule 

1303(b)(2) shall be allowed, for the following sources.

1. Relocations 

The source is a relocation of an existing source within the District, under the same operator and 

ownership, and provided that the potential to emit of any air contaminant will not be greater at the 

new location than at the previous location when the source is operated at the same conditions and 

as if current BACT were applied. The relocation shall also meet either the location requirements 

specified in Rule 1303(b)(3), or the applicant must demonstrate to the Executive Officer or 

designee a net air quality benefit in the area to which the facility will locate. 

In addition, the potential to emit of the combined facility for any air contaminant after the 

relocation shall be less than the amounts in Table A of Rule 1304 (d) whenever either the

relocating facility or existing facility received the facility offset exemption pursuant to Rule 1304

(d).

2. Concurrent Facility Modification 

The source is part of a concurrent facility modification with an emission reductions occurring after 

the submittal of an application for a permit to construct a new or modified source, but before the 

start of operation of the source, provided that it results in a net emission decrease, as determined 

by Rule 1306, and that the same emission reductions are not: 

(A) required by a Control Measure of the AQMP which has been assigned a target implementation 

date; or

(B) required by a proposed District rule for which the first public workshop to consider such a rule 

has been conducted. This exclusion shall remain in effect for 12 months from the date of the 

workshop, or until the Executive Officer or designee determines that the proposed rule is 

abandoned; or

(C) required by an adopted federal, State, or District rule, regulation or statute; or

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(D) from a category or class of equipment included in a demonstration program required by a 

District rule or regulation.

3. Resource Recovery and Energy Conservation Projects 

The source is a cogeneration technology project, resource recovery project or qualifying facility, 

as defined in Health and Safety Code Sections 39019.5, 39019.6, 39047.5 and 39050.5, to the 

extent required by state law, including Health and Safety Code Sections 42314, 42314.1, 42314.5, 

41605, and 41605.5. In no case shall these sections provide an exemption from federal law. 

4. Regulatory Compliance 

The source is installed or modified solely to comply with District, state, or federal air pollution 

control laws, rules, regulations or orders, as approved by the Executive Officer or designee, and 

provided there is no increase in maximum rating. 

5. Regulatory Compliance for Essential Public Services 

The source is installed or modified at an Essential Public Service solely to comply with District, 

state, or federal pollution control laws, rules, regulations or orders, and verification of such is 

provided to the Executive Officer or designee; and sufficient offsets are not available in the 

Priority Reserve. 

6. Replacement of Ozone Depleting Compounds (ODCs) 

The source is installed or modified exclusively for the replacement of ODCs, provided the 

replacement is performed in accordance with the District's ODC Replacement Guidelines. The 

Executive Officer or designee shall publish and update, as required, such guidelines indicating the 

administrative procedures and requirements for the replacement of ODCs. The ODC Replacement 

Guidelines shall ensure to the extent possible that: 

(A) the replacements minimize emission increases of VOC, or optimize such emission increases if 

there is a potential conflict with the requirements of subparagraphs (B), (C) or (D);

(B) the replacements are not toxic, as determined and published by the California Air Resources 

Board (ARB) or the federal EPA, unless no other alternatives are available;

(C) the replacements do not increase the emissions of other criteria pollutants or global warming 

compounds; and

(D) there are no adverse or irreversible water quality impacts through the use of such 

replacements.

7. Methyl Bromide Fumigation 

Any equipment or tarpaulin enclosures installed or constructed exclusively for fumigation using 

methyl bromide. 

(d) Facility Exemption

1. New Facility 

(A) Any new facility that has a potential to emit less than the amounts in Table A shall be exempt 

from Rule 1303 (b)(2).

(B) Any new facility that has a potential to emit equal to or more than the amounts in Table A 

shall offset the total amount of emission increase pursuant to Rule 1303 (b)(2).

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2. Modified Facility 

(A) Any modified facility that has a post-modification potential to emit less than the amounts in 

Table A shall be exempt from Rule 1303 (b)(2).

(B) Any modified facility that has a post-modification potential to emit equal to or more than the 

amounts in Table A shall be required to obtain offsets for the corresponding emissions increase, or 

the amount in excess of Table A figuresif the pre-modification potential to emit was less than the 

amounts in Table A in accordance with Rule 1303 (b)(2).

TABLE A

3. Determination of emissions pursuant to Table A shall include emissions from permitted 

equipment excluding Rule 219 equipment not subject to NSR and shall also include emissions

from all registered equipment except equipment registered pursuant to Rule 2100. 

4. Emission Increases 

Emission increases shall be determined pursuant to Rule 1306(b). 

5. Two-Year Limit on New Facility Exemption 

Any new facility with accumulated emission increases in excess of the amounts in Table A due to 

permit actions within any two-year period after the date of adoption of this rule shall offset the 

total emission increases during such period to zero. 

(e) Emission Reduction Credits Related to Positive NSR Balances

Facilities that previously provided Emission Reduction Credits for the purpose of complying with the 

requirement to offset positive NSR balances pursuant to Rule 1303(b)(2) after October 1, 1990 shall 

receive Emission Reduction Credits equal to the amount previously provided to offset their premodification positive NSR balance. 

Pollutant Emissions in 

Tons per Year

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 4

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) 4

Sulfur Oxides (SOx) 4

Particulate Matter (PM10) 4

Carbon Monoxide (CO) 29

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