San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

# Chapter 1

Air	Quality	Standards	and	Requirements

2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard SJVUAPCDSan Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard This page intentionally blank.San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

1-1 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

### Chapter 1: Air Quality Stan dards and Requirements

Pursuant to the federal Clean Ai r Act (CAA) Section (§)108 and §109, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) periodically reviews and establishes healthbased air quality standards (oft en referred to as National Ambi ent Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS) for ozone, particulates , and other pollutants. Altho ugh the San Joaquin Valley’s (Valley) air quality is steadily improving, the Valley experiences unique and significant difficulties in ach ieving these increasingly string ent standards. For over twenty years, the San Joaquin Valley Air Poll ution Control Dist rict (District) has implemented several generations o f emissions control measures f or those stationary and area sources under its regulat ory jurisdiction. Similarly, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) has adopt ed regulations for mobile source s. Together, these efforts represent the nation’s toughest air pollution regulatio ns and have greatly contributed to reduced ozone and par ticulate matter concentrati ons in the Valley. Despite the significant progr ess under these regulations, great ly aided by the efforts of Valley businesses and residents, many air quality challenges re main.

1.1 1997 PM2.5 AIR Q UALITY STANDARD

EPA adopted the first NAAQS for par ticulate matter that is 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5) in July 1997 1 setting the annual PM2.5 standar d at 15 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m 3 ) and the 24-hour PM2.5 standard at 65 μg/m 3 . States and air districts addressed this standar d under CAA Title 1, Part D, Su bpart 1 2 (Subpart 1) following guidance provided by EPA. As a result of a court rul ing in 2013, EPA now requires the 1997 PM2. 5 standard be addressed by states and air districts under the requirements of CAA Subpart 1 and CAA Title 1, Part D, Subpart 4 (Subpart 4). This 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard ( 2015 PM2.5 Plan) addresses the 1997 standard for PM2.5 under Subpart 1 and Subpart 4. Until the ex ceptional weather conditions experienced due to th e recent drought, the District was on track to attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard before the federally mandated attain ment deadline.

1.2 DISTRICT’S 2008 PM2.5 PLAN FOR THE 1997 PM2.5 STANDARD

Pursuant to Subpart 1 requirements , on January 5, 2005, EPA pro mulgated air quality designations for all area s for the 1997 PM2.5 standard. 3 EPA designated the Valley as a nonattainment area based on ambi ent air quality data collecte d in the area from 2001 through 2003. The District adopted an air quality attainment p lan ( 2008 PM2.5 Plan ) to address the 1997 PM2.5 standard. A t the time of the developmen t of the 2008 PM2.5 Plan , the Valley was already project ed to attain the 1997 24-hour s tandard based on air quality data collected during t he period of 2004 through 2006. As such, the focus of the 2008 PM2.5 Plan was to address the 15 μg/m 3 annual PM2.5 standard.

1 62 FR 38651-38701

2 EPA. Clean Air Act. Retri eved on 11/5/2014 from http://www.epw.senate.gov/envlaws/cleanair.pdf

. 3 70 FR 943-1019San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

1-2 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard The District’s Governing Board adopted the 2008 PM2.5 Plan in April 2008 4 to address EPA’s 1997 annual PM2.5 standard for PM2.5, and directed staff to forward the adopted 2008 PM2.5 Plan to the ARB for approval and subm ittal to EPA. EPA approved the 2008 PM2.5 Plan on November 9, 2011, effective January 9, 2012. 5

1.3 TRANSITION FROM SUBPART 1 TO SUBPART 4 OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT

In January 2013, the D.C. Circui t Court found that EPA erred in implementing the federal PM2.5 standard pursuant s olely to the general implement ation provisions of Subpart 1 without also consideri ng the particulate matter-speci fic provisions of Subpart 4. Subpart 4 requires a nonattainm ent area classification syst em (i.e., moderate and severe classifications) and contains requirements specific to p articulate matter. As a result of the court ruling, on June 2, 2014, EPA classified the Valley (and all other PM2.5 nonattainment areas) as a Moderate nonattainment area by order of law under Subpart 4 and required all nonatta inment areas to submit additi onal documentation, as needed, to fulfill all Subpar t 4 requirements. 6

The EPA guidance interpreting t he Subpart 4 requirements for pa rticulate matter nonattainment areas in the General Preamble 7 discusses the relationship of Subpart 1 and Subpart 4 SIP requirements, and notes that SIPs for Moderat e nonattainment areas must meet the general provisions i n Subpart 1 to the extent tha t these provisions are not otherwise “subsumed by, or in tegrally related to, the more specific Subpart 4 requirements.” Some Subpart 1 p rovisions have no Subpart 4 equ ivalent (e.g., the emissions inventories (CAA sect ion 172(c)(3)) and contingency m easures (CAA section 172(c)(9)) and for these provisions, Subpart 1 continues to gov ern. Other provisions of Subpart 1 are subsumed or supers eded by more specific requireme nts in Subpart 4 (e.g., certain provisions concer ning attainment dates). Additi onally, EPA guidance provides different requirements for areas of different classifi cations of nonattainment, as discussed below.

4 SJVAPCD. 2008 PM2.5 Plan. Retrieved on 11/24/14 from http://www.valleyair.org/Air_Quality_Plans/AQ_Final_Adopted_PM2 5_2008.htm

. 5 EPA. Approval and Promulgati on of Implementation Plans; Calif ornia; 2008 San Joaquin Valley PM2.5 Plan and 2007 State Strategy; Final Rule . 76 Fed. Reg. 217, pp. 69896 – 69926. (2011, November 9). (to be codified at 40 CFR Part 52). Retrieved from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ FR-2011-11-09/pdf/2011-27232.pdf

6 All areas designated n onattainment for PM2. 5 are classified as Moderate by order of law (CAA §188(a))

7 EPA. General Preamble for Titl e I of the Clean Air Act Amendme nts of 1990 Appendix. p. 13538. (57 FR 13498, April 16, 1992)San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

1-3 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 1.4 REQUEST FOR RECLASSIFICA TION TO SERIOUS NONATTAINMENT

In accordance with Subpart 4 §188( b), the District submitted an official request to EPA for reclassification from Moder ate nonattainment to Serious non attainment. Included with this request was a demonstrat ion that attainment by the Ap ril 5, 2015 deadline under the current Moderate nonattain ment classification is impr acticable. As discussed in the demonstration of impracticability, 8 the Valley was on track to attain the 1997 PM2.5 standard until t he extreme weather c onditions over the wi nter of 2013-2014 overwhelmed emissions controls and led to abnormally high PM2.5 levels making attainment of the 1997 annual PM2 .5 standard based on 2012-2014 data impossible. In January 2015, EPA proposed to recla ssify the Valley as a Seriou s nonattainment area.

1.4.1 Demonstration of Impracti cability of Attainment as a Mode rate Nonattainment Area by April 5, 2015

In its September 25, 2014 lette r to EPA, the District provided ambient air quality data demonstrating that the Valley ca nnot attain the 1997 PM2.5 stan dard by April 5, 2015. Data supporting the request for re classification and EPA’s anal ysis of said data and conclusions are pr esented below.

1.4.1.1 1997 Annual PM2.5 Standard (15 μg/m 3 ) The District provided annual aver age PM2.5 concentrations recor ded at monitoring sites in the Valley for 2012 and 2013, and then calculated the maximu m 2014 annual average PM2.5 concentrations for each monitoring site that woul d result in a 3-year average PM2.5 concentration of 15 μg/m 3 or less at that site. Through this analysis, the District demonstrated that the maximum 2014 annual average conc entration at the Bakersfield-Planz air monitoring site would have to be 7.5 μg/m 3 for 2014 in order for the design value to be at or below 15 μg/m 3 . The average PM2.5 concentration measured at the Bakerfield-Planz site in the first quarter of 2 014 was 29.7 μg/m 3 . Thus the average PM2.5 conc entrations at this m onitoring site for th e remaining three quarters of 2014 would have to be ze ro in order to result in a design value at or below 15 μg/m 3 for 2014.

In EPA’s evaluation of the reques t for reclassification, EPA in dependently evaluated preliminary 2014 air qua lity data available in EPA’s Air Qualit y System (AQS) as of August 2014 to assess the Dis trict’s representations. 9 Preliminary 2014 AQS data for four monitoring locations in t he Valley demonstrate that the 3- year average PM2.5 concentration for 2012-2014 will li kely be well above 15 μg/m 3 . Because a determination of attainment require s that each eligible monitor ing site in the area show a design value at or below the le vel of the PM2.5 standard, a 2 014 design value above this level at one eligible monito r would render attainment by A pril 5, 2015 impossible. EPA’s analysis is summarized in the following table.

8 SJVAPCD. Item Number 9: Review and Approve Actions to A ddress Air Quality Impacts Resulting from the Exceptional Weather Conditions Caused by the Recent Drought . (2014, August 21) Retriev ed on 12/02/2014 from http://www.valleyair.org/Board_meetings/GB/agenda_minutes/Agend a/2014/August/final/09.pdf

9 Designation of Areas for Air Q uality Planning Purposes; Califo rnia; San Joaquin Valley; Re classification as Serious Nonattainment for the 1997 PM2. 5 Standards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7, pp . 1482-1491. (2015, January 12). (to be codified 40 CFR Part 81) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2015-01-12/pdf/2015-00309.pdfSan Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

1-4 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard Table 1-1 Preliminary Recorded Annual Average PM2.5 Concentrat ions (in μg/m 3 ) for Selected Sites in the Valle y and Comparison to Lowest Recor ded 10

Monitor Average Recorded 2014 EPA estimate for Max 2014 Annual Average Allowed to Attain Lowest Recorded

Annual Average

(year) Percent Difference Between Max 2014 and Lowest Recorded Annual Average Bakersfield – Planz 29.7 7.7 14.5 (2011) 47 Visalia 27.9 11.4 13.6 (2010) 16 Corcoran 22.9 13.0 15.6 (2013) 18 Hanford 18.7 12.1 14.8 (2012) 18

1.4.1.2 1997 24-hour PM2.5 Standard (65 μg/m 3 ) EPA also reviewed ambient air qual ity data in the AQS to determ ine whether the Valley can practicably attain the 24- hour standard by April 5, 2015. The 24-hour PM2.5 design value is determined by taking the 98 th percentile value for each year over a consecutive three year period and averaging the three 98 th percentile values. The resulting value is then rounded to the nearest 1.0 μg/m3 and compared to the stand ard. The 98 th percentile 24-hour average PM2.5 concentrations recorded in 201 2 and 2013 at selected monitoring sites were analyzed for this purpose. The 98 th percentile 24-hour concentrations in 2013 were hig her than in 2012, and in some ca ses the 2013 value was significantly hi gher than the 2012 val ue. Based on these o bserved 98 th percentile values in 2012 and 2013 , EPA calculated for each of these monit oring sites the maximum 98 th percentile 24-hour concentration in 2014 that would enable the site to show a 2014 24-hour PM2.5 standar d design value at or below 65 μg/m 3

.

EPA also calculated a low estimate of the 98 th percentile 24-hour c oncentration for 2014 at each of these sites, based on preliminary data reported to A QS for the first quarter of 2014 and a conservative assumption that 24-hour PM2.5 concentra tions remain below these levels for the remainder o f the year at each monitoring s ite. EPA’s low estimates for the 98 th percentile concentrations for 2014 at the two monitoring sites in Bakersfield (Planz and California Avenue) a lready exceed the maximum 2014 v alues that would enable these two sites to show a 24-hour PM2.5 standard design value for 2014 at or below 65 μg/m 3 . These two sites in Bakersfie ld cannot practicably show a 24- hour PM2.5 standard design val ue at or below 65 μg/m 3 by April 5, 2015 as summarized in the following table.

10 Table 3 from Designation of Ar eas for Air Quality Planning Pur poses; California; San Joaquin Valley; Reclassification as Serious Nonattainmen t for the 1997 PM2.5 St andards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7, pp. 1482-1491. (2015, January 12). (to be codified 40 CFR Part 81) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ FR-2015-01-12/pdf/2015-00309.pdfSan Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

1-5 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard Table 1-2 Preliminary Record ed 2014 24-hour PM2.5 Concentratio ns (in μg/m 3 ) for Selected Sites in the Valley and Calculation of 98 th Percentile Values 11

Monitoring Site 98 th

Percentile

in 2012 98 th

Percentile

in 2013 Low Estimate of 98 th

Percentile in 2014 Max 98 th

Percentile allowed in 2014 to attain Bakersfield-Planz 40.6 96.7 64.4 58.9 Bakersfield – CA Ave 56.4 71.8 72.6 68.0 Hanford 48.3 67.6 76.7 80.3 Fresno-Pacific 51.3 71.6 61.8 73.3 Fresno-Garland 52.6 63.8 65.5 79.8

1.4.2 EPA Action on Impracticability

EPA analysis of air quality dat a from 2012 through 2014 resulte d in the determination that attainment by April 5, 2015 as a Moderate nonattainment ar ea is impracticable. EPA proposed to reclassify the Valley as a Serious Nonattainmen t area under CAA Subpart 4. EPA published this pr oposed action in the Federal R egister on January 12, 2015 and received comments on t he proposal through February 11, 2015. 12 EPA finalized the Valley’s reclassifi cation to Serious Nonattainmen t in the Federal Register on April 7, 2015, effective May 7, 2015. 13

1.5 FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A SERIOUS NONATTAINMENT AREA

In their proposal to reclassify the Valley from a Moderate nona ttainment area to a Serious nonattainment area fo r the 1997 PM2.5 standard, EPA ide ntified specific statutory requirements applicable to Serious nonattainment area s that upon reclassification as a Serious nonattainment area for the 1997 P M2.5 standard, California is required to submit. 14 These additional SIP rev isions will satisfy the statutory requirements that appl y to Serious nonattainment area s, including the requirements of Subpart 4. The Se rious area SIP elements that California will be required to submit are summarized in Table 1-3.

On March 23, 2015, EPA issued pr oposed requirements in the Fede ral Register for implementing the NAAQS for PM2. 5 in areas that are designated n onattainment for

11 Table 4 from Designation of Ar eas for Air Quality Planning Pur poses; California; San Joaquin Valley; Reclassification as Serious Nonattainmen t for the 1997 PM2.5 St andards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7, pp. 1482-1491. (2015, January 12). (to be codified 40 CFR Part 81) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ FR-2015-01-12/pdf/2015-00309.pdf

12 Designation of Areas for AQ Pla nning Purposes; Ca; SJV; Reclas sification as Seri ous Nonattainment fo r the 1997 PM2.5 Standards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7, pp.148 2-1491. (2015, January 12). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01-12/pdf/2015- 00309.pdf

13 Designation of Areas for Air Q uality Planning Purposes; Califo rnia; San Joaquin Valley; Re classification as Serious Nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard. 80 Fed. Reg. 66. Pp . 18528-18535. (2015, April 7). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2015-04-07/pdf/2015-07765.pdf

14 Designation of Areas for Air Q uality Planning Purposes; Califo rnia; San Joaquin Valley; Re classification as Serious Nonattainment for the 1997 PM2. 5 Standards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7, pp . 1482-1491. (2015, January 12). (to be codified 40 CFR Part 81) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2015-01-12/pdf/2015-00309.pdfSan Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

1-6 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard these standards. 15 The proposed requirements would apply to state, local, and tr ibal air agencies developing plans that out line how nonattainment areas will meet and maintain fine particle standards. The Distr ict is reviewing this propos ed implementation rule and will follow it as it goes thr ough the public review and comment process, which concludes on May 29, 2015. Once published in the Federal Register as a f inal rule the District will use this guidance in development o f future attain ment plans to address PM2.5 standards.

Table 1-3 Statutory Requireme nts Applicable to Serious Nonatta inment Areas

Requirement Federal CAA Description 2015 PM2.5 Plan

BACM and BACT Subpart 4 §189(b)(1)(B) Provisions to assure that the best available control measures (BACM), including best available control technology (BACT) for stationary sources, for the control of direct PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors shall be implemented no later than four years after the area is reclassified. Chapter 5, Appendix C

Attainment Demonstration Subpart 4 §188(c)(2) and §189(b)(1)(A) A demonstration that the plan provides for attainment as expeditiously as practicable but no later than December 31, 2015, or where the State is seeking an extension of the attainment date under Section 188(e), a demonstration that attainment by December 31, 2015 is impracticable and that the plan provides for attainment by the most expeditious alternative date practicable. Chapter 1, Chapter 4, Appendix A

Reasonable Further Progress Subpart 1 §172(c)(2) Plan provisions that require reasonable further progress (RFP). Chapter 6

Quantitative Milestones Subpart 4 §189(c) Quantitative milestones which are to be achieved every three years until the area is redesignated attainment and which demonstrate RFP toward attainment by the applicable date. Chapter 6

PM2.5 Precursors Subpart 4 §189(e) Provisions to assure that control requirements applicable to major stationary sources of PM2.5 also apply to major sources of PM2.5 precursors, except where the State demonstrates to EPA’s satisfaction that such sources do not contribute significantly to PM2.5 levels that exceed the standard in the area. Appendix A

Emissions Inventory Subpart 1 §172(c)(3) A comprehensive, accurate, current inventory of actual emissions from all sources of PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors in the area. Appendix B

Contingency Measures Subpart 1 §172(c)(9) Contingency measures to be implemented if the area fails to meet RFP or to attain by the applicable attainment date. Chapter 6

15 Fine Particlate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards: State Implementation Plan Requirements http://www.epa.gov/airquality/particlepollution/pdfs/20150311pr oposal.pdfSan Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

1-7 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard Requirement Federal CAA Description 2015 PM2.5 Plan

New Source Review Program Major Source Thresholds Subpart 4 §189(b)(3) A revision to the nonattainment new source review (NSR) program to lower the applicable “major stationary source” thresholds from 100 tons per year (tpy) to 70 tpy. Chapter 6

1.6 1997 PM2.5 STAN DARD TIMELINE

The timeline below illustrates actions related to the 1997 PM2. 5 standard, District Actions, EPA actions, and Valley e vents affecting attainment.

Figure 1-1 1997 PM2.5 Standard Timeline

1997  EPA sets first standard for PM2.5 16,17,18

o 24-hr: 65 μg/m 3 (based on 3-year average of 98 th percentile 24-hr PM2.5

concentrations)

o Annual: 15 μg/m 3 (based on 3-year average annual mean PM2.5 concentrations)

2005  EPA finalizes attainment designations 19 ; designates Valley as “nonattainment”

2007  EPA issues Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule 20 ; directs states to adopt attainment plans under Subpart 1 requirements

2008  District adopts 2008 PM2.5 Plan per EPA guidance 21 to address annual standard (Valley already in attainment of 24-hr standard)

2011  EPA approves District’s 2008 PM2.5 Plan 2 2 except for the contingency measures, which EPA disapproved

 EPA grants California’s request for an extension of the attain ment date for the

Valley to April 5, 2015

2013  A revised PM2.5 contingency measure plan for the Valley is sub mitted to EPA

16 NAAQS for Particulate Matter, 52 Fed. Reg. 119, pp. 24634-2466 9. (1987, July 1). http://www.regulations.gov/#!doc umentDetail;D=EPA-R08-OAR-2012- 0446-0004

17 NAAQS for Particulate Matter, 62 Fed. Reg. 138, pp. 38702-3875 2. (1997, July 18). http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA- AIR/1997/July/Day-18/a18577b.ht m 18 NAAQS for Particulate Matter, 62 Fed. Reg. 138, pp. 38753-3876 0. (1997, July 18). http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA- AIR/1997/July/Day-18/a18577c.ht m 19 Air Quality Designations and Cla ssifications for the Fine Part icles (PM2.5) NAAQS, 70 Fed. Reg. 3, pp. 944-1019. (2005, January 5). http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA- AIR/2005/January/Day-05/a001.pd f

20 Clean Air Fine Particle Implem entation Rule, 72 Fed. Reg, 79, pp. 20586-20667. (2007, April 25). http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA- AIR/2007/April/Da y-25/a6347.pdf

21 San Joaquin Valley Ai r Pollution Control District [SJVAPCD]. ( 2008, April 30). 2008 PM2.5 Plan. Fresno, CA. http://www.valleyair.org/Air_Quality_Plans/AQ_Final_Adopted_PM2 5_2008.htm

22 Approval and Promulgation of Im plementation Plan s; California; 2008 San Joaquin Valley PM2.5 Plan and 2007 State Strategy, 76 Fed. Reg. 217, pp. 69896-69926. (2011, Novem ber 9). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11- 09/pdf/2011-27232.pdfSan Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

1-8 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard  U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rules that EPA erre d by not using Subpart

4 in addition to Subpart 1 in establishing its PM2.5 implementa tion rule

 The District is on track to attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 stand ard

 (Winter 2013-2014) The Valley experiences extreme drought and exceptional

weather conditions.

2014  EPA approves the revised PM2.5 contingency plan for the Valley

 EPA classifies Valley as a Moderate nonattainment area (by ord er of law) under

Subpart 4 with an attainment date of April 5, 2015

 District submits formal request for reclassification of Valley to a Serious nonattainment area with a demonstration that the Valley cannot practicably attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard by the April 5, 2015 attainment date due to extreme weather during the winter of 2013-2014

2015  EPA proposes to reclassify the Valley as a Serious nonattainme nt area thus extending the attainment date to no later than December 31, 201 5 23

 District to submit an attainment plan to EPA satisfying Subpar t 1 and Subpart 4

requirements with attainment as expeditious as practicable but no later than December 31, 2015. (Plan submittal to include a demonstration t hat attainment by December 2015 is impracticable and a request for an attainment deadline extension to no later than 2020)

2020  Attainment date (after extension): as expeditiously as practic able but no later than December 31, 2020

1.7 IMPRACTICABILITY OF ATTAIN MENT BY DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF ATTA INMENT DATE FOR A SERIOUS NONATTAINMENT AREA

Until the exceptiona l weather conditions exp erienced due to the recent drought, the Valley was on the verge of att aining the 1997 federal PM2.5 sta ndard (15 μg/m 3 for annual, 65 μg/m 3 for 24-hour) with an av erage annual concentra tion of 14.7 μg/m 3 and average 24-hour concent ration of 56.4 μg/m 3 at the Valley’s historic peak PM2.5 sites in Bakersfield in 2012. Due to t he extreme drought, stagnation, s trong inversions, and historically dry conditions ex perienced over the winter of 2013 -2014, analysis showed that the Valley could not reach at tainment even if the Valley e xperienced zero PM2.5 pollution for the last three quar ters of 2014. In this plan, t he District requests a one-time extension of the attainment deadline for the 24-hour standard t o 2018 and the annual standard to 2020. Refer to Chapter 4 of this 2015 PM2.5 Plan for a full explanation of the Subpart 4 section that allows for a one time extension of t he attainment date, supporting analysis behind the request, and requirements and de monstration of said requirements.

23 Designation of Areas for AQ Pla nning Purposes; Ca; SJV; Reclas sification as Se rious Nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5 Standards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7 , pp.1482-1491. (2015, January 12). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01- 12/pdf/2015-00309.pdfSan Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

1-9 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 1.8 PUBLIC PROCESS FOR PLAN DEVELOPMENT

The District used the following pu blic process timeline for the development of this plan.

Table 1-4 2015 PM2.5 Plan Development and Public Workshop Timeline

August 2014 – ongoing Monthly updates on the progress and development of the plan at public meetings such as the District’s Governing Board meetings, Citiz en Advisory Committee meetings, and Environmental Justice Advisory Group meetings. February 2015 Draft plan documents available for public review and comment.

March 4, 2015 Public workshop to present and receive comments on the draft pl an documents with an associated comment period.

March 17, 2015 Proposed Plan available for public review and comment 30-days p rior to the Governing Board public hearing.

April 16, 2015 District Governing Board public hearing to hear and adopt the P roposed Plan.San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Polluti on Control District April 16, 2015

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