11/09/11 Air Pollution Control Board 1

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

SAN DIEGO COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2011

MINUTE ORDER NO. 1

SUBJECT: NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING:

ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO RULE 67.16 – GRAPHIC ARTS 

OPERATIONS AND RELATED AMENDMENTS TO RULE 11 –

EXEMPTIONS FROM RULE 10 PERMIT REQUIREMENTS 

(DISTRICTS: ALL)

OVERVIEW:

The Air Pollution Control Board is requesting to adopt proposed amendments to Rule 67.16, 

which limits emissions of volatile organic compounds from inks, cleaning solvents, and other 

graphics arts materials used in printing operations. Volatile organic compounds emitted into the 

atmosphere contribute to the formation of ozone, which at elevated levels can impact public 

health. Despite substantial air quality improvement over the past two decades, San Diego 

County has not yet attained state and federal air quality standards for ozone.

The amendments, if adopted, will reduce the allowable amount of volatile organic compounds 

in fountain solutions, cleaning solvents, and adhesives used in printing operations, consistent 

with recent federal guidelines and existing requirements of several air districts in California. 

The amendments help fulfill state and federal requirements to update rules as necessary to 

reflect the current state of air pollution control technology.

In addition, related amendments are proposed for Rule 11 (Exemptions from Rule 10 Permit 

Requirements) pertaining to the digital printing industry. Digital printing is an evolving 

technology that in many cases uses inks and other materials containing volatile organic 

compounds, although the extent of emissions is currently unknown. The proposed amendments 

to Rule 11 exempt digital printing operations from air quality permits but require large 

operations (as defined) to keep records on the use of inks and cleaning solvents as specified in 

Rule 67.16. These records will enable future assessment of emission levels and the potential 

need for pollution control requirements specific to the digital printing industry.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The proposed amendments to Rule 67.16 and Rule 11 will be implemented and enforced with 

existing staff and will not have a fiscal impact on the Air Pollution Control District.

BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT:

Adopting the proposed amendments to Rule 67.16 will not adversely impact the business 

community. The proposed graphics arts and cleaning materials with a lower content of volatile 

organic compounds are widely available and equally priced, or only marginally more 

expensive. Many printing facilities already comply with the proposed amendments. 

Furthermore, the amendments will not take effect for six months, allowing time to deplete 

existing inventories of non-compliant materials.
11/09/11 Air Pollution Control Board 2

No additional permit requirements will result from the amendments to Rule 11. Thus, this 

action will not adversely impact the business community.

RECOMMENDATION:

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICER

1. Find that the adoption of amendments to Rule 67.16 and Rule 11 is categorically exempt 

from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to California 

Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15308, as an action taken to assure the protection of 

the environment, where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the 

environment, and pursuant to California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 15061(b)(3), 

since it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question 

may have a significant effect on the environment.

2. Adopt the resolution entitled Resolution Adopting Amendments to Rule 67.16 – Graphic 

Arts Operations of Regulation IV and Related Amendments to Rule 11 – Exemptions from 

Rule 10 Permit Requirements of Regulation II of the Rules and Regulations of the San 

Diego County Air Pollution Control District. 

ACTION:

ON MOTION of Member Slater-Price, seconded by Member Jacob, the Air Pollution Control 

Board of the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District closed the Hearing and took 

action as recommended, on Consent, adopting Resolution No. 11-163, entitled: RESOLUTION 

ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO RULE 67.16 – GRAPHIC ARTS OPERATIONS OF 

REGULATORY IV AND RELATED AMENDMENTS TO RULE 11 – EXEMPTIONS 

FROM RULE 10 PERMIT REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATION II OF THE RULES AND 

REGULATIONS OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL 

DISTRICT.

AYES: Cox, Jacob, Slater-Price, Roberts, Horn

- - -

State of California)

County of San Diego) §

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of the Original entered in the 

Minutes of the Air Pollution Control Board.

THOMAS J. PASTUSZKA

Clerk of the Air Pollution Control Board

 

By_____________________________

Marvice E. Mazyck, Deputy