CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD

APCD/AQMD RULE EVALUATION FORM – Page 1

(Electronic Format)

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

District: South Coast Air Quality Management District

Rule No(s): 1420.1 Date adopted/Amended/Rescinded: Adopted November 5, 2010

Rule Title(s): Emissions Standard for Lead from Large Lead-acid Battery Recycling Facilities

Date Submitted to ARB: February 15, 2011

If an Amended Rule, Date Last Amended (or Adopted): N/A

Is the Rule Intended to be sent to the U.S. EPA as a SIP Revision? Yes No (If No, do not complete remainder of form)

District Contact: Susan Nakamura Phone Number: (909) 396-3105 E-mail Address: snakamura@aqmd.gov

Narrative Summary of New Rule or Rule Changes: New Rule Amended Rule

Adopted Rule 1420.1 – Emissions Standard for Lead from Large Lead-acid Battery Recycling Facilities. On 

October 15, 2008, the US-EPA revised the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Lead from 1.5 

micrograms per cubic meter to 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter. Based on review of monitored ambient air lead

concentrations near large lead-acid battery recycling facilities, the California Air Resources Board recommended 

that the L.A. County portions of the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB) be designated as nonattainment status with the 

revised NAAQS for Lead, and the US-EPA designated the area as nonattainment on November 16, 2010. Rule 

1420.1 requires large lead-acid battery recycling facilities to control both lead point source and fugitive emissions 

in order to meet an ambient air lead concentration of 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter averaged over any 30 

consecutive days.

Pollutant(s) Regulated by the Rule (Check): ROG (NOx) SO2 LEAD*

(CO) PM TAC (name):

*Box for Lead was added because the rule regulates lead as a criteria pollutant and not a TAC. There is, however, a cobenefit.

II. EFFECT ON EMISSIONS

Complete this section ONLY for rules that, when implemented, will result in quantifiable changes in emissions. Attach reference(s) for emission 

factor(s) and other information. Attach calculation sheet showing how the emission information provided below was determined.

Net Effect on Emissions: Increase Decrease N/A

Emission Reduction Commitment in SIP for this Source Category: N/A

Inventory Year Used to Calculate Changes in Emissions: N/A Area Affected: N/A

Future Year Control Profile Estimate (Provide Information on as many years as possible):

Rule 1420.1 establishes an ambient air lead concentration requirement combined with a mass lead emissions rate cap 

from all point sources. It is difficult to quantify due to the unknown amount of reductions of fugitive lead-dust emissions.

Using 2009 as the baseline, Rule 1420.1 is expected to reduce point source lead emissions at Exide by 25 percent. Based

on Quemetco’s most recent source tests, additional point source lead emissions reductions are not expected. 

Implementation of enclosures and housekeeping requirements will reduce lead emissions. However, these fugitive 

emissions are difficult to quantify. The average expected reduction in ambient air lead concentrations at Exide is 62 

percent with a maximum expected reduction of 81 percent.
CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD

APCD/AQMD RULE EVALUATION FORM - Page 2

(Electronic Format)

Baseline Inventory in the SIP for the Control Measure: N/A

Emissions Reduction Commitment in the SIP for the Control Measure: N/A

Revised Baseline Inventory (if any): N/A 

Revised Emission Reduction Estimate (if developed): N/A

Note that the district’s input to the Rule Evaluation Form will not be used as input to the ARB’s emission forecasting and 

planning.

III. SOURCES/ATTAINMENT STATUS

District is: Attainment Nonattainment Split

Only L.A. County portions of SCAB are designated as nonattainment with the 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter National 

Ambient Air Quality Standard. The designation of nonattainment is based on exceedances by Exide Technologies, Inc.

Approximate Total Number of Small (<100 TPY) Sources Affected by this Amendment: 2

Percent in Nonattainment Area: 100%

Number of Large (> 100 TPY) Sources Controlled: 0 Percent in Nonattainment Area: N/A

Name(s) and Location(s) (city and county) of Large (> 100 TPY) Sources Controlled by Rule (Attach additional sheets as 

necessary): N/A

IV. EMISSION REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY

Does the Rule Include Emission Limits that are Continuous? Yes No

Rule 1420.1 establishes an ambient air lead concentration that must be achieved and a mass lead emissions rate cap for 

all point sources. Ambient air lead concentrations are based on a 30-day average of 24-hour samples taken at least once 

every three days. Mass lead emission rate caps are based on results of point source emissions testing results.

If Yes, Those Limits are in Section(s) of the Rule.

Other Methods in the Rule for Achieving Emission Reductions are:

Rule 1420.1 contains requirements for both point source and fugitive emissions.

Point sources must be: 

 Vented to a primary lead control device fitted with:

o Filters that are rated by the manufacturer to achieve a minimum of 99.97% capture efficiency for 0.3 

micron particles, or

o Filter bag(s) that are polytetrafluoroethylene membrane-type, or

o Any other material or method that is equally or more effective for the control of lead emissions are allowed 

if approved by the Executive Officer. 

 Secondary controls are required to be installed on dryers.

 Tertiary controls on point sources may also be required through a Compliance Plan if the ambient air lead 

concentration standard of the rule is exceeded.

 Total facility mass lead emission from all lead points sources shall not exceed 0.045 pounds of lead per hour.

 The maximum emission rate for any single lead point source shall not exceed 0.010 pounds of lead per hour.

Fugitive sources:

 Total enclosures of all process areas used in the lead-acid battery recycling operation

 Housekeeping practices

 Fugitive lead-dust control during specific types of maintenance activity.
5/1/2002

 CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD

APCD/AQMD RULE EVALUATION FORM - Page 3

(Electronic Format)

V. OTHER REQUIREMENTS

The Rule Contains:

Emission Limits in Section(s): (f) Work Practice Standards in Section(s): (h)

Recordkeeping Requirements in Section(s): (m) Reporting Requirements in Section(s): (n)

VI. IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY PLAN

No Impact Impacts RFP Impacts attainment

Discussion: The new rule is expected to result in an ambient air lead concentration of less than 0.15 micrograms per cubic

meter near large lead-acid battery recycling facilities in the SCAB by January 1, 2012, and will help the Basin achieve 

attainment with the federal ambient air lead standard.