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AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

SAN DIEGO COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT

TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012

MINUTE ORDER NO. 1

SUBJECT: NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING:

ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO RULE 67.11 – WOOD 

PRODUCTS COATING OPERATIONS, AND REPEAL OF RULE 

67.11.1 – LARGE COATING OPERATIONS FOR WOOD PRODUCTS 

(DISTRICTS: ALL)

OVERVIEW:

The Air Pollution Control Board (Board) is requested to adopt proposed amendments to Rule 

67.11, to tighten limits on the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be 

present in coatings and cleaning solvents used in the finishing of new wood products. Affected 

industries are primarily cabinet, furniture, and window and door manufacturers. Residential 

non-commercial operations are not affected.

The application of wood coatings and cleaning solvents results in emissions of VOCs, which 

contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. Despite substantial air quality improvement 

over the past two decades, San Diego County does not yet attain all state and federal air quality 

standards for ozone. Consequently, rules to control VOC emissions are required to be updated 

to reflect the current state of control technology.

Rule 67.11 was last updated in 2002. Since then, the performance of lower-emitting coatings 

and cleaning materials used in the finishing of new wood products has improved considerably. 

The proposed tighter VOC limits are already in place throughout much of California, and 

compliant materials are readily available for similar prices as conventional materials. If 

adopted, the amendments will not take effect for 12 months, allowing time for affected 

businesses to use and deplete their inventories of non-compliant materials and transition to the 

new standards. Refinish coatings, such as those used to restore antiques or other existing wood 

products, are not affected.

The Board is also requested to repeal outdated Rule 67.11.1, which was adopted in 2002 and 

applies only to large-scale wood coating operations. The Rule 67.11.1 requirements are 

duplicative of existing Rule 67.11 standards that took effect in 2005 for both larger and smaller 

operations. Consequently, Rule 67.11.1 is no longer needed.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2011-12 Operational Plan in the Air 

Pollution Control District (District). If adopted, the proposed amendments to Rule 67.11 will be 

implemented and enforced with existing District staff and will not have a significant fiscal 

impact on the District.
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BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT:

Adopting the proposed amendments to Rule 67.11 will not significantly impact the business 

community. The proposed wood coatings and cleaning materials with a lower content of VOCs 

are widely available and priced similarly to their conventional counterparts. Many wood 

coating operations already comply with the proposed amendments due to the market 

availability of compliant materials. 

If adopted, the amendments will not take effect for 12 months, thus allowing time for affected 

businesses to use and deplete their inventories of non-compliant materials and transition to the 

new standards. Furthermore, the amendments allow each coating operation to use up to 20 

gallons per year of non-compliant coatings. This allowance addresses future situations where a 

coating with a higher content of VOCs may be preferred to achieve a desired finish.

District staff conducted substantial outreach to affected facilities during development of the 

proposed rule amendments, including conducting a public workshop and participating in an 

industry symposium, and is not aware of any significant concerns with the proposal. If the rule 

amendments are adopted by the Board, District staff will issue an advisory to further inform 

potentially affected sources of the new requirements and their future effective date.

RECOMMENDATION:

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICER

1. Find that the adoption of amendments to Rule 67.11 and repeal of Rule 67.11.1 are 

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 AMENDING RULE 67.11 – WOOD 

PRODUCTS COATING OPERATIONS, AND REPEALING RULE 67.11.1 – LARGE 

COATING OPERATIONS FOR WOOD PRODUCTS, OF REGULATION IV OF THE 

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY AIR POLLUTION 

CONTROL DISTRICT.

ACTION:

ON MOTION of Member Horn, seconded by Member Slater-Price, 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. 12-096 entitled: RESOLUTION 

AMENDING RULE 67.11 – WOOD PRODUCTS COATING OPERATIONS, AND 

REPEALING RULE 67.11.1 – LARGE COATING OPERATIONS FOR WOOD 

PRODUCTS, OF REGULATION IV OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SAN 

DIEGO COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT.

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

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 Board of Supervisors 

By_____________________________

Andrew Potter, Chief Deputy