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• 

South Coast 

() Air Quality Management District f!l'lftJ 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765-4178 

' II I (909) 396-2000 • www.aqmd.gov 

BOARD MEETING DATE: February 6, 2015 AGENDA NO. 22 

PROPOSAL: 

SYNOPSIS: 

Supplement to 24-hour PM2.5 State Implementation Plan for South 

Coast Air Basin 

The purpose of this Supplement to the 24-hour PM2.5 SIP for the 

South Coast Air Basin is to demonstrate attainment of the 2006 24-

hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard by 2015 under 

Clean Air Act, Title 1, Part D, Subpart 4, along with updates to the 

transportation conformity budgets, analysis of Reasonably 

Available Control Measures/Reasonably Available Control 

Technology, control measure commitments SQbmitted in the 2012 

AQMP, and other Subpart 4 requirements. 

COMMITTEE: Mobile Source Committee, January 23, 2015, Reviewed 

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: 

Adopt the attached resolution: 

1. Determining that the Supplement to the 24-hour PM2.5 SIP for the South Coast Air 

Basin is exempt from the requirements of CEQA; and 

2. Approving the attached Supplement to the 24-hour PM2.5 SIP for the South Coast 

Air Basin for Submittal into the SIP. 

Background 

APPROVED 

by the 

South Coast Air Quality 

Management District Board 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env. 

Executive Officer 

The 2012 AQMP was approved by the SCAQMD Board in December 2012, with 

additional amendments approved in February 2013, and was subsequently submitted to 

CARB and the U.S. EPA for inclusion into the SIP. That plan demonstrated projected 

attainment of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards 

(NAAQS) (35 J.Lg/m3) by 2014. However, a recent court decision (Natural Res. Def 

Council v. EPA, 706 F.3d 428 (D.C. Cir. 2013)) compels U.S. EPA to evaluate the 24-
hour PM2.5 SIP under CAA, Title 1, Part D, Subpart 4 (hereafter "Subpart 4") 

requirements specific to particulate matter, in addition to the general planning 

provisions of Subpart 1 that were previously used for PM2.5 SIPs. Subpart 4 provides 

for an attainment year of 2015 for "moderate" areas, one year later than the attainment 

year in the 2012 AQMP. Furthermore, preliminary ambient air quality data suggests 

that meeting the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS (35 J.tg/m3) by the end of 2014 is not 

likely, largely due to unusually extreme drought conditions in the Basin. In addition, 

Subpart 4 Section 189( e) necessitates that control requirements applicable for major 

PM2.5 sources shall also apply to major sources of PM2.5 precursors unless it is 

determined by U.S. EPA to not be a significant contributor to PM2.5. PM2.5 has four 

major precursors, other than direct PM2.5 emissions, that contribute to the development 

of the ambient PM2.5: nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), volatile organic 

compounds (VOC), and ammonia. 

It should be noted that U.S. EPA has proposed to find that the former 24-hour PM2.5 

NAAQS (65 J.tg/m3) has been attained, along with the previous annual PM2.5 NAAQS 

of 15 J.tg/m3 (79, FR, 72999, Dec 9, 2014). However, this Supplement relates to the 

most recent 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS of 35 J.tg/m3• Attainment of the 2012 annual 

PM2.5 NAAQS of 12 J.tg/m3 will be addressed in the upcoming 2016 AQMP. 

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Proposal J" 

SCAQMD staff is proposing to supplement the previous 24-hour PM2.5 SIP submittal 

to address Subpart 4 provisions and requirements with the following elements that are 

included in this Supplement: 

• Demonstration of attainment of the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS by 2015 with a 

discussion of the effects of the drought on the attainment date as weight of evidence; 

• Provide new transportation conformity budgets for 2015; 

• Updated RACMIRACT analysis; 

• Demonstration of compliance with CAA Subpart 4, Section 189( e) that applies to 

PM2.5 precursors, such as VOC and ammonia, and other precursor requirements; 

and 

• Updated list of PM2.5 control measure commitments. 

Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) and Legal Mandates 

The 2012 AQMP included the following specific elements: 

• Attainment demonstration of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS for 2014; 

• A RACMIRACT analysis; 

• 2014 transportation conformity budgets; and 

• Control strategy including emission reduction commitments with adoption and '\ 

implementation dates. ~ 

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Since the SCAQMD Board approval of the 2012 AQMP in December 2012 with 

amendments in February 2013, two PM2.5 control measures, BCM-01 (Further 

Reductions from Residential Wood Burning Devices) and BCM-02 (Further Reductions 

from Open Burning), were adopted in the form of amendments to Rules 445 (Wood 

Burning Devices) and 444 (Open Burning), respectively. Together, these amendments 

generated a total of 11.7 tons of PM2.5 per day reductions on an episodic basis. These 

emission reductions were the only emission reduction commitments needed in the 2012 

AQMP to meet the 2006 24-hour NAAQS in 2014. The only other emission reduction 

commitment in the 2012 PM2.5 SIP was control measure CMB-01 (Further NOx 

Reductions from RECLAIM) which was submitted as a contingency measure only. 

This control measure is anticipated to be considered by the SCAQMD Board in the first 

half of 2015. 

Potential Outcomes and Paths Forward 

Despite the 2015 attainment demonstration mentioned above, there remains 

considerable uncertainty in the PM2.5 monitoring results for 2014 and the 

meteorological conditions and frequency of rainfall that will occur in 2015. In order to 

demonstrate attainment the 98th percentile of the 2015 24-hr PM2.5 readings at Mira 

Lorna has to be significantly below the standard of 35.4 ug/m3 to compensate for high 

exceedances caused by the drought in 2013 and 2014, achieving a 3-year average design 

value at or below the standard. Although additional emissions reductions are expected 

in 2015, attainment of the standard, given the variability of weather conditions, remains 

far from certain. Acknowledging this uncertainty, there are several potential outcomes 

and pathways for the Basin's attainment status under the Clean Air Act depending on 

the actual certified air quality monitoring results for 2014 and 2015. 

• 24-hour PM2.5 data at Mira Lorna for 2014 and 2015 is clean enough to attain 

the standard based on a three-year (2013-2015) average design value. The 

Basin could then be re-designated as attainment for this PM2.5 standard 

• The three-year average design value at Mira Lorna does not show attainment in 

2015, but the 98th percentile of the 24-hour PM2.5 data at Mira Lorna for the 

single year 2015 is below 35.4 f..1g/m3. Under CAA Subpart 4 provisions, if this 

air quality condition is met, and all PM2.5 SIP commitments have been 

satisfied, then the Basin is eligible for a one-year attainment date extension to 

2016. A second one-year extension to 2017, if the same conditions are met in 

2016, is also possible. 

• The three-year average design value at Mira Lorna does not show attainment in 

2015 and the 98th percentile of the 24-hour PM2.5 data at Mira Lorna for the 

single year 2015 is above 35.4 f..1g/m3• Under Subpart 4 of the CAA, upon U.S. 

EPA's determination that the Basin failed to attain the standard by the 

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attainment date, the Basin would be automatically reclassified from a 

"moderate" nonattainment area to a "serious" non-attainment area. The new 

attainment deadline would be 2019, and more stringent "serious" area 

requirements would apply, including requirements to implement Best Available 

Control Measures and a lower major source threshold (70 tons per year vs. the 

current 100 tons per year). A full analysis for implementation of these 

requirements and other control measures to ensure attainment as expeditiously 

as practicable would be included in the 2016 AQMP, which is also addressing 

the annual PM2.5 standard. 

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 

SCAQMD staff concludes that because the Supplement is not proposing to add new or 

delete any control measures that have the potential to have a direct or indirect adverse 

impact on the environment but merely presents updated analyses and other changes that 

do not have the potential to cause a direct or indirect adverse impact on the 

environment, the project is exempt under the requirements of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA 

Guidelines§ 15061(b)(3). 

Socioeconomic Analysis 

No socioeconomic impact assessment is required because the proposed amendments do 

not add or delete control measures from the previously adopted 2012 AQMP, therefore 

do not "significantly affect air quality or emissions limitations." (Health & Safety Code 

Section 40440.8(a)). 

Resource Impacts 

The action would be implemented using existing staff resources committed for the 2012 

AQMP implementation and is not expected to impose any significant burden. 

Attachments 

A. Resolution 

B. Supplement to 24-hour PM2.5 State Implementation Plan (SIP) for South Coast Air 

Basin 

C. CEQA Notice of Exemption 

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ATTACHMENT A 

RESOLUTION NO. 15-3 

A Resolution of the South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing 

Board (SCAQMD) Governing Board approving the Supplement to the 24-hour 

PM2.5 State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the South Coast Air Basin and 

Submittal into the SIP. 

A Resolution of the SCAQMD determining that the Supplement to the 24-hour 

PM2.5 SIP for the South Coast Air Basin is exempt from the requirements of the 

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 

WHEREAS, the 2012 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) was designed to 

address the PM2.5 SIP requirements of the federal Clean Air Act for the South Coast 

Air Basin (Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino 

County); and 

WHEREAS, the 2012 AQMP was approved by the SCAQMD Governing Board 

in December 2012 and AQMP amendments approved in February 2013, then 

subsequently submitted to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) for inclusion into the SIP; and 

WHEREAS, due to a recent court decision, approval of the 24-hour PM2.5 

portion of the 2012 AQMP is now subject to Clean Air Act (CAA) Subpart 4 

requirements that provide for attainment of 2006 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air 

Quality Standard (NAAQS) (35 Jlg/m3) by 2015, one year later than the attainment year 

in the 2012 AQMP; and 

WHEREAS, the CAA Subpart 4 Section 189( e) necessitates that control 

requirements applicable for major PM2.5 sources shall also apply to major sources of 

PM2.5 precursors unless those sources do not contribute significantly to nonattainment; 

and 

WHEREAS, the ambient air quality data suggests that meeting the 2006 24-hour 

PM2.5 NAAQS by the end of 2014 is not likely, largely due to unusually extreme 

drought conditions in the Basin; and 

WHEREAS, the purpose of this Supplement to the 24-hour PM2.5 SIP for the 

South Coast Air Basin (Supplement) is to demonstrate attainment of the 2006 24-hour 

PM2.5 NAAQS by 2015 under CAA Subpart 4 as well as provide new transportation 

conformity budgets, updated analysis of Reasonably Available Control Measures 

(RACM)/ Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT), updated control measure 
commitments from those submitted in the 2012 AQMP, and demonstrate compliance 

with other Subpart 4 requirements; and 

WHEREAS, the Supplement includes commitments for control measures that do 

not have quantified emission reductions but provide a strengthening of the SIP, such as 

measures for further study that do not contribute to the attainment demonstration and a 

measure designed to ensure emission reductions assumed to occur will in fact occur; 

and 

WHEREAS, the SCAQMD staff concludes that the project is exempt from 

CEQA because the Supplement is not proposing to add new or delete any control 

measures that have the potential to have a direct or indirect adverse impact on the 

environment but merely presents updated analyses and other changes that do not have 

the potential to cause a direct or indirect adverse impact on the environment; and 

WHEREAS, the SCAQMD Governing Board has determined that no 

socioeconomic impact will result from the Supplement; and 

WHEREAS, public hearings in each affected county have been properly noticed 

by providing a 45-day notice in the newspapers in accordance with Health & Safety 

Code§ 40466; and 

WHEREAS, the SCAQMD Governing Board has held a final public hearing to 

consider approval of the Supplement in accordance with all provisions of law; and 

WHEREAS, the SCAQMD specifies the manager of the Supplement as the 

custodian of the documents or other materials which constitute the record of 

proceedings upon which the approval is based, which are located at the South Coast Air 

Quality Management District, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the SCAQMD Governing 

Board does hereby determine that the Supplement to the 24-hour PM2.5 SIP for the 

South Coast Air Basin, Attachment B to the Board Letter, is exempt from the 

requirements of CEQA. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the SCAQMD Governing Board does 

hereby approve, pursuant to the authority granted by law, the Supplement to the 24-hour 

PM2.5 SIP for the South Coast Air Basin, Attachment B to the Board Letter, and 

incorporated herein by this reference. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the SCAQMD staff is hereby directed to 

take action in accordance with the updated 2012 SIP emission reduction commitments 

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to attain the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS listed in Table F-1 of Attachment F to the 

Supplement, and incorporated herein by this reference. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the SCAQMD Executive Officer is 

hereby directed to forward a copy of this Resolution and Supplement to the 24-hour 

PM2.5 SIP for the South Coast Air Basin to CARB, and to request that these documents 

be forwarded to the U.S. EPA for approval as part ofthe California SIP. In addition, the 

SCAQMD Executive Officer is directed to forward any other information requested by 

the U.S. EPA for informational purposes. 

Attachment 

A YES: Antonovich, B. Benoit, J.Benoit, Burke, Cacciotti, Mitchell, Nelson, 

Parker, Rutherford, and Yates. 

NOES: Lyou. 

ABSENT: Buscaino and Pulido. 

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