South Coast Air Quality Management District

south coast air quality management district

Final Environmental Assessment for the
Proposed Amended Rule 1402 - Control of Toxic Air Contaminants from Existing Sources, and Proposed Amended Rule 1401 – New Source Review for Toxic Air Contaminants

March 9, 2000

SCAQMD No. 991223MK

Executive Officer
Barry R. Wallerstein, D. Env.

Deputy Executive Officer
Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources
Jack Broadbent

Assistant Deputy Executive Officer
Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources
Elaine Chang, DrPH

Planning and Rules Manager
CEQA, Socioeconomic Analysis, PM/AQMP Control Strategy
Alene Taber, AICP

Prepared by: Michael Krause Air Quality Specialist

Technical Assistance: Wayne Barcikowski Air Quality Specialist

Victoria Moaveni Air Quality Engineer II

Reviewed by: Steve Smith, Ph.D. Program Supervisor

William Wong Senior Deputy District Counsel

Jill Whynot Planning and Rules Manager

Susan Nakamura Program Supervisor

South coast air quality management district

governing board

Chairman: WILLIAM A. BURKE, Ed.D.

Speaker of the Assembly Appointee

Vice Chairman: NORMA J. GLOVER

Councilmember, City of Newport Beach

Cities Representative, Orange County

MEMBERS:

MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH

Supervisor, Fifth District

Los Angeles County Representative

HAL BERNSON

Councilmember, City of Los Angeles

Cities Representative, Los Angeles County, Western Region

JANE CARNEY

Senate Rules Committee Appointee

BEATRICE J.S. LAPISTO-KIRTLEY

Mayor, City of Bradbury

Cities Representative, Los Angeles County, Eastern Region

RONALD O. LOVERIDGE

Mayor, City of Riverside

Cities Representative, Riverside County

JON D. MIKELS

Supervisor, Second District

San Bernardino County Representative

LEONARD PAULITZ

Councilmember, City of Montclair

Cities Representative, San Bernardino County

CYNTHIA P. COAD, Ed.D.

Supervisor, Fourth District

Orange County Representative

S. ROY WILSON, Ed.D.

Supervisor, Fourth District

Riverside County Representative

VACANT

Governor's Appointee

EXECUTIVE OFFICER:

BARRY R. WALLERSTEIN, D.Env.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Introduction 1-1

Legislative Authority 1-2

California Environmental Quality Act 1-3

CEQA Documentation for Rule 1402 and Rule 1401 1-3

CHAPTER 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Project Location 2-1

Overview of Regulations for Toxic Air Contaminants 2-1

Federal Programs 2-1

State Programs 2-3

SCAQMD TAC Control Rules 2-5

Existing Rules 1402 and 1401 2-7

Regulatory History 2-7

Affected Facilities 2-7

Rule Objective 2-7

Project Description 2-9

Background 2-9

Proposed Amendments to Rule 1402 2-9

Proposed Amendments to Rule 1401 2-19

Expected Public Health Benefits from the Proposed Amendments 2-19

Statement of Objectives 2-20

Intended Uses of this Document 2-21

Control Technologies for Toxics 2-22

Control Technology for Toxic Aerosols and Particulater Matter 2-24

Control Technology Toxic Volatile Organic Compounds and
Combined Controls for Toxic Halogenated Organic Compounds 2-27

CHAPTER 3 EXISTING SETTING

Introduction 3-1

Air Quality 3-1

Ozone 3-11

Carbon Monoxide 3-12

Nitrogen Dioxide 3-12

Particulate Matter 3-13

Sulfur Dioxide 3-14

Sulfates 3-14

Lead 3-14

Visibility 3-14

Volatile Organic Compounds 3-14

Non-criteria Pollutant Emissions 3-15

Geophysical 3-16

Geomorphic Provinces 3-16

Faulting and Tectonic Activity 3-17

Subsidence and Liquifaction 3-17

Geology 3-18

Water Resources 3-19

National Pollution Discharge Elimination system Requirements 3-20

Discharges to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) 3-21

Existing Water Sources and Uses 3-22

Water Resources 3-23

Local Water Supplies 3-23

Imported Water Supplies 3-24

State Water Project 3-25

Los Angeles Aqueduct 3-25

Colorado River Aqueduct 3-25

Subregional Water Quality 3-26

Outlying Subregional Water Quality 3-27

Transportation/Circulation 3-28

Freeways, Highways and Arterials 3-29

Energy Resources 3-30

Electricity 3-30

Natural Gas 3-31

Hazards 3-32

Hazardous Materials Management Planning 3-32

Hazardous Materials Transport 3-32

Hazardous Material Worker Safety Requirements 3-33

Hazardous Waste Handling Requirements 3-35

Emergency Response to Hazardous Materials and Wastes Incidents 3-35

Hazardous Materials Incidents 3-36

Public Services Fire Protection 3-36

Solid/Hazardous Waste 3-37

Solid Waste 3-37

Hazardous Waste 3-37

Consistency 3-38

Consistency with Regional Comprehensive Plan and Guide Policies 3-39

Consistency with Growth Management Chapter to Improve the Regional

Standard of Living 3-39

Consistency with Growth Management Chapter to Provide Social,

Political and Cultural Equity 3-39

Consistency with Growth Management Chapter to Improve the

Regional Quality of Life 3-40

With Regional Mobility Element and Congestion Management Plan 3-40

CHAPTER 4 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

Introduction 4-1

Analysis Methodology and General Assumptions 4-2

Air Quality 4-8

Assumptions Used in the Air Quality Analysis 4-8

Air Quality Significance Criteria 4-9

Direct Air Quality Impacts 4-10

Indirect Air Quality Impacts 4-11

Toxic Air Contaminants 4-14

Water Resources 4-22

Significance Criteria 4-22

Water Demand Impacts 4-23

Water Quality Impacts 4-25

Transportation/Circulation 4-30

Significance Criteria 4-30

Construction-Related Impacts 4-30

Operation-Related Impacts 4-31

Energy/Mineral Resources Effects 4-32

Significance Criteria 4-33

Hazards 4-37

Hazard Significance Criteria 4-37

Potential Hazard Impacts and Mitigation 4-37

Public Services 4-43

Significance Criteria 4-43

Solid/Hazardous Waste 4-45

Assumptions Used in The Solid Waste Analysis 4-45

Significance Criteria 4-45

Solid/Hazardous Waste Impacts 4-45

Effects Found Not to be Significant 4-48

Land Use and Planning 4-48

Population and Housing 4-48

Biological Resources 4-49

Noise 4-49

Aesthetics/Recreation 4-50

Cultural Resources 4-50

CHAPTER 5

Introduction 5-1

Description of Alternatives 5-1

No Project Alternative 5-2

Alternative A – Further Lower Action Levels 5-2

Alternative B – Proposed Project with Extended Risk
Reduction Schedule 5-3

Alternative C – Higher Final Action Levels with Extended
Risk Reduction 5-3

Comparison of the Alternatives 5-5

Air Quality 5-5

Geophysical 5-11

Water 5-11

Transportation/Circulation 5-12

Energy and Mineral Resources 5-13

Hazards 5-14

Public Services-Fire Protection 5-15

Solid/Hazardous Waste 5-15

Conclusion 5-16

CHAPTER 6 OTHER CEQA TOPICS

Irreversible Environmental Changes 6-1

Potential Growth-Inducing Impacts 6-1

REFERENCES

APPENDIX A proposed amended rules 1402 and 1401

APPENDIX B notice of preparation and initial study

APPENDIX c Spreadsheets for impact calculations

APPENDIX D Comments on the Draft EA and responseS to THE comments

Table of Figures

CHAPTER 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Figure 2-1 Boundaries of the South Coast Air Quality Management District 2-2

Table of Tables

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Table 1-1 Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Rules 1402 and 1401 1-9

Table 1-2 Summary of Potential Adverse Environmental Impacts from
the Proposed Amendments to Rules 1402 and 1401 1-17

Table 1-3 Project Alternative Descriptions 1-19

CHAPTER 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Table 2-1 Adopted Toxics Rules andToxic Related Rules 2-5

Table 2-2 Summary of Proposed Amendments to Rules 1402 and 1401 2-10

Table 2-3 Emission Reporting Thresholds by Specific TAC 2-15

Table 2-4 Emission Reporting Thresholds for Industry-specific
Facilities or Equipment 2-17

Table 2-5 Summary of PAR 1402 Notification Requirements 2-19

Table 2-6 Filtration Controls for T-Particulate Matter and T-Aerosols 2-24

Table 2-7 Controls for T-VOC and Halogenated T-VOC 2-28

Table 2-8 Thermal and Catalytic Controls for T-VOC 2-29

CHAPTER 3 EXISTING SETTING

Table 3-1 Ambient Air Quality Standards 3-2

Table 3-2 1998 Air Quality Data – SCAQMD 3-3

Table 3-3 Examples of Wastewater Treatment Methods 3-22

Table 3-4 1994/1995 Water Demand 3-24

CHAPTER 4 ENVIROMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION

Table 4-1 AB2588 HRA Facilities 4-3

Table 4-2 Industry-specific Categories Potentially Subject to Rule 1402
if Source-Specific Rule Is Not Adopted or Amended 4-4

Table 4-3 Facilities Emitting TACs of Concern Potentially Subject
to PAR 1402 4-6

Table 4-4 Total Estimated Number of Add-on Control Equipment 4-8

Table 4-5 Air Quality Significance Thresholds 4-9

Table 4-6 Air Quality Benefits from Regulating HRA Facilities 4-10

Table 4-7 Phase I Construction Emissions 4-13

Table 4-8 Estimated Operational Emissions from Thermal Oxidizers 4-15

Table 4-9 Estimated Operational Emissions from Regenerating
Spent Carbon 4-16

Table 4-10 Operation-Related Mobile Emission Factors from Medium-
Duty Transport Trucks 4-17

Table 4-11 Total Estimated Operational Emissions from PAR 1402 4-17

Table 4-12 Wastewater Discharge Volumes/Freshwater Demand From
Carbon Adsorption and West Scrubbing 4-24

Table 4-13 Total Projected Fuel Usage for Construction Activities 4-34

Table 4-14 Total Projected Natural Gas Usage for Thermal Oxidizer
Operations 4-35

Table 4-15 Chemical Characteristics for Common Coating Solvents
and Acetone 4-41

Table 4-16 Estimates of Solid Waste from Carbon Adsorption 4-46

Table 4-17 Total Solid Waste Generation 4-47

CHAPTER 5 ALTERNATIVES

Table 5-1 Project Alternative Descriptions 5-4

Table 5-2 Comparison of Adverse Environmental Impacts of
of the Alternatives 5-7

Table 5-3 Total Estimated Number of Add-on Control Equipment
under Alternative A in Addition to Add-on Control Equipment
for PAR 1402 5-8

Table 5-4 Total Construction Emissions from PAR 1402 and the
Proposed Alternatives (in pounds per day) 5-9

Table 5-5 Total Operational Emissions from PAR 1402 and the
Proposed Alternatives (in pounds per day) 5-10

Table 5-6 Total Projected Fuel Usage for Construction Activities
for PAR 1402 and the Proposed Project Alternatives 5-14

Table 5-7 Total Amount of Wastes Generated by PAR 1402 and the
Proposed Project Alternatives 5-15

Preface

This document constitutes the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the amendments to Proposed Amended Rule 1402–Control of Toxic Air Contaminants from Existing Sources and Proposed Amended Rule 1401– New Source Review of Toxic Air Contaminants. The Draft EA was released for a 45-day public review and comment period from December 30, 1999 to February 14, 2000. Five comment letters were received from the public. Minor modifications have been made to the Draft such that it is now a Final EA. Deletions and additions to the text of the EA are denoted using strikethrough and underlined, respectively. Updated emission calculations have replaced the original spreadsheets in Appendix C.

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C H A P T E R 1
I N T R O D U C T I O N a n d E X E C U T I V E
S U M M A R Y

Introduction

Legislative Authority

California Environmental Quality Act

CEQA Documentation

Executive Summary

Chapter 1 - Introduction and Executive Summary

INTRODUCTION

A toxic substance released to the air is called a “toxic air contaminant” (TAC) or an “air toxic.” A substance is considered toxic if it has the potential to cause adverse health effects. Exposure to a toxic substance can increase the risk of contracting cancer or produce other adverse health effects such as birth defects and other reproductive damage, neurological and respiratory health effects.

The objective of existing Rule 1402 – Control of Toxic Air Contaminants from Existing Sources, is to minimize the public health risk from exposure to TAC emissions from existing sources. Existing facilities in the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) jurisdiction, whose facility-wide toxic emissions exceed the specified maximum individual cancer risk (MICR) or hazard index (HI) for some compounds with health effects other than cancer (non-carcinogens), are subject to the risk reduction requirements of Rule 1402.

Proposed amended Rule (PAR) 1402 would: maintain the existing significant risk levels that establish the MICR significant threshold levels for cancer risk at 100 in one million and the HI for non-carcinogens at 5.0, establishes a cancer burden level of 0.5, establishes a facility-wide interim MICR action level of 25 in one million (25 x 10-6) and facility-wide interim HI action level of 3.0, establishes a facility-wide final action level of 10 in one million (10 x 10-6) and HI of 3.0. The timeframe for achieving the interim action levels would be reduced from five years to three years with no additional extensions allowed. In addition, effective January 1, 2005, affected facilities would have to begin implementing risk reduction measures to achieve the final MICR action level. Affected facilities would have three years to comply with the final action level requirements. The proposed amendments include provisions for technical and economic considerations for extending the three-year risk reduction period to five years in some cases. Proposed amendments to Rule 1402 also include additional inventory requirements for any facility above thresholds (based on an MICR of 100 in one million or HI of 5.0) for key toxic compounds, additional public notification requirements, as well as other requirements to improve the effectiveness of the rule.

There are certain industries within the jurisdiction of the SCAQMD that staff is proposing to address through source specific toxic rules. If, however, a source specific toxic rule is not developed that exempts the industry from Rule 1402, the facility would then be subject to the requirements of proposed amended Rule 1402.

Rule 1401 – New Source Review for Toxic Air Contaminants, establishes health-based limits for TACs from individual new, modified and relocated permit units. Rule 1401 will also be amended to remove a cumulative risk requirement, which is similar to the facility risk assessment requirement in proposed amended Rule 1402.

The proposed amendments to Rules 1402 and 1401 are a "project" as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines §15378. California Public Resources Code §21080.5 allows public agencies with regulatory programs to prepare a plan or other written document in lieu of an environmental impact report once the Secretary of the Resources Agency has certified the regulatory program. The SCAQMD regulatory program was certified by the Secretary of the Resources Agency on March 1, 1989, and is codified as SCAQMD Rule 110. Pursuant to Rule 110 (the rule which implements the SCAQMD’s certified regulatory program), SCAQMD has prepared this Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate potential adverse impacts from amending Rules 1402 and 1401.

CEQA requires that the potential adverse environmental impacts of proposed projects be evaluated and that feasible methods to reduce or avoid identified significant adverse environmental impacts of these projects be implemented. The purpose of this Draft EA is to inform the SCAQMD’s Governing Board, public agencies, and interested parties of potential adverse environmental impacts that could result from implementing proposed projects.

legislative authority

The California Legislature adopted the Lewis Air Quality Act (now known as the Lewis-Presley Air Quality Management Act) in 1976, creating the SCAQMD from a voluntary association of air pollution control districts in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. The new agency was charged with developing and enforcing air pollution control rules and regulations for the South Coast Air Basin (Basin) to attain federal air quality standards by the dates specified in federal law. The agency was also required to attain state ambient air quality standards by the earliest practicable date through the use of reasonably available control measures.