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TEXT OF FINAL REGULATIONS

Current wording is indicated by regular type.

Proposed deletions are indicated by strikeout.

Proposed additions are indicated by underline. 

DIVISION 6. PESTICIDES AND PEST CONTROL OPERATIONS

CHAPTER 2. PESTICIDES

SUBCHAPTER 4. RESTRICTED MATERIALS

ARTICLE 4. FIELD FUMIGATION USE REQUIREMENTS

Amend section 6452 to read:

6452. Reduced Volatile Organic Compound Emissions Field Fumigation Methods.

(a) For the Sacramento Metro and South Coast ozone nonattainment areas, the Director may 

approve use of a field fumigation method not described in sections 6447.3, 6448.1, 6449.1, 

6450.1, 6450.2, and 6451.1 if the request is accompanied by scientific data documenting the 

volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. The emission rating specified in section 6452.4

6881 or the maximum emission rate (emission rating multiplied by the maximum application 

rate) must be no greater than any one of the methods for the same fumigant described in sections

6447.3, 6448.1, 6449.1, 6450.1, 6450.2, and 6451.1.

(b) For the San Joaquin Valley, Southeast Desert, and Ventura ozone nonattainment areas, 

upon written request, the Director may approve use of a field fumigation method either not 

described or excluded from use in sections 6447.3, 6448.1, 6449.1, 6450.1, 6450.2, or 6451.1 if 

the request meets the following criteria:

(1) The request is accompanied by scientific data documenting the VOC emissions; 

(A) The emission rating, as specified in section 6452.4 6881, is no greater than any one of the 

methods for the same fumigant allowed for use in the San Joaquin Valley, Southeast Desert, and 

Ventura ozone nonattainment areas as specified in sections 6447.3, 6448.1, 6449.1, 6450.1, 

6450.2, or 6451.1, or

(B) The maximum emission rate (emission rating multiplied by the maximum application rate) 

is no greater than any one of the methods for the same fumigant allowed for use in the San 

Joaquin Valley, Southeast Desert, and Ventura ozone nonattainment areas as specified in 

sections 6447.3, 6448.1, 6449.1, 6450.1, 6450.2, or 6451.1.

(c) Criteria the Director shall consider includes whether:

(1) the data and information provided are sufficient to estimate emissions;

(2) the results are valid as indicated by the quality control data; and

(3) the conditions studied represent agricultural fields fumigated.

(d) The Director shall publish a notice of interim approval for a field fumigation method on the 

Department’s Web site. The interim approval expires three years after the date of approval.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976, 14005, and 14102, Food and Agricultural 

Code. Reference: Sections 11501, 14006, and 14102.
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Amend section 6452.2 to read:

6452.2 Fumigant Volatile Organic Compound Emission Limits.

(a) The Director shall establish field fumigant volatile organic compound (VOC) emission 

limits in the Annual Volatile Organic Compound Emissions Inventory Report issued pursuant to 

section 6452.4 6881for the Sacramento Metro, South Coast, Southeast Desert, and Ventura 

ozone nonattainment areas where the difference between emissions in the most recent inventory 

report and the benchmarks for that area is five percent or less of the benchmarks or exceeds the 

benchmarks listed below during the May 1 through October 31 time period:

Ozone Nonattainment Area Total Agricultural and Structural VOC Emissions 

Inventory Benchmarks from May 1 to October 31

Sacramento Metro 820,000 lbs. (2.2 tons/day average)

San Joaquin Valley 6,700,000 lbs. (18.1 tons/day average)

South Coast 3,200,000 lbs. (8.7 tons/day average)

Southeast Desert 340,000 lbs. (0.92 tons/day average)

Ventura in 2011 1,200,000 lbs. (3.3 tons/day average)

Ventura in 2012 and later 1,100,000 lbs. (3.0 tons/day average)

(1) Notwithstanding (a), iIf a VOC emission limit is in effect pursuant to (a) that limit must 

remain in effect until the commissioner does not condition permits to include a fumigant 

emission allowance specified in (c)(1) or (d)(1), and does not deny any permit or notice of intent 

specified in (c)(2) or (d)(2) in order to comply with the fumigant emission limit for two 

consecutive years.

(b) The Director shall calculate the field fumigant VOC emission limits specified in (a) by 

subtracting the nonfumigant pesticide VOC emissions from the total agricultural and structural 

VOC emissions inventory benchmarks. Nonfumigant pesticide product emissions will be the 

summation of the pounds of each pesticide product used multiplied by the VOC content 

(emission potential) for the specific product.

(c) For the Ventura ozone nonattainment area, the commissioner shall ensure that the fumigant 

limits specified in (a) are not exceeded during the May 1 through October 31 time period using 

one or more of the following methods for field soil fumigations:

(1) Condition permit to include fumigant emission allowances.

(2) Deny any permit or notice of intent that would cause the fumigant limit to be exceeded. 

(3) Condition permit to prohibit or require any of the methods allowed by sections 6447.3(a), 

6448(c), 6449.1(b), 6450.1(d), or 6452 during the May 1 through October 31 time period.

(d) For ozone nonattainment areas other than Ventura, the Director shall select one or more of 

the following methods to ensure the fumigant limits specified in (a) are not exceeded during the 

May 1 through October 31 time period:

(1) The Director establishes a fumigant emission allowance for each permittee, based on 

information provided the commissioners within the ozone nonattainment area. The total 

allowances in each ozone nonattainment area must not exceed the fumigant limit established for 

that area. Commissioners shall issue permits or amend existing permits to comply with the 

fumigant emission allowance(s) established by the Director. Commissioners shall deny any 

notice of intent that does not comply with the permittees’ fumigant emission allowances.

(2) Commissioners deny any permit or notice of intent that would cause the fumigant limit to 

be exceeded.
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(3) Commissioners condition permits to prohibit or require any of the methods allowed by 

sections 6447.3(a), 6448(c), 6449.1(b), 6450.1(d), or 6452 during the May 1 through October 31 

time period.

(e) No person may apply a field fumigant during the May 1 through October 31 time period in 

an ozone nonattainment area for which a fumigant emission limit has been established pursuant 

to this section (a), unless their restricted material permit includes conditions specified in (c) or 

(d), or notice of intent is approved in writing.

(f) For the San Joaquin Valley ozone nonattainment area, if the difference between emissions 

in the most recent emissions inventory report and the 6,700,000 pound (18.1 tons per day) 

benchmark for this area is five percent or less of the benchmark or exceeds this benchmark 

during the May 1 through October 31 time period, the provisions of section 6884 shall apply.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976, 14005, and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code. 

Reference: Sections 11501, 14006, and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

CHAPTER 3. PEST CONTROL OPERATIONS

SUBCHAPTER 1. LICENSING

ARTICLE 5. AGRICULTURAL PEST CONTROL ADVISER LICENSES

Adopt section 6558 to read:

6558. Recommendation for Use of Nonfumigants in the San Joaquin Valley Ozone 

Nonattainment Area.

A licensed pest control adviser shall not recommend a use in violation with the provision in 

section 6884. If a licensed agricultural pest control adviser recommends the use of a high-volatile 

organic compound nonfumigant product implementing an exception under section 6884(b), the 

exception must be identified. A pest control adviser must retain a recommendation for a highvolatile organic compound product for at least two years.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976, and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code. 

Reference: Sections 11501, 12003, and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

ARTICLE 6. PEST CONTROL DEALER LICENSES

Adopt section 6577 to read:

6577. Sales of Nonfumigants for Use in the San Joaquin Valley Ozone Nonattainment 

Area.

(a) When sale of a high-volatile organic compound (VOC) nonfumigant product with 

agricultural uses, specified in the Annual Volatile Organic Compound Emissions Inventory

Report required in section 6881, is made to or for the operator of the property with an operator 

identification number issued by a county agricultural commissioner in the San Joaquin Valley

ozone nonattainment area, the licensed pest control dealer shall provide the following VOC

information, in writing, at time of purchase or delivery:
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High-volatile organic compound nonfumigant products containing abamectin, 

chlorpyrifos, gibberellins, or oxyfluorfen as a primary active ingredient are subject to 

additional use restrictions during May 1 through October 31 when used in the San Joaquin 

Valley ozone nonattainment area on the following crops: alfalfa, almond, citrus, cotton, 

grape, pistachio, and walnut. Use prohibitions that may apply are found in Title 3, 

California Code of Regulations, section 6884. The operator of the property must obtain a 

written recommendation of a licensed pest control adviser prior to use on these crops 

during this time period.

(b) In addition to the requirements in section 6562, each licensed pest control dealer shall 

indicate on the invoice that the information required in (a) was provided.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456 and 12111, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: 

Section 11501, Food and Agricultural Code.

CHAPTER 4. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

SUBCHAPTER 2. AIR

ARTICLE 1. TOXIC AIR CONTAMINANTS

Renumber section 6890 to 6864:

6890 6864. Criteria for Identifying Pesticides as Toxic Air Contaminants.

A pesticide shall be identified as a toxic air contaminant if its concentrations in ambient air are 

greater than the following levels (for the purposes of this section, a threshold is defined as the 

dose of a chemical below which no adverse effect occurs):

(a) For pesticides which have thresholds for adverse health effects, this level shall be ten-fold 

below the air concentration which has been determined by the Director to be adequately 

protective of human health.

(b) For pesticides which do not have thresholds for adverse health effects, this level shall be 

equivalent to the air concentration which would result in a ten-fold lower risk than that which has 

been determined by the Director to be a negligible risk.

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 11456, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Sections 14021 

and 14023, Food and Agricultural Code.
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ARTICLE 2. VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Adopt section 6880 to read:

6880. Criteria to Designate Low-Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) or High-VOC 

Nonfumigant Pesticide Products.

(a) The Director shall designate in the Annual VOC Emissions Inventory Report all 

nonfumigant products with agricultural uses containing the following primary active ingredients 

as low-VOC if the product has less than or equal to the product VOC emission potential listed 

below. All other products containing the primary active ingredients below with active or inactive 

registrations shall be designated as high-VOC.

Product Primary Active Ingredient* Product VOC Emission Potential 

(percent by weight)

Abamectin 35

Chlorpyrifos 25

Gibberellins 25

Oxyfluorfen 15

*If a product contains more than one active ingredient, the primary active ingredient is the one 

present at the highest percentage in a product. These criteria do not apply to products that contain 

an active ingredient listed above, but not as the primary active ingredient, including products 

with one or more active ingredients present at the same percentage.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976, and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code. 

Reference: Sections 11501 and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

Renumber section 6452.4 to 6881 and amend to read:

6452.4. 6881. Annual Volatile Organic Compound Emissions Inventory Report.

(a) The Director shall issue an annual emissions inventory report for the Sacramento Metro, 

San Joaquin Valley, South Coast, Southeast Desert, and Ventura ozone nonattainment areas. The 

emissions inventory report must:

(1) report the total agricultural and structural (fumigant and nonfumigant) pesticide volatile 

organic compound (VOC) emissions for the previous years. Nonfumigant pesticide product 

emissions will be the summation of the pounds of each pesticide product used multiplied by the 

VOC content (emission potential) for the specific product. Fumigant product emissions will be 

the summation of the pounds of each pesticide product used multiplied by the emission potential 

for that specific product and VOC emission rating for the application method, as specified in 

(54);

(2) evaluate compliance with the total pounds of agricultural and structural VOC emissions 

specified in section 6452.2;

(3) establish fumigant emissions limits pursuant to section 6452.2 for the upcoming year;

(4) establish an emission rating for each field fumigation method described in sections 6446.1,

6447.3, 6448.1, 6449.1, 6450.1, 6450.2, 6451.1, or 6452. The emission rating will be expressed 

as a percentage of the amount of fumigant applied. The Director shall base the emission rating 

upon available scientific data documenting the VOC emissions.;
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(5) establish prohibitions on high-VOC nonfumigant products pursuant to section 6452.2(f), 

and if applicable, determine if prohibitions pursuant to section 6884(c) remain in effect;

(6) establish a list of the nonfumigant products that are designated as low-VOC pursuant to 

section 6880;

(7) establish a list of the actively registered nonfumigant products that are designated as highVOC pursuant to section 6880.

(b) A draft emissions report shall be made available to the public for comment. A 45-day 

public comment period will be provided to allow for submission of written statements or 

arguments to the Director for review before finalizing the Annual Volatile Organic Compound 

Emissions Inventory Report. The emissions report will be posted on the Department's Web site. 

(c) Low-VOC agricultural use products registered after the release of the Annual VOC 

Emissions Inventory Report and contain abamectin, chlorpyrifos, gibberellins, or oxyfluorfen as 

the primary active ingredient, will be listed in a supplemental report and posted on the 

Department's Web site. The products designated as low-VOC will be based upon the criteria 

established in section 6880.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976, 14005, and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code. 

Reference: Sections 11501 and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

Adopt section 6883 to read:

6883. Recommendation Requirements in the San Joaquin Valley Ozone Nonattainment 

Area.

In the San Joaquin Valley ozone nonattainment area, the operator of the property shall not 

apply a high-volatile organic compound nonfumigant product specified in section 6881 during 

May 1 through October 31 to one of the following crops unless they obtain the written 

recommendation of a licensed agricultural pest control adviser: alfalfa, almond, citrus, cotton, 

grape, pistachio, and walnut. The operator of the property shall retain the written 

recommendation for at least two years after the application occurs.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976, and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code. 

Reference: Sections 11501, 12003, and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

Adopt section 6884 to read:

6884. San Joaquin Valley Ozone Nonattainment Area Use Prohibitions.

Pursuant to section 6452.2(f), the following shall apply to agricultural uses of high-volatile 

organic compound (VOC) products specified in the Annual VOC Emissions Inventory Report 

required in section 6881 containing abamectin, chlorpyrifos, gibberellins, or oxyfluorfen as the 

primary active ingredient in the San Joaquin Valley ozone nonattainment area during the May 1 

through October 31 time period.

(a) No person may apply a nonfumigant product that has been designated as a high-VOC

pursuant to section 6880 and as specified in the Annual VOC Emissions Inventory Report 

required by section 6881 on the following crops: alfalfa, almond, citrus, cotton, grape, pistachio, 

and walnut. If the product is not listed as a low-VOC, it cannot be used.

(b) Notwithstanding (a), the following exceptions for use of high-VOC products are permitted:
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(1) Use of chlorpyrifos products to control aphids on cotton.

(2) Use of gibberellins products when applied at an application rate of 16 grams of active 

ingredient per acre or less.

(3) Use of oxyfluorfen products when applied at an application rate of 0.125 (1⁄8) pounds of 

active ingredient per acre or less.

(4) Uses for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued an emergency 

exemption from registration under Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 

Rodenticide Act. 

(5) Uses registered as a Special Local Need under Section 24(c) of the Federal Insecticide, 

Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

(6) Applications made by or under the direction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the 

California Department of Food and Agriculture, or county agricultural commissioner to control, 

suppress or eradicate pests.

(7) Applications using precision spray technology meeting the criteria of the California Office 

of the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

(c) If prohibitions for high-VOC nonfumigant products are in effect pursuant to section 

6452.2(f), those prohibitions must remain in effect until the hypothetical VOC emissions shown 

in the Annual VOC Emissions Inventory Report comply with the limit specified in section 

6452.2(f) for at least two consecutive years. The hypothetical VOC emissions during a year of 

prohibitions shall be calculated for each active ingredient used on each crop specified in section 

6884. The hypothetical emissions shall be calculated by assuming the relative mixture of high 

and low-VOC products used in the current year of prohibitions would have been the same as in 

the most recent year without prohibitions. The VOC emissions are then calculated using that 

product mixture for the amount of active ingredient used in the current year. 

The following formula represents how the hypothetical VOC emissions described above would 

be calculated for each pesticide-crop combination:

Hypothetical emissions 

for a pesticide-crop 

combination listed in 

section 6884 during 

May-Oct for the year 

of prohibitions

=

(Emissions for the pesticide-crop 

combination during May-Oct for the 

most current year without prohibitions)

x

(Pounds active ingredient for the crop 

during May-Oct for the year of 

prohibitions)

Pounds active ingredient for the crop during May-Oct

for the most current year without prohibitions

The total hypothetical VOC emissions will be the summation of the hypothetical emissions for 

each pesticide-crop combination, plus the actual VOC emissions for the remaining pesticides and 

crops not listed in section 6880.

(d) If the Director makes a determination that the removal of an active ingredient designated as 

a high-VOC in section 6880, or the removal of a crop in subsection (a), or the addition of an 

exception in subsection (b) will not affect the ability to comply with the limit specified in section 

6452.2(f) (17.2 tons per day), then the Director may approve the interim removal and/or addition 

using the Annual VOC Emissions Inventory process described below in (e).

(1)The Director's determination to remove an active ingredient shall be based on:

(A) the decrease in its use and emissions;

(B) the decrease being caused by factors that are likely to persist; and

(C) on a calculation of the inventory using the assumption that all applications to the crops 
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listed in subsection (a) would have used the product(s) containing the removed pesticide that 

would result in the highest VOC emissions for the two most recent years of the VOC emissions

inventory. 

(2) The Director's determination to remove a crop shall be based on:

(A) the decrease in use and emissions from products specified in section 6880 on this crop;

(B) the decrease being caused by factors that are likely to persist; and

(C) on a calculation of the inventory using the assumption that all applications to the removed 

crop would use the products containing the primary active ingredients listed in section 6880 that 

result in the highest VOC emissions for the two most recent years of VOC emissions inventory.

(3) The Director's determination to add an exception shall be based on the estimated VOC 

emissions that would result from allowing the exception based on the two most recent years of 

the VOC emissions inventory and study information. The study must:

(A) specify the maximum application rate (pounds per acre) of the high-VOC product of the 

added exception; and

(B) estimate the maximum number of acres that could be treated with a high-VOC product for 

the added exception during May-October, and the method to estimate the number of acres.

(C) No exception would be allowed unless the study shows a greater amount of an active 

ingredient must be applied using a low-VOC product to achieve the same efficacy as a highVOC product.

(e) The Director shall publish the proposed interim removal of an active ingredient or crop, or 

the addition of an exception in the draft VOC emissions report specified in section 6881(b). The 

report must include a description of the calculations used to determine that the limit specified in 

section 6452.2(f) would not have been exceeded in the two most recent years, with the removal 

or addition. The report must also include a description of the changes in cropping patterns, pest 

management practices, product registration, regulatory requirements, or other factors that have 

caused a decrease in use and emissions, and are likely to persist. A 45-day public comment 

period will be provided to allow for submission of written statements or arguments to the 

Director for review before finalizing the Annual VOC Emissions Inventory Report. The 

emissions report will be posted on the Department's Web site. The removal or addition must be 

evaluated each year in the Annual VOC Emissions Inventory Report and may only remain in 

effect up to three years unless implemented through state and federal rulemaking.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456, 12976, and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code. 

Reference: Sections 11501 and 14102, Food and Agricultural Code.

Adopt section 6886 to read:

6886. Dealer Responsibilities for the San Joaquin Valley Ozone Nonattainment Area. 

Each licensed pest control dealer of a high-volatile organic compound (VOC) nonfumigant 

product specified in the Annual VOC Emissions Inventory Report, shall provide VOC 

information, in writing, to the purchaser at time of purchase or delivery pursuant section 6577 if 

the sale is made to or for the operator of the property with an operator identification number 

issued by a county agricultural commissioner in the San Joaquin Valley ozone nonattainment 

area.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 11456 and 12111, Food and Agricultural Code. 

Reference: Section 11501, Food and Agricultural Code.