San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District December 20, 2012

Chapter 5: Control Strategy

2012 PM2.5 Plan 

Chapter 5

Control Strategy 

2012 PM2.5 Plan

SJVUAPCD
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District December 20, 2012

Chapter 5: Control Strategy

2012 PM2.5 Plan 

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5-1 Chapter 5: Control Strategy

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Chapter 5: Control Strategy

The District’s strategy for attaining the 2006 PM2.5 standard is a multifaceted approach

that utilizes a combination of conventional and innovative control strategies. This 

comprehensive strategy includes regulatory actions; incentive programs; technology 

advancement programs; policy and legislative platforms; public outreach, participation 

and communication; and additional strategies. Not only does this strategy consist of 

conventional and innovative strategies, but it also builds off of existing strategies, thus

making this plan a fusion of existing and new measures. 

This chapter focuses on regulatory control actions and additional strategies while 

incentives, technology advancement, and the legislative platform and community 

outreach efforts are discussed in Chapters 6, 7, and 8, respectively. 

5.1 COMPREHENSIVE REGULATORY CONTROL STRATEGY 

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has implemented a comprehensive 

regulatory control strategy over the past couple of decades. Since 1992, the District 

has adopted over 500 new rules and amendments to implement this aggressive control 

strategy. Many current rules are fourth or fifth generation, meaning that they have been 

revised and emission limits have been lowered, as new emission control technology has 

become available and cost-effective. 

Air quality improvements in the Valley document the success of the District’s innovative 

and effective rules. Previously adopted 2012 PM2.5 Plan regulatory control measures 

are achieving 247.8 tons per day (tpd) of NOx reductions and 15.7 tpd of PM2.5 

reductions; these measures include both stationary and area source control measures 

as well as ARB rules for mobile sources (see Section 5.1.2 for a listing of ARB rules and 

a brief discussion). The District’s regulatory authority is centered on stationary sources 

and some area-wide sources, and the District’s stringent and innovative rules on these 

sources, such as those for residential fireplaces, glass manufacturing, and agricultural 

burning, have set benchmarks for California and the nation. States and the federal 

government—but not regional agencies like the District—can directly regulate tailpipe 

emissions from mobile sources. ARB has adopted tough regulations for heavy-duty 

trucks, off-road equipment, and other mobile sources. However, the District has also 

adopted innovative regulations such as Indirect Source Review and Employer-based 

Trip Reduction to reduce emissions from mobile sources within the District’s limited 

jurisdiction over these sources.

These and other District and ARB rules already guarantee that emissions will continue 

to be reduced over the coming years. New rules and rule amendments identified in this 

plan combined with other control strategies discussed in Chapters 6 through 8 will 

provide necessary emissions reductions to complement those already being achieved 

and contribute to PM2.5 air quality improvements in the Valley. 
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5.1.1 District Regulations Contributing to Continued PM2.5 Improvement

The District’s current rules and regulations reflect technologies and methods that are far 

beyond minimum required control levels. In December 2010, the California Air 

Resources Board (ARB) determined that, based on the District’s State Implementation 

Plans (SIP) and the evaluation of control feasibility in all rulemaking actions, the District 

has undertaken all feasible measures to reduce nonattainment air pollutants from 

sources within the District’s jurisdiction and regulatory control.

1

This determination 

considered all air pollution controls and standards applicable to all source categories 

under the District’s authority based on maximum reductions achievable as well as 

technological, social, environmental, energy and economic factors, including costeffectiveness.2

The aggressive regulations already adopted under previous attainment plans also serve 

as control measures for the 2012 PM2.5 Plan. These adopted regulations will 

dramatically reduce directly emitted PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors (NOx and SOx) as 

they are fully implemented over the next few years, greatly contributing to the Valley’s 

progress toward the 2006 PM2.5 standard. EPA prefers reliance on control measures 

that have already been adopted over ones that have yet to be approved. EPA has gone 

so far as to disapprove attainment plans that demonstrated an over-reliance on 

unapproved measures. As such, the recognition of recently adopted and implemented 

District and ARB control measures is an important component of this plan.

Table 5-1 and the discussion that follows summarize adopted District rules achieving 

new emissions reductions after 2007, the base year for this plan. However, even pre2007 emissions reductions, such as those achieved through the District’s Conservation 

Management Practices (CMP) rule (Rule 4550) and Regulation VIII (Fugitive PM10 

Prohibitions), are contributing and will continue to contribute to the Valley’s progress 

toward the 2006 PM2.5 standard.

 

1

ARB Executive Order G-10-126. (2010, December 10), required under California Health and Safety Code §40612.

2 California Administrative Code, Title 17 §70600(a)(1). (2012)
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Table 5-1 Adopted District Rules

District Rule

Adoption/ 

Amendment

Date(s)

Emissions

Reduced1

(tons per day)

Rule 4103 Open Burning 

05/19/2005

05/17/2007

04/15/2010

0.12 tpd NOx

0.34 tpd PM2.5

Rule 4106 Prescribed Burning and Hazard Reduction Burning 1/21/2001 NQ 4

Rule 4204 Cotton Gins 2/17/2005 0.79 tpd PM

Rule 4307 Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters 2 to 

5 MMBtu/hr

12/15/2005

04/20/2006

10/16/2008

05/19/2011

3.36 tpd NOx

Rule 4308 Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters 

0.075 to <2 MMBtu/hr

10/20/2005

12/17/2009 3.30 tpd NOx

Rule 4309 Dryers, Dehydrators, and Ovens 12/15/2005 0.65 tpd NOx

Rule 4311 Flares 06/15/2006

06/18/2009 0.06 tpd SOx

Rules 4306 & 4320 Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process 

Heaters >5 MMBtu/hr

03/17/2005

10/16/2008

3.50 tpd NOx

3.60 tpd SOx

Rule 4352 Solid Fuel Fired Boilers, Steam Generators and 

Process Heaters

05/18/2006

12/15/2011 NQ 4

Rule 4354 Glass Melting Furnaces 

08/17/2006

10/16/2008

09/16/2010

05/19/2011

3.37 tpd NOx

1.70 tpd SOx

0.11 tpd PM2.5

Rule 4550 Conservation Management Practices 08/19/2004 34.2 tpd PM 

Rule 4692 Commercial Charbroiling 09/17/2009 0.08 tpd PM2.5

Rule 4702 Internal Combustion Engines

6/16/2005

04/20/2006

01/18/2007

08/18/2011

22.43 tpd NOx

Rule 4703 Stationary Gas Turbines 08/17/2006

09/20/2007 2.20 tpd NOx

Rule 4901 Wood Burning Fireplaces and Wood Burning Heaters 10/16/2008 2.40 tpd PM2.5 2

Rule 4902 Residential Water Heaters 03/19/2009 1.03 tpd NOx

Rule 4905 Natural Gas-Fired, Fan-Type Residential Central 

Furnaces 10/20/2005 2.6 tpd NOx

Regulation VIII Rules Fugitive PM10 Prohibitions 08/19/2004 20.4 tpd PM

Rule 9310 School Bus Fleets 09/21/2006 0.8 tpd NOx 

0.03 tpd of PM2.5

Rule 9410 Employer-based Trip Reduction 12/17/2009 0.6 tpd NOx

Rule 9510 Indirect Source Review 12/12/2005 2.2 tpd NOx 3

1.4 tpd PM

1. Total emissions reduced upon full implementation of all listed rule amendments. 

2. As an average for November – April; the reductions on any given “No Burn” day are much higher.
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3. Though ISR is achieving real emissions reductions, these reductions are not credited in the State Implementation 

Plan, per EPA’s May 9, 2011 approval of the ISR rule. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-05-09/pdf/2011-

11133.pdf. As such, the emissions reductions from ISR are not incorporated in this plan’s emissions inventories, nor 

are these emissions reductions credited in this plan’s Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) or the attainment 

demonstrations.

4. NQ = not quantified

Rule 4103 Open Burning

The provisions of Rule 4103 apply to open burning conducted in the Valley and, in 

conjunction with the District’s Smoke Management System (SMS), have reduced the 

total acreage of agricultural materials burned in the Valley by 80% since 2002. After 

working extensively with stakeholders to understand viable alternatives to burning and 

associated costs, the District provided recommendations for allowing or prohibiting the 

open burning of agricultural material categories in the District’s 2010 Final Staff Report 

and Recommendations on Agricultural Burning. The April 2010 amendments to Rule 

4103 incorporate California Health and Safety Code requirements and require the 

District to review its determinations for any postponed crops and materials at least once 

every five years. The recommendations adopted as a result of the 2010 Final Staff 

Report and Recommendations on Agricultural Burning result in a reduction of 0.12 tons 

per day (tpd) of NOx and 0.34 tpd of PM2.5 emissions. 

Rule 4106 Prescribed Burning and Hazard Reduction Burning

Since the adoption of Rule 4106, the District has developed cooperative relationships 

with land management agencies (LMAs), which are the agencies that regularly conduct 

prescribed burning operations. The District advises LMAs on which days would be the 

most conducive for igniting a burn project, based on air quality and meteorological 

conditions. This collaborative effort ensures that the ignition of burn projects occurs 

when air quality and dispersion conditions are favorable, thus lessening the health 

impacts on Valley citizens and on air quality in the Valley. The adoption of Rule 4106 

was not aimed at reducing the total emissions from this category, as the District 

recognizes the importance of both prescribed burning and hazard reduction burning; 

rather, the adoption of Rule 4106 established tools that the District could use to manage 

smoke emissions in the Valley. 

Rule 4204 Cotton Gins

Rule 4204 is among the most stringent rules in the nation for cotton gins and cotton 

ginning operations. Agricultural stakeholders and interested groups participated 

extensively throughout the rule development process in 2005. The rule requires the 

installation of 1D-3D cyclones, a PM control device, onto each cotton gin which has 

significantly reduced PM emissions from this source category. The final compliance 

deadline for these units came into effect in 2008. This rule results in 0.79 tpd of PM

emissions reductions.

Rule 4307 Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters 2 to 5 MMBtu/hr

Rule 4307 is the most stringent rule in the country for controlling emissions from fuel 

combustion-producing heat and energy for manufacturing and processing purposes. 

Emissions from these units are generally controlled through either combustion 

modification or exhaust gas treatment. Recent amendments strengthened the rule by 

removing some exemptions, imposing NOx limits of 9 or 12 ppmv for new and 
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replacement units, and adding a menu approach for particulate matter control that 

includes SOx controls. While offering affected businesses cost-effective compliance 

options, this rule will generate 3.36 tpd of NOx reductions by the final compliance 

deadline in 2015. 

Rule 4308 Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters 0.075 to < 2 

MMBtu/hr

Adopted in 2005 and amended in 2009 to enforce lower NOx limits, Rule 4308 controls 

emissions from boilers, steam generators, and process heaters in the size range of 

0.075 to less than 2 MMBtu/hr. The District amended this rule through an extensive 

public process involving the public and other air districts to receive feedback on what 

emissions limits were feasible and could achieve the greatest emissions reductions. As 

a point-of-sale rule, and not a rule forcing replacement by a particular date, emissions

are reduced when consumers replace older units with newer, low-NOx units as of the

January 1, 2011, compliance date. The District will achieve 1.64 tpd of NOx reductions 

by 2019 and 3.30 tpd of NOx reductions by full implementation in 2031, based on an 

average equipment life of 20 years.

Rule 4309 Dryers, Dehydrators, and Ovens

The District adopted Rule 4309 in 2005 to enforce NOx emission limits between 3.5-12 

ppmv for four categories of equipment. Representatives of affected industries and 

interested groups participated extensively throughout the rule development process. 

The rule requirements limit combustion NOx emissions from dryers, dehydrators, and 

ovens. These sources generally use either combustion modification technologies or 

post combustion flue gas clean-up to achieve the NOx limits in the rule. The final 

compliance deadline for these units came into effect in 2009. This rule results in 0.65 

tpd of NOx emissions reductions.

Rule 4311 Flares

Amended on June 18, 2009, Rule 4311 controls emissions from industrial flares used at 

oil and gas production facilities, sewage treatment plants, waste incineration and 

petroleum refining operations. The 2009 amendments require flare operators to submit 

flare minimization plans, perform additional monitoring and record keeping, submit 

reports of planned and unplanned flaring activities to the District, and meet petroleum 

refinery SO2 performance targets. When fully implemented in 2017, this rule is 

expected to reduce SOx emissions by 0.06 tpd. 

Rule 4320 Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters > 5 MMBtu/hr

The District adopted Rule 4320 in 2008, with multiple generations of Rules 4305 and 

4306 preceding this rule to regulate this source category. This rule is the most stringent 

rule in the nation for controlling emissions from fuel combustion-producing heat and 

energy for manufacturing and processing purposes, and it is equivalent to BACT 

standards for this source category. Facilities generally control emissions from these 

sources through combustion modification or exhaust gas treatment. This rule and the 

2005 amendment of Rule 4306 will generate 3.5 tpd of NOx reductions and 3.6 tpd of 

SOx reductions upon full implementation in 2014. Rule 4306 generated 0.2 tpd of NOx 

reductions with the 2005 rule amendment, assuming 25% of the food industry took 
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advantage of the enhanced NOx limits option put into the rule. The remaining 3.3 tpd of 

NOx reductions and 3.6 tpd of SOx reductions come from the 2008 adoption of Rule 

4320. However, per EPA’s approval of Rule 4320, Rule 4320 emission reductions 

cannot be directly credited in the District’s SIP because a portion of the reductions result 

from an emissions fee compliance option.

3

Rule 4352 Solid Fuel Fired Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters

Rule 4352 was adopted in 1994 and has since been amended three times. It is one of 

the most stringent rules in the country for this source category. Facilities subject to this 

rule have invested millions of dollars to implement innovative control technologies and 

have significantly reduced emissions from solid fuel fired boilers. Previous ruleamending projects for Rule 4352 have not quantified specific emissions reductions

because the rule amendments were meant to satisfy EPA RACT requirements and all 

units were determined to be operating at or below the proposed emission limits. 

However, the increased presence of biomass facilities in the Valley, from either new 

facilities or other solid fuel fired boilers that have converted to biomass, continues to 

significantly reduce NOx and PM emissions from open burning practices. To date, 

agricultural burning has been reduced by 70% and approximately 90% of agricultural 

burning is projected to be eliminated in the coming years. In addition, the NOx limits in 

Rule 4352 have continually been revised to ensure that facilities are complying with the 

most stringent NOx limits possible, and that new facilities would also be required to 

implement effective emission control technologies to comply with the stringent 

emissions limits. 

Rule 4354 Glass Melting Furnaces

District Rule 4354, adopted in 1994 and subsequently amended six times, is one of the 

most stringent rules in the nation for controlling NOx, SOx, and PM emissions from 

industrial glass manufacturing plants that make flat glass (window and automotive 

windshields), container glass (bottles and jars), and fiberglass (insulation). Recent 

amendments include more stringent NOx emission limits based on BACT level controls 

for container glass, fiberglass, and flat glass. The rule gives special consideration to 

container glass and fiberglass manufacturers who use 30% post-consumer materials 

under the state glass recycling regulations. The rule also includes a technology forcing 

limit for flat glass furnaces. As a result of this stringent prohibitory rule and continuing 

efforts on behalf of this industry to reduce emissions, the Valley’s glass melting furnaces 

use low-NOx firing technology. With compliance deadlines through January 1, 2014, this 

rule is expected to reduce an additional 3.28 tpd of NOx emissions, 1.12 tpd of SOx 

emissions, and 0.11 tpd of PM2.5 emissions when fully implemented.

Rule 4550 Conservation Management Plans

Rule 4550 was adopted to help bring the Valley into attainment of federal PM10 

standards, and applies to on-field farming and agricultural operation sites located within 

the Valley. Rule 4550 was the first rule of its kind in the nation to target fugitive 

 

3 Revisions to the California State Implementation Plan (SJVUAPCD Rule 4320); Proposed and Final Rules. 75 Fed. 

Reg. 214, pp. 68294–68296. (2010, November 5). Retrieved from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-11-

05/pdf/2010-28019.pdf. And 76 Fed. Reg. 58. (2011, March 25). Retrieved from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR2011-03-25/pdf/2011-7090.pdf. 
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particulate emissions from agricultural operations, and it has served as a model for 

other regions. The District worked extensively with numerous stakeholders, growers, 

and the Agricultural Technical Committee for the San Joaquin Valleywide Air Pollution 

Study Agency (AgTech) for two years prior to developing the Conservation 

Management Practices (CMP) Rule. The District also worked with agricultural 

stakeholders and other agencies, such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service 

(NRCS), following rule adoption to ensure affected sources were assisted as much as 

possible in understanding and complying with the requirements of Rule 4550. Through 

this rule, PM emissions have been reduced by 35.3 tons per day. Similarly, 

implementation of Rule 4550 by agricultural operations has resulted in the reduction of 

PM2.5 emissions through the reduction of passes of agricultural equipment and 

implementation of other conservation practices.

Rule 4692 Commercial Charbroiling

District Rule 4692 reduces PM emissions by requiring catalytic oxidizers for chaindriven charbroilers, including those used in many typical fast-food restaurants. Rule 

4692 is among the most stringent rules in the nation for controling emissions from 

commercial charbroiling operations. The original rule, adopted in March 2002, reduced 

PM2.5 emissions from chain-driven charbroilers by 84%. The September 2009 rule 

amendment expanded rule applicability to more chain-driven charbroilers. Rule 4692 

has been fully implemented since 2011, reducing PM2.5 emissions by 0.018 tpd. The 

District also created a $500,000 pilot Charbroiler Incentive Program (CHIP) to fund the

installation of PM2.5 controls on under-fired charbroilers and further investigate the 

economic feasibility and availability of such controls. 

Rule 4702 Internal Combustion Engines

The District has amended Rule 4702 four times since 2005 to implement NOx limits for 

agricultural operations engines, implement more stringent NOx limit for non-agricultural 

operations (non-AO) engines, and to extend rule applicability to units 25–50 brake 

horsepower (bhp). With multiple generations of rule amendments, Rule 4702 is the 

most stringent rule in the nation for this source category. Facilities generally control 

NOx emissions that result from the fuel combustion of internal combustion engines with 

advanced technologies, such as selective non-catalytic reduction and selective catalytic 

reduction. The most recent rule amendments in 2011 lowered NOx limits for non-AO 

engines and will achieve an additional 1.43 tpd in NOx reductions by the final 

compliance deadlines in 2018. 

Rule 4703 Stationary Gas Turbines

The District most recently amended Rule 4703 in September 2007 to reduce the NOx 

limits for existing stationary gas turbines that are 10 megawatts (MW) or less. This 

amendment achieved additional NOx emissions reductions from turbines used for 

cogeneration of electrical energy and steam for thermally enhanced oil recovery 

operations in the Valley. This rule equals or exceeds the most stringent source control 

of any air district in California by requiring BACT at these facilities. The District 

designed compliance schedules to allow reasonable time for completing modification 

and retrofit actions during scheduled overhauls of the gas turbines. The most recent 
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rule amendment achieves an additional 2.2 tpd of NOx reductions upon full 

implementation and compliance deadline of January 1, 2012.

Rule 4901 Wood-Burning Fireplaces and Wood-Burning Heaters

The District amended Rule 4901 on October 16, 2008 nearly one year ahead of the 

deadline in the corresponding plan commitment to reduce the wood-burning curtailment 

threshold. Through this rule and the District’s corresponding Check-Before-You-Burn 

program, the District prohibits use of wood-burning fireplaces and wood-burning heaters 

in areas with natural gas service when air quality is forecast to be above 30 μg/m3 of 

PM2.5. Rule amendments have reduced PM2.5 emissions by an average 2.4 tpd, as 

averaged over the months of November through April; reductions on any given No-Burn 

day are much higher. 

Rule 4902 Residential Water Heaters

The District adopted Rule 4902 on July 17, 1993 to control NOx emissions from natural 

gas-fired residential water heaters with heat input rates less than or equal to 75,000 

Btu/hr by enforcing NOx emissions limit of 40 nanograms of NOx per Joule of heat 

output (ng/J). The District amended Rule 4902 in 2009 to strengthen the rule by 

lowering the limit to 10 ng/J for new or replacement water heaters and to a limit of 14 

ng/J for instantaneous water heaters. Retailer compliance dates ranged from 2010 to 

2012, depending on the unit type. On and after the applicable compliance date, 

retailers have been required to sell only units complying with the new limits. As a pointof-sale rule, complying units are installed as pre-existing units require normal 

replacement and as other new units are needed. The rule has controlled NOx 

emissions by approximately 88% for this source category. The 2009 amendments 

reduced an additional 0.5 tpd of NOx.

Rule 4905 Natural Gas-Fired, Fan-Type Residential Central Furnaces

Rule 4905 was adopted in 2005 to establish NOx limits for residential central furnaces 

supplied, sold, or installed in the Valley with a rated heat input capacity of less than 

175,000 Btu/hour. The rule set a NOx emission limit of 0.093 pounds per million Btu of 

heat output (lb/MMBtu) for all units. As a point-of-sale rule, and not a rule forcing 

replacement by a particular date, emissions are reduced when consumers replace older 

units with newer, low-NOx units as of the January 1, 2007 compliance date. The 

current rule will achieve 2.6 tpd of NOx reductions. The District has committed to 

amending Rule 4905 in 2014, which will lower NOx emission limits for these units even 

further and create additional NOx emissions reductions for this source category. 

Rule 9310 School Bus Fleets

The District adopted Rule 9310 in September 2006 to limit NOx, PM, and diesel toxic air 

contaminants from school bus fleets. Diesel-fueled school bus fleet operators must 

replace or retrofit all of their school buses to meet the applicable ARB and EPA 

emission standards for engines by 2016. The rule also requires all existing gasoline or 

alternative-fueled school buses and any diesel school buses manufactured after 

October 1, 2002 to be operated according to manufacturer specifications and, if 

replaced, shall meet all applicable ARB and EPA current-year emissions standards for 

the year of delivery of that school bus engine and fuel type. 
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Rule 9410 Employer-Based Trip Reduction (eTRIP Rule)

Although the District does not have authority to regulate tailpipe emissions, the District 

can adopt regulatory approaches to promote the reduction of vehicle miles 

traveled. The goal of the eTRIP Rule is to reduce single-occupancy-vehicle work 

commutes. The eTRIP Rule requires the Valley’s larger employers, representing a wide 

range of locales and sectors, to select and implement workplace measures that make it 

easier for their employees to choose ridesharing and alternative transportation. 

Because of the diversity of employers covered by the eTRIP Rule, the rule was built 

with a flexible, menu-based approach. Using the Employer Trip Reduction 

Implementation Plan (eTRIP), employers choose from a list of measures, each 

contributing to a workplace that encourages employees to reduce their dependence on 

single-occupancy vehicles. Each eTRIP measure has a point value, and employer 

eTRIPs must reach specified point targets for each strategy over a phased-in 

compliance schedule (2010 – 2015). The District has continually provided employer 

assistance through training, guidance materials, promotional information, and online 

reporting options. Upon full implementation, the eTRIP Rule will reduce NOx and VOC 

emissions from passenger vehicle commute trips by approximately 1.2 ton per day.

See www.valleyair.org/tripreduction.htm for further information about the eTRIP Rule.

Rule 9510 Indirect Source Review (ISR)

The District’s adoption of Rule 9510 in 2005 was the first time in the nation that an air 

agency used regulation to control emissions from indirect sources. Clean Air Act 

Section 110(a)(5)(C) defines an indirect source as a “facility, building, structure, 

installation, real property, road, or highway which attracts, or may attract, mobile 

sources of pollution.” The District’s ISR rule reduces mobile source emissions from new 

development projects. ISR’s on-site mitigation component encourages beneficial 

changes in land development patterns and practices. The off-site mitigation option 

applies assessed ISR fees to the District’s cost-effective emissions reductions incentive 

programs. The District conducts extensive outreach on ISR and prepares an annual 

report on ISR implementation. The District’s 2010, 5-year evaluation of ISR 

implementation noted that, in spite of economic downtown in the construction industry, 

ISR has achieved emission reductions and has resulted in positive changes in land 

development practices and processes in the Valley. No other air district has a rule quite 

like the District’s ISR rule. As such, the District’s rule is the most stringent and effective 

ISR rule. 

Regulation VIII Fugitive PM10 Prohibitions

In 2004, the District adopted amendments to Regulation VIII to upgrade existing RACM 

level rules to meet the more stringent BACM level required in serious PM10 

nonattainment areas. These regulations are just as stringent if not more stringent than 

fugitive dust regulations at other air districts and comparable federal regulations. 

Regulation VIII prohibitory standards are performance based, whereby the operators 

are allowed to determine the control technique sufficient to limit visible dust emissions to 

20 percent opacity and, in certain instances, to implement requirements for a stabilized 

surface. Dust control plans, test methods and standards, and recordkeeping 

requirements are the major provisions required under Regulation VIII. The 2004 

amendments to Regulation VIII achieved approximately 20.4 tons per day of PM 
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reductions and were critical in the District’s attainment of the National Ambient Air 

Quality Standard for PM10. 

5.1.2 ARB Regulations Contributing to Continued PM2.5 Improvement

Since 1989, ARB has adopted and amended a number of regulations aimed at reducing 

exposure to diesel PM and NOx from fuel sources, freight transport sources like heavyduty diesel trucks, transportation sources like passenger cars and buses, and off-road 

sources like large construction equipment. These regulations have significantly reduced 

PM2.5 precursors and direct PM2.5 emissions throughout the Valley.

Table 5-2 below includes a list of all the regulations adopted or amended by ARB from

2000 to 2011. Phased implementation of these regulations are producing increasing 

emission reduction benefits until 2019 and beyond as the regulated fleets are retrofitted, 

and as older and dirtier fleet units are replaced with newer and cleaner models at an 

accelerated pace. Several rules in particular; including Cleaner In-Use Heavy Duty 

Trucks, Cleaner In-Use Off-Road Equipment, Advanced Clean Car Program, Enhanced 

Fleet Modernization Program, and the Enhanced Smog Check Program, will be 

achieving significant emissions reductions critically needed to attain the standard under 

this plan. 

In addition, ARB and District staff are working closely to identify and distribute incentive 

funds to accelerate dirty engine replacement. Key programs include the Carl Moyer 

Program, the Goods Movement Program, the Lower-Emission School Bus Program,

and the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP). These incentive-based programs 

work in tandem with regulations to accelerate deployment of cleaner technology.

Table 5-2 Adopted ARB Regulations

ARB Regulation Adoption Date Category

Advanced Clean Car Program 1/27/2012 On-road

Expanded Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Emission 

Standards

12/16/2011 Off-road

Cleaner In-Use Off-Road Equipment 12/17/2010 Off-road

Port Truck Modernization 12/17/2010 Off-road

Cleaner In-Use Heavy-Duty Trucks 12/16/2010 On-road

Accelerated Introduction of Cleaner Line-Haul Locomotives 06/24/2010 Other

Enhanced Fleet Modernization Program (formerly called the 

Expanded Vehicle Retirement Program)

06/24/2010 On-road

Smog Check Improvements 08/31/2009 On-road

Portable Outboard Marine Tanks 09/25/2008 Off-road

Clean Up Existing Harbor Craft 11/15/2007 Other

Voluntary Accelerated Retirement Regulation 12/07/2006 On-road

Emergency Regulation for Portable Equipment Registration 

Program, Airborne Toxic Control Measures and Portable 

and Stationary diesel-Fueled Engines 

12/06/2006 Off-road

Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Stationary Compression 

Ignition Engines (Agricultural Eng. Exemption removal) 

11/16/2006 Other

Distributed Generation Guidelines and Regulations 10/19/2006 Other
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ARB Regulation Adoption Date Category

Zero Emission Bus Regulation 10/19/2006 On-road

Heavy-Duty In-Use Compliance Regulation 09/28/2006 On-road

On-Board Diagnostic II 09/28/2006 On-road

Off-Highway Recreational Vehicles and Engines 07/20/2006 Off-road

California Motor Vehicle Service Information Rule 06/22/2006 On-road

Portable Equipment Registration Program 06/22/2006 Off-road

Fork Lifts and Other Industrial Equipment (Large Off-Road 

Spark Ignition Engines > 1 liter)

05/26/2006 Off-road

Technical Amendments to Evaporative Exhaust and 

Evaporative Emissions Test Procedures

05/25/2006 On-road

Diesel Verification Procedure, Warranty & In-Use 03/23/2006 On-road

AB1009 Heavy-Duty Vehicle Smoke Inspection Program 01/26/2006 On-road

Diesel Particulate Matter Control Measure for On-Road 

Heavy-Duty Diesel-Fueled Vehicles Owned or Operated by 

Public Agencies and Utilities

12/08/2005 On-road

Mobile Cargo Handling Equipment at Ports and Intermodal 

Rail Yards 

12/08/2005 Off-road

Marine Inboard Sterndrive Engines 11/17/2005 Off-road

Requirements to Reduce Idling Emissions from New and InUse Trucks, Beginning in 200810/20/2005 On-road

2007-2009 Model-Year Heavy Duty Urban Bus Engines and 

the Fleet Rule for Transit Agencies

09/15/2005 On-road

Portable Fuel Containers (PFC) [Part 1 of 2] 09/15/2005 Off road

Portable Fuel Containers (PFC) [Part 2 of 2] 09/15/2005 Off road

On-Board Diagnostic System Requirements for 2010 and 

Subsequent Model-Year Heavy-Duty Engines (HD OBD)

07/21/2005 On-road

Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Stationary Compression 

Ignition Engines amendments

05/26/2005 Other

Transit Fleet Rule 02/24/2005 On-road

Off-Road Compression Ignition Engines 12/09/2004 Off-road

Emergency Regulation for Temporary Delay of Diesel Fuel 

Lubricity Standard

11/24/2004 Fuels

Diesel Fuel Standards for Harbor Craft & Locomotives 11/18/2004 Fuels

Greenhouse Gas 09/23/2004 On-road

Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Diesel Particulate from 

Diesel Fueled Commercial Vehicle Idling 

07/22/2004 On-road

Urban Bus Engines/Fleet Rule for Transit Agencies 06/24/2004 On-road

Engine Manufacturer Diagnostic System Requirements for 

2007 and Subsequent Model Heavy Duty Engines

05/20/2004 On-road

Heavy Duty Diesel Engine-Chip Reflash 03/27/2004 On-road

Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Diesel-Fueled Portable 

Engines

02/26/2004 Off-road

Modifications to the Statewide Portable Equipment 

Registration Program (PERP) Regulations

02/26/2004 Off-road

CA Motor Vehicle Service Information Rule 01/22/2004 On-road

Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Diesel Particulate for 

Transport Refrigeration Units

12/11/2003 On-road

Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Stationary Compression 

Ignition Engines

12/11/2003 Other

Diesel Retrofit Verification Procedure, Warranty and In-Use 

Compliance Requirements Amendments

12/11/2003 On-road

Small Off-Road Engines (SORE) 09/25/2003 Off-road

Solid Waste Collection Vehicles 09/24/2003 On-road

Off-Highway Recreation Vehicles 07/24/2003 Off-road
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ARB Regulation Adoption Date Category

Specifications for Motor Vehicle Diesel Fuel 07/24/2003 Fuels

Zero Emission Vehicle Amendments for 2003 03/25/2003 On-road

Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Diesel Particulate from 

School Bus Idling 

12/12/2002 On-road

Low Emission Vehicles II. Align Heavy Duty Gas Engine 

Standards with Federal Standards; minor administrative 

changes

12/12/2002 On-road

Revision to Transit Bus Regulations Amendments 10/24/2002 On-road

Diesel Retrofit Verification Procedure, Warranty and In-Use 

Compliance Requirements

05/16/2002 On-road

On-Board Diagnostic II Review Amendments 04/25/2002 On-road

Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Outdoor Residential 

Waste Burning 

02/21/2002 Other

Voluntary Accelerated Light Duty Vehicle Retirement 

Regulations

02/21/2002 On-road

California Motor Vehicle Service Information Rule 12/13/2001 On-road

Distributed Generation Guidelines and Regulations 11/15/2001 Other

Low Emission Vehicle Regulations 11/15/2001 On-road

Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Standards for 2007 and Later 10/25/2001 On-road

Marine Inboard Engines 07/26/2001 Off-road

Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure and Standardization of 

Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment 

06/28/2001 On-road

Zero Emission Vehicle Regulation Update 01/25/2001 On-road

Heavy Duty Diesel Engines "Not-to-Exceed (NTE)" Test 

Procedures

12/07/2000 On-road

Light-and Medium Duty Low Emission Vehicle Alignment 

with Federal Standards. Exhaust Emission Standards for 

Heavy Duty Gas Engines

12/07/2000 On-road

Air Toxic Control Measure for Chlorinated Toxic Air 

Contaminants from Automotive Maintenance and Repair 

Facilities 

04/27/2000 Other

Transit Bus Standards 02/24/2000 On-road

Off-Road Compression Ignition Engines 01/27/2000 Off-road

Some of the most significant regulations adopted by ARB in recent years, such as the 

Truck and Bus Regulation and the Off-Road Regulation, depend on truck and 

equipment owners playing a key role in implementation. Accordingly, ARB’s approach 

to ensuring compliance is based on a comprehensive outreach and education effort. 

ARB staff develops regulatory assistance tools, conducts and coordinates compliance 

assistance and outreach activities, administers incentive programs, and actively 

enforces the entire suite of diesel regulations. ARB’s goal is to provide readily 

accessible and clear information for all diesel rules and incentive programs.

ARB compliance assistance and outreach activities also include the following:

 Training and implementation classes conducted by ARB staff in classroom 

settings throughout the State, including at community colleges

 Participation at business events throughout California, giving presentations, 

displaying materials, providing handouts, and responding to questions

 Marketing efforts such as advertisements, press releases, a television presence, 

and radio spots, including public service announcements statewide

 Websites for ARB’s multiple programs
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Complementing these efforts, ARB and District enforcement actively provide a level 

playing field for the regulated entities and ensure the emission reduction benefits are 

achieved.

The following summaries highlight ARB’s most recent key regulations, the roll out of 

their phased implementation deadlines and corresponding emission reduction schedule, 

and supporting outreach and enforcement efforts.

Cleaner In-Use Heavy-Duty Trucks (Truck and Bus Regulation)

One of the most significant rules adopted by ARB within the past five years is the Truck 

and Bus Regulation, adopted in December 2008. In December 2010, ARB revised 

specific provisions of the in-use heavy-duty truck rule, in recognition of the deep 

economic effects of the recession on these businesses and the corresponding decline in 

their emissions. This rule represents a multi-year effort to turn over the legacy fleet of 

engines and replace them with the cleanest technology available. 

Starting in 2012, the Truck and Bus Regulation phases in requirements applicable to an 

increasingly larger percentage of the truck and bus fleet over time, so that by 2023,

nearly all older vehicles will need to be upgraded to have exhaust emissions meeting 

2010 model year engine emissions levels. Replacing older, dirtier trucks sooner than 

they otherwise would have been retired results in lower NOx and PM2.5 emissions in 

2019. 

The regulation applies to nearly all privately and federally owned diesel-fueled trucks 

and buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 14,000 pounds, 

including on-road and off-road agricultural yard goats, and privately and publicly owned 

school buses. Moreover, the regulation applies to any person, business, school district, 

or federal government agency that owns, operates, leases, or rents affected vehicles. 

The regulation also establishes requirements for any in-state or out-of-state motor 

carrier, California-based broker, or any California resident who directs or dispatches 

vehicles subject to the regulation. Finally, California sellers of a vehicle subject to the 

regulation would have to disclose the regulation’s potential applicability to buyers of the 

vehicles. Approximately 170,000 businesses in nearly all industry sectors in California, 

and almost a million vehicles that operate on California roads each year, are affected. 

Some common industry sectors that operate vehicles subject to the regulation include 

for-hire transportation, construction, manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, vehicle 

leasing and rental, bus lines, and agriculture.

In addition to the Truck and Bus Regulation, separate regulations reduce emissions 

from other public fleets, solid waste collection trucks, and transit buses. Trucks that 

transport marine containers must comply with the drayage truck regulation.
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ARB compliance assistance and outreach activities in support of the Truck and Bus 

Regulation include the following:

 The Truck Regulations Upload and Compliance Reporting System, an online 

reporting tool developed and maintained by ARB staff

 The Truck and Bus regulation’s fleet calculator, a tool designed to assist fleet 

owners in evaluating various compliance strategies

 Targeted training sessions all over the State

 Out-of-state training sessions conducted by a contractor

January 1, 2012 was the first deadline for trucks to install diesel particulate filters, with 

reporting required by the end of March 2012. Over 200,000 trucks reported by the 

required deadline. To ensure the success of these requirements, in the three-month 

period before the compliance deadline, ARB staff spoke with over 16,000 people by 

phone and sent notification postcards to over 200,000 people in California and 

neighboring states.

ARB and District enforcement provides a level playing field for the regulated entities and 

ensures the emission reduction benefits are achieved. ARB staff enforce diesel 

regulations addressing idling, transport refrigeration units (TRU) and drayage trucks, 

and recently began enforcing the Truck and Bus regulation as it came up to its first 

compliance deadline in 2012. 

In general, enforcement is conducted by doing unscheduled roadside inspections. An 

inspection team may typically focus on truck stops, rest stops, industrial areas, ports, 

environmental justice areas, and cold storage facilities. Vehicles are audited for all 

applicable requirements, including smoke, emission control labels, and diesel 

particulate filters. To expand enforcement capabilities, ARB contracts with the District

and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to conduct inspections in their 

respective jurisdictions.

Cleaner In-Use Off-Road Equipment (Off-Road Regulation)

Another significant rule adopted by ARB within the past five years is the Off-Road 

Regulation, which was first approved in 2007 and amended in 2010 in response to the 

economic recession. These off-road vehicles are used in construction, manufacturing, 

the rental industry, road maintenance, airport ground support, and landscaping. In 

December 2011, the Off-Road Regulation was modified to include on-road trucks with 

two diesel engines.

The Off-Road Regulation will significantly reduce emissions of diesel PM and NOx from 

the over 150,000 in-use off-road diesel vehicles that operate in California by requiring 

their owners to modernize their fleets and install exhaust retrofits. The regulation 

affects dozens of vehicle types used in thousands of fleets by requiring owners to 

modernize their fleets by replacing older engines or vehicles with newer, cleaner 

models; retiring older vehicles or using them less often; or by applying retrofit exhaust 

controls. 
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The Off-Road Regulation imposes idling limits on off-road diesel vehicles, requires a 

written idling policy, and requires a disclosure when selling vehicles. The regulation 

also requires that all vehicles be reported to ARB and labeled; restricts the addition of 

older vehicles into fleets; and requires fleets to reduce their emissions by retiring, 

replacing, or repowering older engines, or installing verified exhaust retrofits. The 

requirements and compliance dates of the Off-Road Regulation vary by fleet size.

Once ARB receives authorization from EPA, fleets will be subject to increasingly more 

stringent restrictions on adding older vehicles. The regulation also sets performance 

requirements. While the regulation has many specific provisions, in general, by each 

compliance deadline, a fleet must demonstrate that it has either met the fleet average 

target for that year, or has completed BACT requirements. The performance 

requirements of the Off-Road Regulation will be phased in from January 1, 2014,

through January 1, 2019. The combined impact of the performance requirements 

results in steady declines in NOx and PM2.5 emissions from 2014 to 2019 and beyond.

Compliance assistance and outreach activities in support of the Off-Road Regulation 

include the following:

 The Diesel Off-Road On-Line Reporting System, an online reporting tool 

developed and maintained by ARB staff

 The Diesel Hotline (866-6DIESEL), which provides regulated operators with 

answers (in English, Spanish, and Punjabi) about the regulations and access to 

ARB staff

 The Off-road Listserv, providing equipment owners and dealerships with timely 

announcement of regulatory changes, regulatory assistance documents, and 

reminders for deadlines

ARB staff began compliance outreach in 2008 in preparation for the initial 2010 

deadline. Staff is again ramping up outreach efforts in preparation for the 2014 

deadline. ARB staff has sent over 50,000 postcards with compliance information to 

equipment owners. ARB staff began planning outreach efforts for owners of on-road 

trucks with two diesel engines in spring of 2012.

In general, enforcement is conducted through unscheduled fleet audits. Fleet audits are 

conducted when inspectors notice a trend of violations occurring for a given business. 

Vehicles are audited for all applicable requirements, including smoke, emission control 

labels, and diesel particulate filters.

Advanced Clean Cars (ACC)

Many gasoline engines now emit at near-zero emission levels of smog-forming 

emissions. Conventional hybrid electric vehicles have been commercialized, and the 

number of models offered for sale is quickly expanding. Recently, battery-electric 

vehicles and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles have been introduced for sale, and fuel cell 

electric vehicles are expected to be sold beginning in 2015. This movement towards 

commercialization of advanced clean cars has occurred because of ARB’s Zero 

Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulation, which affects passenger cars and light-duty trucks. 
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Continuing its leadership role in developing innovative and ground-breaking emission 

control programs, ARB’s ACC Program, approved in January 2012, is a pioneering 

package of regulations, that although separate in construction, each regulation is

related in terms of the synergy developed to address both ambient air quality needs and 

climate change. The ACC program combines the control of smog, soot-causing 

pollutants, and greenhouse gas emissions into a single, coordinated package of 

requirements for model years 2015 through 2025. The program assures the 

development of environmentally superior cars that will continue to deliver the 

performance, utility, and safety vehicle owners have come to expect. 

The ACC program approved by ARB in January 2012 included amendments affecting 

the current ZEV regulation through the 2017 model year in order to enable 

manufacturers to successfully meet 2018 and subsequent model-year requirements. 

The ZEV amendments for 2018 and subsequent model years in the ACC program 

approved by ARB in January 2012 are intended to achieve commercialization through 

simplifying the regulation and pushing technology to higher volume production in order 

to achieve cost reductions.

The ACC Program will produce increasing benefits over time as new cleaner cars enter 

the fleet displacing older and dirtier vehicles. In this manner, the benefits in 2019 will be 

realized through the cumulative reduction in emissions achieved by new cars entering 

the fleet in 2017 through 2019. This program will continue to provide benefits well after 

2025 as vehicles meeting the new standards replace older, higher-emitting vehicles.

Expanded Passenger Vehicle Retirement

Voluntary accelerated vehicle retirement or car scrap programs provide monetary 

incentives to vehicle owners to retire older, more polluting vehicles. The purpose of 

these programs is to reduce fleet emissions by accelerating the turnover of the existing 

fleet and subsequent replacement with newer, cleaner vehicles. Reducing emissions 

from the existing fleet is a component of California’s SIP, which outlines the State’s 

strategy for meeting health-based ambient air quality standards. Both State and local 

vehicle retirement programs are available.

California’s updated voluntary vehicle retirement program is administered by the Bureau 

of Automotive Repair (BAR) and provides $1,000 per vehicle, and $1,500 for lowincome consumers, for unwanted vehicles that have either failed or passed their last 

Smog Check Test and that meet certain eligibility guidelines. This program is referred 

to as the Consumer Assistance Program. 

The Enhanced Fleet Modernization Program (EFMP) was approved by the AB 118 

legislation to augment the State’s existing vehicle retirement program. Approximately 

$30 million is available annually through 2015 to fund the EFMP via a $1 increase in 

vehicle registration fees. ARB developed the program in consultation with BAR. The 

program is jointly administered by both BAR (for vehicle retirement) and local air 

districts (for vehicle replacement).
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Other programs, in addition to vehicle retirement programs, help to clean up the 

light-duty fleet. The AQIP, established by AB 118, is an ARB voluntary incentive 

program to fund clean vehicle and equipment projects. The Clean Vehicle Rebate 

Project (CVRP) is one of the current projects under AQIP. CVRP, started in 2009, is 

designed to accelerate widespread commercialization of zero-emission vehicles and 

plug-in hybrid electric vehicles by providing consumer rebates up to $2,500 to partially 

offset the higher cost of these advanced technologies. These vehicles are a key 

element of California’s strategy for meeting health based air quality standards and 

climate change goals. 

The CVRP is administered statewide by the California Center for Sustainable Energy 

(CCSE). In fiscal years 2009–2012, $26.1 million, including $2 million provided by the 

California Energy Commission, funded approximately 2,000 rebates. In June 2012, the 

ARB allocated $15–21 million to the CVRP as outlined in the AQIP FY2012–2013 

Funding Plan.

Improvements and Enhancements to California’s Smog Check Program

The following requirements were added to improve and enhance the Smog Check 

Program, making it more inclusive of motor vehicles and effective on smog reductions:

 Low pressure evaporative test;

 More stringent pass/fail cutpoints;

 Visible smoke test; and

 Inspection of light- and medium-duty diesel vehicles.

AB 2289, adopted in October 2010, is a new law restructuring California’s Smog Check 

Program, streamlining and strengthening inspections, increasing penalties for 

misconduct, and reducing costs to motorists. This new law, sponsored by ARB and 

BAR, promises faster and less expensive Smog Checks by talking advantage of 

diagnostic software installed on all vehicles since 2000. The new law also directs 

vehicles without this equipment to high-performing stations, helping to ensure that these 

cars comply with current emission standards.

This program will reduce consumer costs by having stations take advantage of 

diagnostic software that monitors pollution-reduction components and tailpipe 

emissions. This technology, known as On-Board Diagnostics (OBD), has been required 

on all new vehicles since 1996. Under the new law, testing of passenger vehicles using 

OBD will begin mid-2013 on all vehicles model years 2000 or newer. This should result 

in reduced consumer costs by up to $180 million annually.

5.1.3 District VOC Regulations

The rules identified in Section 5.1.1 are adopted District rules that reduce directly 

emitted PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors (NOx and SOx). As discussed in detail in 

Chapter 4 (Scientific Foundation and PM2.5 Modeling Results), VOCs have the 

potential to contribute to the formation of two different PM2.5 components: secondary 

organic aerosols (SOAs) and ammonium nitrate (nitrate). Recent research and 
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modeling shows that the contribution of these components to the Valley’s total observed 

PM2.5 concentrations is minimal, as is the contribution of anthropogenic VOCs (those 

not from biogenic sources) to the formation of these PM2.5 components. As such, a 

VOC-centric control strategy is much less effective for reducing PM2.5 concentrations 

than are primary PM2.5 controls or NOx controls. 

Although reducing VOC emissions does not contribute to attainment of the PM2.5 

standard, it does contribute to improved ozone air quality in the Valley. The District has 

successfully reduced VOC emissions through numerous rules adopted or amended 

under the 2007 Ozone Plan. For a detailed discussion on VOC rules and emissions 

reduced, refer to the 2007 Ozone Plan and the 2009 RACT SIP Demonstration

report. Two examples of VOC reducing rules include: 

 Rule 4570 Confined Animal Facilities

Amended on October 21, 2010, uses a best management practices approach to 

reduce emissions from confined animal facilities. The 2010 amendment relied on 

the latest scientific research and reduced 31.8 tpd VOC emissions.

 Rule 4566 Organic Material Composting Operations

Adopted August 18, 2011, Rule 4566 is the result of collaborative efforts with 

affected stakeholders and the utilization of the best scientific information 

available; the rule reduces emissions through the use of watering systems or 

compost cover, reducing 19 tpd of VOC emissions. 

5.1.4 District Ammonia Regulations

Although ammonia is among the chemical precursors that can form secondary PM2.5, 

research shows that ammonia controls are not effective for reducing ammonium nitrate 

in the Valley (see Chapter 4). Additionally, as the modeling sensitivity analysis has 

shown in Appendix G, reductions in ammonia emissions achieve insignificant reductions 

in the 2019 PM2.5 design value mass compared to reductions of direct PM2.5 and NOx 

emissions. 

The District has already achieved significant ammonia emissions reductions through 

several amendments of Rule 4570, Confined Animal Facilities, which has required best 

management practices for manure management and other areas to reduce VOC and 

ammonia emissions. Despite the insignificant contribution of ammonia reductions 

towards attainment of the PM2.5 standard, the District has evaluated the feasibility of 

obtaining additional ammonia emissions reductions and has been unable to identify any 

additional reasonable measures. As discussed in Section 5.3.3 below, the District 

explored the possibility of requiring the application of sodium bisulfate (SBS), as 

included as a potential control measure in the South Coast Air Quality Management 

District’s (SCAQMD) 2012 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP), and determined that 

this control strategy would be ineffective, extremely costly, has potential detrimental 

unintended consequences, and is likely infeasible for dairies within the San Joaquin 

Valley. While reducing ammonia is not an effective strategy for reducing PM2.5 
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concentrations in the San Joaquin Valley, the District commits to continue to analyze 

and support studies regarding ammonia emissions at confined animal facilities, for the 

purpose of evaluating the potential effectiveness of additional ammonia controls on 

confined animal facilities in reducing PM2.5 concentrations in the Valley (discussed in 

more detail in Section 5.3.3, Further Study Measures).

5.2 Evaluating Control Measures for New Control Strategy Opportunities 

For this plan, the District thoroughly analyzed opportunities to further reduce emissions 

of directly-emitted PM2.5, NOx, and SOx.4 Appendices C and D of this plan present 

this analysis, organized by practice or equipment type. The control strategy resulting 

from this analysis reflects a multi-faceted approach to implementing emissions control 

technologies and practices. 

While the adopted regulations noted above are achieving significant emissions 

reductions, more emissions reductions are needed to meet current EPA air quality 

standards. The District and ARB must continue to consider new control measure 

opportunities to ensure expeditious attainment of the 2006 PM2.5 standard. 

5.2.1 Evaluation of Control Measures 

The District has evaluated all sectors and equipment types for additional emission 

reduction opportunities. This analysis is presented in Appendices C and D of this plan. 

In particular, Appendix D (Stationary and Area Source Control Strategy Evaluation)

focuses on sources under the District’s regulatory control. The District has used the 

following key factors to evaluate potential emission reduction opportunities:

 Technological Feasibility. The District looked for any control technologies not 

already required that might be available to further reduce emissions from sources 

of air pollution in the Valley. This includes new technologies and technologies 

that may not have been cost-effective in the past. The technologies used in 

BACT guidelines; permits; and other air districts’ rules, regulations, guidelines, 

and studies were reviewed for their feasibility, including how commercially 

available the technology currently is and whether the technology has been used 

in practice. 

 Cost-Effectiveness. Cost-effectiveness is the cost of emissions controls 

compared to the amount of emissions reductions that would be achieved by 

those controls. The District does not have a pre-determined cost-effectiveness 

threshold, but control options with extremely high cost-effectiveness (high dollars 

per ton of pollutant reduction) can be deemed unreasonable and inappropriate 

for regulation. 

 Risk-based Strategy. Through its Risk-based Strategy (RBS), the District is 

maximizing public health improvements resulting from the District’s attainment 

 

4

As noted in Chapter 4 and other areas of this plan, VOC and ammonia reductions to not significantly contribute to 

the Valley’s attainment of the 2006 PM2.5 standard. 
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strategies and related initiatives. As described in Chapter 2 of this plan, the 

District uses a five-factor exposure assessment methodology to evaluate the 

PM2.5 attainment strategy under the RBS and prioritize control measures that 

maximize public health.

Embedded in the technological feasibility and cost-effectiveness analysis is the District’s 

evaluation of RACT and RACM. A PM2.5 plan must demonstrate that RACT and 

RACM are in place for direct PM2.5 and the area’s relevant precursors.

5

 

 Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT). RACT is the lowest 

reasonable emissions limit that a particular source is capable of meeting, 

considering technological and economic feasibility of the technology. RACT 

changes over time as new technologies become feasible and cost-effective, thus 

making them reasonable to require. Therefore, the District focuses its review on 

changes in technologies since the last RACT demonstration. The District has 

conducted comprehensive reviews of all NOx and VOC rules for compliance with 

federal RACT requirements. For these reviews, the District evaluates all District 

rules against federal rules, regulations, and technology guidelines, as well as any 

comparable rules from California’s most technologically progressive air districts. 

In response to the District’s 2009 RACT Demonstration for Ozone State 

Implementation Plans (2009 RACT SIP) and related rule amending projects, EPA 

has issued federal actions documenting their approval of District rules and their 

concurrence that District rules are at least as stringent as RACT. These efforts 

show that many District rules are more stringent than established RACT 

standards. RACT is the minimum level of control that nonattainment areas must 

achieve for existing sources, but because of the Valley’s extensive air quality 

challenges, the District must continuously look beyond RACT. 

 Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM). Whereas RACT is specific 

to an emissions source, RACM is a collection of measures that, taken as a 

group, advance attainment of an air quality standard by at least one year. 

RACT and RACM are, by definition, reasonable. Although air quality attainment plans 

must include a thorough analysis of reasonably available measures, it need not analyze 

every conceivable measure; reasonableness must drive the analysis. The District 

would not require any measure that is absurd, unenforceable, impractical, or that would 

cause severely disruptive socioeconomic impacts (e.g., gas rationing and mandatory 

source shutdowns). RACT is discussed throughout Appendix D. Chapter 9 of this plan 

synthesizes how this plan’s control strategy meets RACM requirements. 

 

5 Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule [PM2.5 Rule], 72 Fed. Reg. 79, pp. 20610-20612. (2007, April 25). 

Available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2007-04-25/pdf/E7-6347.pdf
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5.2.2 Control Strategy Commitments

The District’s thorough evaluation of control measures for potential opportunities to 

further reduce emissions, as discussed in Section 5.2.1, resulted in numerous 

commitments for future actions on the part of the District, not all of which are regulatory 

actions. As noted at the beginning of this chapter, the District is using a multi-faceted 

emissions control approach to reach beyond traditional regulations with innovative 

approaches. Some control measure opportunities are not appropriate for regulatory 

commitments at the time of plan adoption. Reasons for this include limits on the 

District’s regulatory authority, costs, a need for additional information, the need for 

technology development, and the need to demonstrate the technology in practice. The 

opportunities that are better suited for incentive programs, technology demonstration, 

and other approaches are discussed in Chapters 6, 7, and 8. These combined efforts 

expedite emissions reductions and pave the way for future regulatory measures that 

might be needed under upcoming attainment plans for future EPA air quality standards. 

5.3 NEW CONTROL MEASURES 

The District is committing to five rule projects, including one new rule and four 

amendments to existing rules. The District evaluated these control measures based on 

the review criteria described in Section 5.2 and will develop the rule projects using a 

public rule development process as described in Section 5.3.2. 

5.3.1 Regulatory Control Measure Commitments 

Based on the control measure analyses in Appendices C and D, and the attainment 

needs identified through the photochemical modeling and other air quality analyses of 

this plan, the District proposes the regulatory control measures shown in Table 5-3, and 

as discussed in further detail below. 

Table 5-3 Regulatory Control Measure Commitments

Rule Amendment 

Date 

Compliance 

Date

Emissions 

reductions*

Rule 4308 Boilers, Steam Generators, and 

Process Heaters 0.075 to <2 

MMBtu/hr

2013 2015 TBD

Rule 4692 Commercial Charbroiling 2016 2017 0.4 tpd PM2.5

Rule 4901 Wood Burning Fireplaces and Wood 

Burning Heaters 2016 2016/2017 1.5 tpd of PM2.5

Rule 4905 Natural Gas-Fired, Fan-Type 

Residential Central Furnaces 2014 2015 TBD

Rule 9610 SIP-Creditability of Incentives 2013 2013 TBD

* Based on full implementation and best available information as of this plan. A more thorough evaluation of 

control techniques and feasibility will be conducted at the time of rule development. 
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Rule 4308 Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters 0.075 to <2 

MMBtu/hr

Analysis for this 2012 PM2.5 Plan indicates that lowering the NOx emission limit for 

instantaneous water heaters in the size range of 0.075–0.4 MMBtu/hr is technologically 

feasible and cost-effective. The District therefore commits to amend Rule 4308 in 2013 

to lower the NOx emission limit for instantaneous water heaters in the size range of 

0.075–0.4 MMBtu/hr from the current level of 55 ppmv to 20 ppmv with an anticipated 

compliance date of 2015.

Rule 4692 Commercial Charbroiling

Existing Rule 4692 achieves significant emissions reductions from chain-driven 

charbroilers; however, the rule does not require emissions controls for under-fired 

charbroilers. Analysis for the 2012 PM2.5 Plan indicates that extending the applicability 

of the rule to under-fired units could further reduce PM2.5 emissions by 20% (0.4 tpd 

PM2.5) from the baseline inventory for under-fired charbroilers upon implementation in 

2017. The modeling conducted for this plan shows that reducing emissions from underfired charbroiling by 20% in Kern County is necessary for attainment; thus, by reducing 

emissions 20% Valley-wide, the District achieves significant health benefits Valley-wide 

per the District’s Risk-based Strategy. Research and demonstration projects are 

underway to evaluate emission control technologies for under-fired charbroilers in 

support of this measure. Therefore, the District commits to amend Rule 4692 in 2016 to 

add requirements for under-fired charbroilers, with an anticipated compliance date of 

2017.

Rule 4901 Wood Burning Fireplaces and Wood Burning Heaters

Since 2003, District Rule 4901 and the associated Check-Before-You-Burn program 

have reduced harmful species of PM2.5 when and where those reductions are most 

needed—in urbanized areas when the local weather conditions are forecast to inhibit

PM dispersion. Analysis for this 2012 PM2.5 Plan indicates that lowering the threshold 

level for calling wood-burning curtailments could further reduce emissions from this 

source category by 1.5 tpd of PM2.5. The amended rule would also include a new 

contingency provision (see Chapter 9). The District commits to amend Rule 4901 in 

2016 with enforcement to begin the 2016/2017 winter season. This is a four-part 

commitment (refer to Appendix D for more details): 

1. Lower the threshold level for calling wood-burning curtailments from the current 

30 μg/m3 to ≥20 μg/m3

2. Review the meteorological conditions that lead to elevated PM2.5, to prevent the 

buildup of PM2.5 that may lead to a potential exceedance day

3. Consider expanding the wood burning season to include October and/or March

4. Analyze the feasibility of allowing the use of the cleanest certified wood burning 

devices at specified curtailment levels. Enforcing this added flexibility would be 

difficult given the challenge in distinguishing wood smoke emissions from 

various wood burning devices, and the District would explore various options 

during the rule development process for ensuring that this issue is addressed.
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2012 PM2.5 Plan 

Rule 4905 Natural Gas-Fired, Fan-Type Residential Central Furnaces

In the 2008 PM2.5 Plan, the District committed to amend Rule 4905 in 2014 to establish 

more stringent NOx emission limits for new and replacement natural gas-fired, fan-type 

residential central furnaces. Based on the preliminary results of a SCAQMD study of 

emissions control technologies for furnaces, the technology required to meet new NOx 

standards will be available by 2015. Analysis for this 2012 PM2.5 Plan also suggests 

that emissions may be reduced by extending the applicability of the rule to include 

commercial units, though additional analysis is needed to confirm the technological 

feasibility and cost-effectiveness of incorporating commercial units into Rule 4905. This 

will be further evaluated during the rule-amending project. The District commits to 

amend Rule 4905 in 2014 to lower the NOx emission limits for residential furnaces and 

to examine the possibility of incorporating NOx limits for natural gas-fired, fan-type, 

commercial central furnaces into the rule, with an anticipated compliance date of 2015. 

Rule 9610 SIP Creditability of Incentives

The District’s successful incentive-based measures have been reducing pollutant 

emissions above and beyond reductions being achieved through traditional 

regulations. Historically, EPA has not granted credit for incentive-based reductions for 

use in SIPs to meet Clean Air Act obligations. This new District rule will establish 

appropriate mechanisms for the District to take SIP credit for eligible incentive 

programs. Once given credit, SIP-creditable, incentive-based emissions reductions will 

be used alongside regulatory measures to meet federal Clean Air Act requirements, 

such as requirements for contingency reductions and reasonable further progress (see 

Chapter 6 for more information).

5.3.2 Rule Development Process

After plan adoption, the District adopts or amends rules per the plan’s regulatory control 

measure commitments. In these efforts, the District is committed to a transparent public 

process that includes stakeholder, industry, and other-agency input at every step 

possible.

Figure 5-1 Rule Development Process

Research for 

potential 

emission 

reduction 

opportunities 

Draft Rule 

with CAC 

Review

Costeffectiveness 

and emission 

reduction 

analyses

Socioeconomic 

& CEQA Analyses

Proposed 

Rule and 

Final Draft 

Staff Report

Governing 

Board Public 

Hearing

Public Involvement throughout Rule Development Process
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5-24 Chapter 5: Control Strategy

2012 PM2.5 Plan 

Contrasting the broader plan development effort, the rule development process allows 

greater focus on a single sector or technology area. Early in the rule development 

process, prior to preparing a draft rule, staff researches technologies and explores 

options for emissions reductions, gathering preliminary data and performing literature 

reviews of relevant studies. Through a series of public workshops and focus group 

meetings, staff presents draft rule concepts and receives feedback on specific 

technology costs, technical insight, and general public comments. Staff uses this 

information gathering and discussion to refine the rule throughout the rule development 

process. Using this iterative process of gathering the most up-to-date cost and 

technical information, staff analyzes cost-effectiveness and potential emissions 

reductions. These analyses are shared with the public throughout the rule development 

process. 

During the ongoing public workshop process, the District enlists the services of an 

economic consultant to analyze the proposed rule’s socioeconomic impact, pursuant to 

California Health and Safety Code Section 40728.5. As with draft versions of the rule, 

the District gives the public and stakeholders the opportunity to review the analysis and 

provide further feedback. To the extent possible, the District minimizes significant 

economic and socioeconomic impacts by evaluating viable alternatives, adjusting 

proposed limits, or extending compliance schedules.

Staff presents the final draft version of the staff report and proposed rule, including the 

cost-effectiveness analysis, socioeconomic impact report, emissions reductions 

analysis, RACT analysis, and California Environmental Quality Assessment (CEQA), to 

the Governing Board during a public hearing. The Governing Board ultimately 

determines the balance between air quality improvement and rule impacts when 

adopting proposed rules.

Once adopted, the District forwards the rule through ARB to EPA for inclusion into the 

SIP, as appropriate. EPA evaluates the rule, determines if the rule meets federal 

requirements, and provides an opportunity for further public comment. After this review 

and comment period, EPA will amend the SIP to include the new rule, as appropriate.

Beyond the rule development and adoption process, District staff will continue to 

engage the public and affected source operators throughout implementation and 

compliance. Additionally, District staff continues public outreach and education through 

notifications to stakeholders of the rule adoption, issuance of compliance bulletins, and 

assistance through the District’s Small Business Assistance program. 

5.3.3 Further Study Measures

As discussed in this chapter and Appendices C and D, the District thoroughly reviewed 

the Valley’s current emissions sources and emissions control measures to search for 

additional control measure opportunities. Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 outline a number of

specific actions that are being taken to reduce emissions for this plan. In some cases, 

though, additional information is needed regarding the current emissions inventory, the 

effectiveness of current controls, and the potential of additional controls. The District 
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2012 PM2.5 Plan 

will continue to review these areas as further study measures, summarized in Table 5-4. 

These analyses can provide the foundation for related control measure commitments in 

future attainment plans. 

Table 5-4 Further Study Measures

Control Measure Description Completion Date

Rule 4103 Open Burning

Evaluate the feasibility of postponed burning 

activities every 5 years, as outlined in the current 

rule.

2015

Rule 4106 Prescribed 

Burning

Examine the feasibility of implementing a biomass 

removal program similar to one in Placer 

County. 

2013

Rule 4311 Flares

Review flare minimization plans and annual 

reports for further emission reduction 

opportunities.

2013

Rule 4550 Conservation 

Management 

Plans

Analyze existing studies and support new studies 

to establish a more accurate inventory of PM2.5 

emissions and identify potential additional 

emission reduction opportunities.

2014

Rule 4570 Confined Animal 

Facilities 

Analyze existing studies on ammonia at confined 

animal facilities and evaluate potential ammonia 

controls for their effectiveness in reducing PM2.5 

concentrations in the Valley. 

2017

SC 001 Lawn Care 

Equipment

Evaluate emissions inventory and technology

demonstration efforts to identify potential 

emission reduction opportunities.

2013

SC 005 Asphalt/Concrete 

Operations

Examine feasibility of warm-mix asphalt as a 

potential emission reduction opportunity. 2013

Rule 4103 Open Burning

The District recently re-evaluated the 2010 Final Staff Report and Recommendations on 

Agricultural Burning in May 2012 and found there were no significant changes in the 

economic feasibility of various alternatives to agricultural burning. Annually, the District 

evaluates each crop category still allowed to burn and determines a cost threshold 

based on the economic feasibility of alternatives to burning. The District carefully 

manages the remaining agricultural burning under its Smoke Management System to 

ensure that burning is only allowed on days when the amount burned would not cause 

or contribute to an exceedance of any air quality standard, and to ensure that there are 

no cost-effective alternatives available. The District will continue to consider the 

economic feasibility of burning alternatives on a case-by-case basis and continue with 

the five-year evaluation period outlined in Rule 4103.

Rule 4106 Prescribed Burning

Placer County Air Pollution Control District has implemented a successful program for 

reducing emissions from hazard reduction burning by removing biomass from the area 

and sending it for combustion at a biomass plant. The District has considered the 
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2012 PM2.5 Plan 

feasibility of implementing a similar program in the Valley; however, the unique Valley 

geography presents several challenges in implementing a comparable program. Such 

challenges need to be evaluated before determining whether a biomass removal 

program could be implemented successfully and result in cost-effective emissions 

reductions for the Valley. The District commits to further evaluating these challenges 

and the potential for such a program in the future.

Rule 4311 Flares

Effective July 1, 2012, facilities subject to the flare minimization plans (FMPs) provision 

in Rule 4311 are required to submit annual reports to the District with reportable flaring 

event and annual monitoring report data. The information in these annual reports could 

potentially provide insight for further emissions reduction opportunities for this source 

category. The first reports under this Rule 4311 provision were not due to the District 

until July 31, 2012. Given the time necessary to thoroughly analyze the FMPs, 

reportable flaring event reports, and annual monitoring reports, the District commits to 

analyzing these documents in the future.

Rule 4550 Conservation Management Practices (CMPs)

The District will continue to look for opportunities to reduce fugitive dust and emissions 

from agricultural operations through its Technology Advancement Program and through 

its collaboration with other agencies, such as the Natural Resources Conservation 

Service (NRCS), and other agricultural stakeholders. Collaborative research, such as 

the District’s involvement with EPA’s Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE), is 

investigating the effectiveness of CMPs on the PM2.5 fraction of fugitive dust and 

evaluating particulate emissions related to conventional tilling methods versus CMP 

tillage methods using new technology. 

Rule 4570 Confined Animal Facilities

District Rule 4570 is among the most stringent rules in the nation for confined animal 

facilities (CAF). Rule 4570 uses a menu-based approach to require the implementation 

of best management practices to reduce emissions from confined animal facilities. As a 

part of the 2010 rule-amendment process, the District devoted extensive resources to 

evaluating and furthering science in the area of CAF-related emissions and potential 

mitigation measures. The combined efforts of the District, researchers, and agricultural

stakeholders yielded profound new information that was used to develop the 2010 

amendments. In particular, scientific research shed new light on dairy silage emissions 

and potential mitigation measures. As a result of these collaborations and efforts, Rule 

4570 is expected to reduce 100 tpd of ammonia emissions in the Valley6. 

In ongoing efforts to further reduce CAF-related emissions in the Valley, the District 

continues to work closely with researchers, other agencies, and ag stakeholders to seek 

out new technologies, work practices, and other methods. That said, no achieved-inpractice controls have been identified that could potentially further reduce CAF 

emissions beyond current controls. The District has explored the possibility of 

 

6

(2010). Final Draft Staff Report for Revised Proposed Amendments to Rule 4570 (Confined Animal Facilities). 

Fresno, CA: San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

http://valleyair.org/Board_meetings/GB/agenda_minutes/Agenda/2010/October/Agenda_Item_7_Oct_21_2010.pdf
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5-27 Chapter 5: Control Strategy

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implementing ammonia controls during periods of high PM2.5 concentrations; however, 

the available information indicates that this control strategy would not be feasible or 

effective in the Valley. The limited amount of nitric acid and sulfuric acid available in the 

atmosphere to react with the large quantities of ammonia present in the Valley generally 

renders ammonia emissions controls as ineffective in reducing PM2.5. 

Recent studies have cited the episodic application of sodium bisulfate (SBS) onto 

manure at dairies as a potential control strategy to reduce ammonia emissions. The 

South Coast Air Quality Management District identified this episodic application of SBS 

as a potential control measure within their 2012 Air Quality Management Plan. The

District also evaluated this option and determined that for a variety of reasons, as 

discussed in this chapter, this control strategy is infeasible and ineffective for the Valley.

Most dairies in the Valley utilize a freestall design and generally restrict the cows’ 

access to corrals during the winter months, since the corrals are wet and muddy. As a 

result, there would be very little or no fresh manure excreted in corrals during the 

winter. In addition, once wet conditions set in, it is not feasible to utilize tractors in the 

corrals to apply SBS, since the tractors would tend to get stuck. Application by hand at 

large dairies would be labor intensive, time consuming, and expensive, and would 

potentially pose health and safety risks to the workers.

Although SBS is generally safe in small quantities, excessive loading of salts is a major 

water quality concern in the central and southern regions of the Valley, where many 

dairies are located. Applying large quantities of SBS to manure that will eventually be 

applied to land may not be practical or feasible. A dairy would need to work with the 

Regional Water Quality Control Board to determine if this would be allowed, and a 

dairy’s nutrient management plan would need to be revised. It may require hauling

manure a significant distance to areas without the same salinity concerns and possibly 

increasing mobile emissions from hauling.

There are also significant costs associated with the application of SBS. Iowa State 

University Extension estimates the costs of SBS to be $660/ton. District estimates 

show that 1,304 lb-1,955 lb/cow-yr of SBS would be needed for application to one entire 

corral area, costing $430 - $645/cow-yr. Using the District’s corral ammonia emission 

factor for milk cows and assuming the 50% reduction in ammonia, the cost of the 

ammonia reductions would be at least $41,067/ton to $61,601/ton. Information from 

Iowa State lists reduced costs of $129 - $193/cow-yr for only treating heavy use areas, 

such as feed bunks and water troughs. It is not clear how much manure is excreted in 

heavy use areas, but even if the resulting cost per ton of reduction was cut in half, the 

costs would still be significant. Given the insignificant PM2.5 reduction achieved per ton 

of ammonia reduction, this cost-effectiveness translates to a much higher relative costeffectiveness when compared to other, more effective strategies, such as NOx 

reductions. Also, because flush dairies are common in the Valley, the heavy use areas 

will generally be paved, and the flushing of the freestall or corral lanes already 

significantly reduces ammonia emissions; therefore, application of SBS to only these 

areas would not benefit the Valley. It would be flushed to a lagoon or pond where the 

high buffering capacity would render it ineffective and possibly increase H2S emissions. 
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Due to the ineffectiveness during the peak PM2.5 season, feasibility issues with 

potential controls, potential environmental impacts, cost effectiveness issues, and the 

insignificant contribution of ammonia reductions to improvements in PM2.5 

concentrations, ammonia control strategies will not further assist the Valley’s PM2.5 

attainment goals at this time. However, as previously mentioned, the District intends to 

continue ongoing efforts to evaluate additional potential strategies for reducing CAFrelated emissions in the Valley. Therefore, the District commits to continue to analyze 

and support studies regarding confined animal facility ammonia emissions, for the 

purpose of evaluating the potential effectiveness of additional ammonia controls on 

confined animal facilities in reducing PM2.5 concentrations in the Valley.

SC 001 Lawn Care Equipment

The District’s Governing Board approved funding for District-sponsored research to 

quantify Valley-specific lawn care activity levels. The survey results will allow review 

and improvement of the emissions inventory for this source category.

The District is also actively demonstrating zero-emission lawn-care equipment 

technology through the recent launch of the Zero-Emission Commercial Lawn and 

Garden Equipment Demonstration Program. This program is funded with State Air 

Quality Improvement Program funds and will provide eligible cordless zero-emission 

commercial lawn and garden equipment to commercial landscape professionals who 

conduct business within the Valley. The District will continue its work with commercial 

operators to address the concerns with commercial viability through the implementation 

of this program. Based on findings and feedback from program participants, the District 

commits to developing more incentive program options for commercial operators to 

assist in deploying zero-emissions lawn and garden technologies.

SC 005 Asphalt and Concrete Operations

Warm-mix asphalt shows promise for reducing emissions associated with the 

production of asphalt for paving projects, when compared to hot-mix asphalt, because 

lower temperatures result in lower levels of criteria pollutant emissions. The cost, 

unfamiliarity with potential implementation issues, and uncertainty in the exact 

percentages of potential emissions reductions are potential barriers to the technology’s 

use in the Valley. District staff commits to further evaluate the cost, effectiveness, and 

feasibility of this technology for Valley sources in the future.
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5.4 ADDITIONAL CONTROL STRATEGIES 

Non-regulatory strategies help accelerate attainment and have been an important part 

of recent District plans. For example, through the District’s Fast Track strategy, the 

District and its Fast Track task force have evaluated several innovative and 

collaborative emissions-reducing measures, complementing the more traditional 

measures included in the 2007 Ozone Plan and 2008 PM2.5 Plan. These Fast Track

efforts have resulted in increased incentive funding being brought to the Valley, 

expanded public outreach through Healthy Air Living (see Chapter 8), and guidance 

documents and model policies, such as the District’s “Green Contracting” guidance and 

policy. Along these lines, the following strategies are under close evaluation by District 

staff for potential PM2.5 benefits. 

5.4.1 Energy Efficiency

California has been on the forefront of developing renewable energy sources, and has 

implemented regulations to ensure cleaner non-renewable energy. The District’s 

involvement in energy efficiency and renewable energy is guided by its Regional Energy 

Efficiency Strategy (REES), which was adopted in January 2010.7 This policy identifies 

the District’s commitment to fostering energy efficiency and clean energy alternatives as 

opportunities for emissions reductions. Consistent with the District’s 2012 Legislative 

Platform, the District continues to work with stakeholders and state agencies to expand 

net metering and feed-in tariffs for use of solar and other renewable energy sources, 

promote energy efficiency programs for energy end users that will result in lower 

emissions and a more stable electrical distribution system, and develop measures that 

incentivize and encourage low-emission technologies for use of waste gas as an 

alternative to waste-gas venting or flaring.

5.4.2 Eco-driving 

Given that mobile source emissions now represent approximately 81% of the NOx 

emissions in the Valley, and that mobile sources are essentially outside the regulatory 

control of the District, finding ways through education and outreach to reduce such 

emissions in the Valley is critical to future attainment. One such program in 

development is Eco-Driving. Eco-Driving refers to everyday techniques that drivers can 

do to maximize the fuel economy of their vehicles. These include observing good 

operating maintenance, such as proper tire pressure, wheel alignment, and oil viscosity; 

improving aerodynamics; traveling at efficient speeds; choosing the appropriate gear for 

manual transmissions; driving defensively to avoid unnecessary braking; accelerating at 

a constant pace; and other simple, yet often forgotten, driving techniques. As with other 

informational activities conducted by the District, an Eco-Driving program could be 

encompassed under the Healthy Air Living umbrella.

 

7

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. (2010). Approval of the District’s Regional Energy Efficiency 

Strategy. Memorandum to the SJVAPCD Governing Board. Public Hearing, January 21, 2010. 

http://www.valleyair.org/Board_meetings/GB/agenda_minutes/Agenda/2010/January/Agenda_Item_7_Jan_21_2010.

pdf
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