7/08 RULE 74.29: 1 

VENTURA COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT 

RULE 74.29 - SOIL DECONTAMINATION OPERATIONS 

(Adopted 10/10/95, Revised 1/8/02, Revised 4/08/08 Effective July 1, 2008) 

A. Applicability 

This rule is applicable to soils that contain gasoline, diesel fuel, or jet fuel. 

B. Requirements 

1. No person shall cause or allow the aeration of soil that contains gasoline, diesel 

fuel, or jet fuel, if such aeration: 

a. Emits reactive organic compounds (ROC), as measured by a certified 

organic vapor analyzer, in excess of 50 parts per million by volume 

(ppmv) above background, as hexane, except nonrepeatable momentary 

readings. In determining compliance, a portion of soil measuring three 

inches in depth and no less than six inches in diameter shall be removed 

from the soil surface and the probe inlet shall be placed near the center of 

the resulting hole, level with the soil surface surrounding the hole; or 

b. Causes a nuisance, as defined in the California Health and Safety Code 

Section 41700 and Rule 51, Nuisance. 

Offsite aeration is prohibited. 

2. No person shall excavate an underground storage tank and/or transfer piping 

currently or previously used to store an applicable compound, or excavate or grade 

soil containing an applicable compound, unless ROC emissions are monitored 

with a certified organic vapor analyzer at least once every 15 minutes during the 

excavation period commencing at the beginning of excavation or grading. Soil 

with emission measurements in excess of 50 parts per million by volume (ppmv), 

as hexane, a shall be considered contaminated. 

During excavation, all inactive exposed contaminated soil surfaces shall be treated 

with a vapor suppressant or covered with continuous heavy duty plastic sheeting 

(4 mil or greater) or other covering to minimize emissions of ROC to the 

atmosphere. Covering shall be in good condition, overlapped at the seams, and 

securely anchored to minimize headspace where vapors may accumulate. 

3. No person shall operate a vapor extraction, bioremediation, or bioventing system 

unless: ROC emissions, as measured by a certified organic vapor analyzer, are less 

than or equal to 100 ppmv, as methane. If the total system flow rate is greater 
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than 300 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) and the system would emit ROC at 

a rate greater than 0.08 lb/hour, a Health Risk Assessment shall be required. 

4. No person shall operate an in situ soil bioventing or bioremediation system unless 

ROC emissions, as measured by a certified organic vapor analyzer, are less than or 

equal to 50 ppmv, as hexane, except nonrepeatable momentary readings, when 

measured at a distance of three inches from the soil surface. 

5. The owner or operator of any applicable underground storage tank shall notify the 

District Compliance Division at least 24 hours prior to beginning the excavation 

of said storage tank and/or transfer piping. 

6. Contaminated soil in active storage piles shall be kept visibly moist by water 

spray, treated with a vapor suppressant, or covered with continuous heavy duty 

plastic sheeting (4 mil or greater) or other covering to minimize emissions of 

ROC to the atmosphere. Covering shall be in good condition, overlapped at the 

seams, and securely anchored to minimize headspace where vapors may 

accumulate. For any active storage pile, the surface area not covered by plastic 

sheeting or other covering shall not exceed 6,000 square feet. 

7. Contaminated soil in inactive storage piles shall be with covered with continuous 

heavy duty plastic sheeting (4 mil or greater) or other covering to minimize 

emissions to the atmosphere. The covering shall be in good condition, overlapped 

at the seams, and securely anchored to minimize headspace where vapors may 

accumulate. 

8. If not removed within 30 days of excavation, on-site treatment to remove 

contamination from contaminated soil at an excavation or grading site shall be 

initiated. The treatment of contaminated soil shall be subject to all applicable 

District Rules and Regulations. 

9. Trucks used to transport contaminated soil must meet the following requirements: 

a. The truck and trailer shall be tarped prior to leaving the site. 

Contaminated material shall not be visible beyond the tarp and shall not 

extend above the sides or rear of the truck or trailer; and 

b. The exterior of the truck, trailer and tires shall be cleaned prior to leaving 

the site.

C. Exemptions 

1. The provisions of this rule shall not apply to soil that was contaminated by a 

leaking storage tank used in an agricultural operation engaged in the growing of 

crops or the raising of fowl or animals. 
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2. The requirements of Subsection B.1.a shall not apply to: 

a. Soil excavation activities necessary for the removal of in situ soil such as 

in the removal of an underground storage tank, pipe or piping system, 

provided the exposed soil is covered as specified in Subsection B.7 while 

inactive; or 

b. Soil moving, loading, or transport activities performed for the sole purpose 

of complying with local, state, or federal laws, provided the soil is handled 

in accordance with such laws; or 

c. Soil excavation or handling occurring as a result of an emergency as 

declared by an authorized health officer, agricultural commissioner, fire 

protection officer, or other authorized agency officer. Whenever possible, 

the APCO shall be notified prior to commencing such excavation; or 

d. Any soil aeration project involving less than 1 cubic yard; or 

e. Situations where the soil contamination resulted from a spill or 

release of less than five (5) gallons of diesel fuel, jet fuel, or 

gasoline; or 

f. Contaminated soil used as daily cover at permitted Class III Solid 

Waste Disposal Sites if such soils do not have a gasoline 

concentration exceeding 100 parts per million by weight (ppmw) or 

a diesel fuel concentration exceeding 1,000 ppmw as determined 

by the method specified in Subsection F.1. 

D. Recordkeeping Requirements 

For any soil aeration project subject to this rule, the records specified in Subsection D.1 

shall be made available to the Air Pollution Control Officer upon request for at least two 

years after initial entry. 

For any other soil decontamination project subject to this rule, the following information 

shall be made available to the Air Pollution Control Officer upon request for at least two 

years after initial entry. 

1. All dates that soil was disturbed and the quantity of soil disturbed on each date. 

2. Reasons for excavation or grading. 

3. Cause of VOC soil contamination and history of the site. 

4. Description of tanks or piping associated with the soil contamination. 
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5. Description of mitigation measures employed for dust, odors and ROC emissions. 

6. Details of treatment and/or disposal of ROC contaminated soil, including the 

ultimate receptor. 

7. Description of monitoring equipment and techniques. 

8. All ROC emission measurements shall be recorded on a continuous permanent 

strip-chart or in a format approved by the Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO). 

9. A map showing the facility layout, property line, and surrounding area up to 2500 

feet away, and including any schools, residential areas or other sensitive receptors 

such as hospitals or locations where children or elderly people live or work. 

E. Violations 

Failure to comply with any provision of this rule shall constitute a violation of this rule. 

F. Test Methods 

1. The percent by weight of contaminant in soil samples shall be determined by EPA 

Method 8015B. Samples shall be introduced using Method 5035 (Purge and 

Trap) and shall be taken in accordance with the Los Angeles Regional Water 

Quality Control Board's guidelines for contaminated soil sampling. Standards 

shall be the same as the contaminant believed to be in the soil. If the soil is 

contaminated with methanol 85 (M85) the standard used shall be M85. 

2. To determine if the 0.08 lb/hr threshold in Subsection B.3, will be exceeded, the 

emission rate (ER) shall be determined as: 

ER = (MR)(ppmv)(16 lb/lbmole)(60 min/hour)

 (387 scf/lbmole)(106) 

 Where: 

MR = Maximum rating of the system's fan or blower in scfm. 

ppmv = Contaminant concentration in parts per million by volume, as methane, 

in the system's exhaust or vent as determined in a manner consistent 

Subsection F.3 and according to a monitoring schedule approved by the 

District. 

3. The ROC concentration measurements required in Subsections B.1, B.2, B.3, and 

B.4 shall be made using an organic vapor analyzer certified according to the 

requirements of EPA Method 21. For stack measurements, the probe inlet of the 

analyzer shall be placed on the centerline of the exhaust or vent, upstream of the 

point where the exhaust gases meet the atmosphere. 
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G. Definitions 

1. "Active": A worksite to which soil is currently being added or from which soil is 

currently being removed. Activity must occur within one hour to be current. 

2. "Aeration": The exposure of excavated contaminated soil to the atmosphere 

without the use of air pollution control equipment or vapor extraction equipment. 

3. "Bioremediation system": A system that uses endogenous or exogenous 

biological agents to degrade soil contaminants to less hazardous compounds. In 

bioremediation, microbial processes are controlled by factors such as soil pH, 

salinity, oxygen level, water content, and nutrient level. 

4. "Bioventing system": A type of bioremediation system in which air or oxygen is 

supplied to the unsaturated zone of contaminated soil to stimulate aerobic 

biodegradation of soil contaminants. Bioventing systems are designed to provide 

only the necessary amount of oxygen for biodegradation while minimizing 

contaminant volatilization. Bioventing may be implemented by injecting air or 

oxygen through a screened well in the contaminated zone or withdrawing air 

through a screened well, thereby drawing air into the contaminated soil from the 

surrounding clean soil. Bioventing systems may or may not have a vent to the 

atmosphere. 

5. "Certified organic vapor analyzer": An applicable instrument meeting the 

specifications and performance criteria in Section 6.0 of EPA Method 21. 

6. "Contaminant": Diesel fuel, gasoline, or jet fuel. 

7. "Contaminated": Emitting ROC in excess of 50 parts per million by volume 

(ppmv), as hexane. 

8. "Daily Cover": Soil that is applied on a daily basis or less frequently as a covering 

over landfill waste. 

9. "Diesel Fuel": A blend of petroleum called middle distillates (heavier than 

gasoline but lighter than lubrication oil) that may contain additional additives. 

10. “Excavation”: The process of digging out and removing soil. Included is the 

digging out and removal of any material necessary to expose soil, such as asphalt 

or concrete. 

11. "Gasoline": Any petroleum distillate having a Reid vapor pressure of 4.0 pounds 

per square inch or greater, which is sold or intended for sale for use in motor 

vehicles or engines and is commonly or commercially known or sold as gasoline. 

Under this definition, methanol 85 (M85) shall be considered gasoline. 
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12. “Grading”: The process of leveling off material to produce a smooth surface. 

Included is the removal of any material necessary to expose the contaminated soil, 

such as asphalt or concrete. 

13. "Health Risk Assessment": For the purpose of this rule, a study conducted by the 

District to determine the potential for health risks caused by emissions from a 

proposed soil decontamination operation. The applicant is subject to fees 

pursuant to Rule 42 to recover the District's costs of conducting the assessment. 

14. "Jet Fuel": A kerosene-based product having a maximum distillation temperature 

of 400 degrees Fahrenheit at the 10 percent recovery point and a final maximum 

boiling point of 572 degrees Fahrenheit and meeting the American Society of 

Testing and Materials Specification D 1655 and Military Specifications MIL-T5624P and MIL-T-83133D (Grades JP-5 and JP-8), used for commercial and 

military turbojet and turboprop aircraft engines. 

15. "Methanol 85 (M85)": A blend consisting of 85 percent methanol and 15 percent 

gasoline. 

16. "Nonrepeatable Momentary Readings": "Indications of the presence of organic 

gasses using a detector meeting the apparatus requirements of EPA Method 21 

which persist for less than five seconds and do not recur when the sampling probe 

is placed in the same location for at least twice the response time of the 

instrument. 

17. "Owner or operator": Any person or authorized representative who has legal title 

to, leases, operates, controls, or supervises the operation of: 

a. An underground storage tank, including pipes connected thereto, or the 

real property on which such tank or pipes are located, or 

b. Real property on which surface or subsurface soil will undergo aeration to 

remove contaminants. 

18. "School": Any public or private establishment used for the purpose of educating 

more than 12 children in kindergarten or any of the grades 1 to 12, inclusive, but 

does not include any private establishment in which education is primarily 

conducted in private homes. 

19. "Soil Aeration Project": One or more operations conducted at a stationary source 

in which excavated and contaminated soil is exposed to the atmosphere without 

the use of air pollution control equipment or a vapor extraction, bioremediation, 

or bioventing system. 
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20. "Underground Storage Tank:" Any one or combination of tanks, having at least 

10 percent of the underground tank system volume, including the volume of any 

connected piping, below the ground surface or enclosed below earthen materials. 

21. "Vapor Extraction System": An underground or aboveground system that extracts 

contaminants from soil or ground water using air injection and/or suction and 

routes the vapors to the surface of the contaminated soil. This definition does not 

include equipment designed or used to expose soil openly to the atmosphere to 

facilitate evaporation of ROCs.