11464 B Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603 • (530) 889-7130 • Fax (530) 889-7107

Thomas J. Christofk, Air Pollution Control Officer 

MEMORANDUM

TO: Board of Directors, Placer County Air Pollution Control District 

FROM: John Finnell, Senior Air Pollution Control Engineer 

AGENDA DATE: April 10, 2003 

SUBJECT: Adoption of Rule 242, Stationary Internal Combustion Engines

(Action/Public Hearing) 

Action Requested:

1) Conduct a Public Hearing regarding the proposed adoption of Rule 242, 

Stationary Internal Combustion Engines; and 

2) Approve Resolution #03-05, thereby adopting Rule 242, Stationary Internal 

Combustion Engines

Background:

 The proposed rule is included as a Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) control measure in the 

Sacramento Area Regional Ozone Attainment Plan, which was adopted by the Board on 

December 20, 1994. VOC emissions and Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) emissions are 

precursors to the photochemical formation of Ozone. The Attainment Plan was adopted 

in response to the 1990 Amendments to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA), which 

required areas designated “serious” for Ozone by the United States Environmental 

Protection Agency (USEPA), to submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision. 

 The proposed rule was drafted using Yolo-Solano District Rule 232, amended in 

September 2001, as a guide for emission limits. Other rules in nearby districts were 

considered, including Sacramento, El Dorado, and Tehema County. Staff believes that 

emission limitations in the proposed rule are achievable for most existing sources. Most 

new engines will be compliant with these limits. 

 The District presently has a number of sources in this category. Many are permitted for 

emergency power and will be exempt from the NOx emission limits of this rule. These 

include emergency generators, fire protection pumps, flood control pumps and ski lift 

backup engines. 
Rule 242, Stationary Internal Combustion Engines

PCAPCD Board of Directors 

 Agenda Date: April 10, 2003 

Page 2 

Discussion: 

 The proposed Rule applies to engines rated at greater than 50 hp, located anywhere in 

Placer County. Engines that will be exempt are those used for emergency power, and 

engines used less than 200 hours per year. Also exempt are some special use engines, 

including agricultural uses. 

 Standards include emission limits on NOx and CO, based on parts/million, by volume, in 

the exhaust gas stream. Standards vary according to four categories of engines. They 

are: spark-ignited rich burn engines, spark-ignited lean burn engines and diesel engines. 

Lean burn NOx limits for engines rated greater than 100 hp are more strict than those 

rated at 100 hp or less. 

 Compliance date for existing engines is 90 days after date of adoption of this rule. 

Engines requiring retrofit to meet the standards of this rule must file Authority to 

Construct (A/C) within 90 days after the adoption of this rule. Retrofit engines must be 

compliant with this rule no later than July 1, 2004. Requirements for removing noncompliant engines from service or replacing them with electric motors are also included 

in the rule. 

 Rule 242, as proposed, requires performance testing every 24 months. 

Fiscal Impacts:

Cost to any source that needs to retrofit or replace existing units could be significant. 

Other sources, whose engines are compliant will incur added operating costs to perform 

biennial performance testing. 

 

California Environmental Quality Act:

 The District staff has determined that the adoption of this rule is categorically exempt 

from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements per the CEQA 

Guidelines, Section 15307, Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural 

Resources. 

Public Outreach:

Public notice of the April hearing was published in the newspaper on March 10, 2003. 

The draft rule and public notice was also made available on the District website. 

 The proposed rule and negative declaration were provided to interested parties, the Air 

Resources Board (ARB) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA. 

 An advisory of this hearing and proposed rule adoption was mailed to all permitted 

 sources that have stationary engines. 
Rule 242, Stationary Internal Combustion Engines

PCAPCD Board of Directors 

 Agenda Date: April 10, 2003 

Page 3 

Recommendation:

Adoption of this control measure by 2004 is required in order for Placer County Air 

Pollution Control District (District) to be compliant with the SIP requirements. District 

staff recommend the approval of Resolution #03-05, thereby adopting the Rule 242, 

Stationary Internal Combustion Engines. 

Attachment #1: Resolution #03-05 Thereby Adopting Rule 242, Stationary Internal 

Combustion Engines; Exhibit 1, Rule 242, Stationary Internal 

Combustion Engines

Attachment #2 Staff Report: Rule 242, Stationary Internal Combustion Engines 

[T:\APC\BOARD\RESOLUT.ION\RES03-05 RULE 242 IC ENGINE 04-10-03 MEMO.DOC] 
ATTACHMENT 1 
ATTACHMENT 2 
EXHIBIT I