State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD
Eureka City Hall
Council Chambers
541 K Street
Eureka, CA
May 2, 1973
AGENDA
73-9-1 Approval of Minutes of April 18, 1973 Meeting.
73-9-2 Consideration of Local District Agricultural Burning
Implementation Plans.
73-9-3 Report on Additional Regulations for the Control of NOx
Emissions in the South Coast Air Basin.
73-9-4 Consideration of Alternate Actions to Deal with
Fossil-Fueled Power Plants in the South Coast Air Basin.
73-9-5 Status of Air Pollution Control Legislation.
73-9-6 Report on Local Variances Extended for More Than One
Year.
73-9-7 Report on Proposed Standards for Asbestos.
73-9-8 Other Business.
a. Consideration of Requests for Extensions of Open
Burning in City and County Dumps.
b. Report of Status of Open Burning at Colusa County
Dump in Maxwell.
73-9-9 Remarks from Audience - End of Morning and Afternoon
Session.
ITEM NO.: 73-9-2
Consideration of Agricultural Burning Implementation Plans.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Two additional districts (Fresno and Madera) have submitted
plans consistent with the Agricultural Burning Guidelines.
The staff recommends adoption of Resolution 73-1c thereby
approving these plans.
2. One air pollution control district (Kings) has still not
submitted an agricultural burning implementation plan. The
District has scheduled a public hearing for May 1, 1973 to
adopt an agricultural burning implementation plan.
FACTS AND DISCUSSION
1. On June 21, 1972, the Board adopted Agricultural Burning
Guidelines for the entire state. The Guidelines required
all districts to adopt, by December 20, 1972, implementation
plans to regulate agricultural burning and to submit the
plans to the Board for approval within 10 days after
adoption. After public hearing, the Board required by the
State Health and Safety code to approve, modify, or reject
the plans. The Code also requires that if a plan is
rejected or if no timely plan is submitted, or if the plan
is economically or technically not feasible, the Board,
after hearings held in the basin affected, shall adopt an
alternative plan.
2. As of its April 4, 1973 meeting, the Agricultural Burning
Implementation Plans of 47 districts have been approved by
the Board.
3. The Agricultural Burning Implementation Plan submitted by
the Fresno County Air Pollution Control District was
disapproved by the Board on February 21, 1973 because the
plan was inconsistent with the Board's Guidelines. Since
then the District adopted, by Resolution, the modifications
required to make the plan consistent with the Guidelines.
The Madera County Air Pollution Control District has adopted
by resolution and submitted an approvable agricultural
burning implementation plan. Approval of these plans is
recommended (See Resolution 73-1c).
4. The Kings County Air Pollution Control District has not
submitted a plan. The staff has been working closely with
the District to develop a plan which will be considered by
the Air Pollution Control Board on May 1, 1973.
ITEM NO.: 73-9-3
Report on additional regulations for control of NOx emissions in
the South Coast Air Basin.
RECOMMENDATION
None. This is an informational report.
DISCUSSION
1. The Air Resources Board at its meeting on December 6, 1972
instructed the staff to discuss with South Coast Air Basin
Coordinating Council (SCABCC) the possibility of making the
"Rule 68" limitations on NOx emissions of 125 ppm with gas
fuel and 225 ppm with oil fuel, uniform throughout the Basin
and applicable to smaller sources.
2. A letter dated December 18, 1972 was sent to all members of
the SCABCC and its Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
requesting that this subject, among others, be discussed at
the January 5, 1973 meeting of the SCABCC. The SCABCC
placed this matter on the agenda of its January 5, 1973
meeting and subsequently instructed its TAC to develop a
report on this subject.
3. On January 25, 1973 the SCABCC-TAC met in the offices of the
Los Angeles County APCD to discuss the drafting of the
report to the SCABCC. The draft report was submitted to the
SCABCC on February 9, 1973.
4. The SCABCC-TAC expects to meet to finalize the report on
April 25, 1973 and present it for consideration by the
SCABCC at the Council's meeting on May 4, 1973.
5. The staff will report to the Board on this matter after the
SCABCC has made it decision.
ITEM NO.: 73-9-4
Consideration of options for dealing with new fossil fueled power
plants in the South Coast Air Basin.
RECOMMENDATION
Request APCD's to establish rules to authorize the denial of
construction permits for new fossil fuel power plants. Approval
could be granted when the new plant employs the best emission
control technology. Replacement of an existing plant could be
permitted if the new plant emits no more pollutants then the old
one.
SUMMARY
A discussion of alternatives available to the Board for action
that may be taken to prevent or reduce the proliferation of
fossil fueled power plants in the South Coast Air Basin.
ITEM NO.: 73-9-5
1973 Legislation.
RECOMMENDATION
This is an information item.
SUMMARY
Action in the legislature has been fairly slow; only about 50
bills relating to air pollution have been introduced, and few of
those bills have had a hearing.
ITEM NO.: 73-9-6
Variances Granted or Extended for a Period Exceeding One Year.
(Simpson Lee Paper Company and Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Shasta
County).
CONCLUSION
Simpson Lee Paper Company and Kimberly-Clark Corporation are both
under a schedule which calls for compliance by mid-1975.
In the case of Simpson Lee Company, a key step in the compliance
schedule is evaluation of control techniques. If this step is
completed earlier, compliance could be achieved earlier.
In the case of Kimberly-Clark, compliance could be achieved
earlier if modifications of its boilers are completed earlier.
Suggested changes in the schedule of modifications are included
in the staff report.
DISCUSSION
1. Sections 24303 and 24365.12 of the California Health and
Safety Code requires all air pollution control districts to
submit annual reports on all variances extended for a period
exceeding one year.
2. Under Section 39054.2 of the Health and Safety Code, the
Board is authorized to revoke any variance if the Board
finds that the increase in air contaminants outweighs the
economic loss that may result if the variance is revoked.
3. On November 8, 1972, the staff presented to the Board a list
of 77 variances reported for the year July 1, 1971 through
June 30, 1972.
4. After reviewing the 77 variances, the Board requested that
six of the variances be evaluated further. Four of the
variance investigations were reported to the Board at its
April 4, 1973 meeting. They were:
a. Bermite Division, Tasker Industries (Los Angeles
County).
b. Flare Northern Division, Atlantic Research Corp. (Los
Angeles County).
c. California Portland Cement Company (Kern County).
d. Monolith Portland Cement Company (Kern County).
5. The remaining two variances are evaluated in the attached
report. They are:
a. Simpson Lee Paper Company (Shasta County).
b. Kimberly-Clark Corporation (Shasta County).
ITEM NO.: 73-9-7
Asbestos Control Regulations and Proposed Standards.
RECOMMENDATION
The ARB and Department of Public Health staff jointly review EPA
asbestos regulations, identify inadequacies of regulations,
determine what agencies have responsibility for asbestos
monitoring, regulations and control, and advise the ARB on action
to take.
DISCUSSION
On January 8, 1973, Dr. Frederick B. Hodges, Director of the
State Department of Public Health, wrote to the Chairman of the
Air Resources Board pointing out the need to establish an air
quality standard for asbestos. Dr. Hodges recommended regulation
of activities that emit asbestos, source monitoring in some
cases, and that the State Department of Public Health with the
assistance of an advisory group review the health implications of
asbestos exposure and make further recommendations for air
quality standards and control.
A copy of Dr. Hodge's letter is enclosed.
The EPA had proposed regulations on December 7, 1971 to control
emissions of asbestos. The ARB staff waited until the EPA
regulations were adopted before responding to Dr. Hodges letter.
The EPA regulations were promulgated on April 6, 1973, and are
enclosed.
The Department of Public Health would like the ARB to take a
position on asbestos control. In accordance with Dr. Hodge's
suggestions, what needs to be done now is for the staff and
others designated by the Board to work with the State Department
of Public Health to review the implications of asbestos exposure
and to make further recommendations for air quality standards and
for control.
ITEM NO.: 73-9-8a
Application for Extension of Open Burning at Disposal Sites.
RECOMMENDATION
The Staff recommends approval of the attached Resolution 73-23
which would grant the City of Newman and the City of Patterson
additional time extensions until November 1, 1973 for the City of
Newman dump site and the City of Patterson dump site.
FACTS AND DISCUSSION
1. As of the December 6, 1972 meeting, the Air Resources Board
approved time extensions to use open fire for the purpose of
disposal of solid waste for 199 city and county disposal
sites.
2. The cities of Patterson and Newman, Stanislaus County, were
granted time extensions by the Board to use open fire at the
city dump sites until March 31, 1973, the time when a county
landfill was to be in operation. The cities were informed
by the county that the landfill will not be ready in time.
The cities have, therefore, requested that the extension be
extended from March 31, 1973 to March 31, 1974 (see attached
City Resolution Nos. 73-14 and 1959).
3. As with all additional time extension requests, the staff
has made an investigation to determine if the requests were
based on economic and technical difficulties. We learned
there are no other methods of disposal available to the
residents in the Newman and Patterson areas.
4. Stanislaus County is making progress to establish a landfill
site. The County has selected a suitable location for a
Class II solid waste disposal site. The California Regional
Water Quality Control Board Central Valley Region has
approved the location (see attached discharge requirements).
5. The County Department of Public Works has been in the
process of acquiring the landfill property since November
1972. The property has been appraised and an offer made to
the owners. The owners have requested a second appraisal
before they sell. A second appraisal Is being prepared at
this time. To assure acquisition, the county has started
condemnation proceedings (See attached county resolution
dated April 6, 1973).
6. The county anticipates they will obtain the property within
the next six months. Once the property is acquired, the
landfill should be operating within two weeks.
7. The staff recommends the Board grant open burning extensions
of seven months instead of one year as requested by the
Cities. The cities of Newman and Patterson were informed of
this recommendation.
ITEM NO.: 73-9-8b
Closure of the Maxwell Dump Site in Colusa County.
RECOMMENDATION
None. (This is an information item).
DISCUSSION
At the meeting on April 4, 1973, the Air Resources Board adopted
a resolution denying the County of Colusa a limited time
extension to use open burning at the Maxwell disposal site. The
Board further resolved to refer the matter to the Attorney
General for legal action if burning continued at the site. On
April 17, 1973, the Board of Supervisors of Colusa County adopted
a motion (letter and motion attached) to close the Maxwell dump
site to all public and private use beginning on April 23, 1973.
The County plans to construct a transfer station at the Maxwell
site and have it operating by June 22, 1973.
On April 20, 1973 the staff of the Board observed earth moving
equipment covering the existing dump site.
ITEM NO.: 73-9-8c
Application for Accreditation of a Used Motor Vehicle Exhaust
Emission Control Device for Oxides of Nitrogen with Class (a)
Engine Size Displacement.
RECOMMENDATION
Reconsider the accreditation of STP's NOx control device for
class (a) vehicles; consideration should include acceptance of a
proposed modification that would eliminate the maximum
performance adverse effect unique to approximately 50% of the
class (a) vehicle population.
DISCUSSION
The Air Resources Board recently accredited STP Corporation's
oxides of nitrogen control device for 1966 through 1970 model
year motor vehicles with engine size class (a). In the process
of establishing exempted vehicles from the retrofit program,
comments were solicited from the vehicle manufacturers concerning
claims of exemptions for specific vehicle types for mechanical or
control reasons.
Volkswagen Corporation of America requested exemption of all
1966-70 model year Volkswagens from the STP installation based
upon adverse effects on vehicle performance, fuel economy and
exhaust gas temperature.
A meeting was held with representatives of Volkswagen and STP
Corporation and members of the Air Resources Board staff to
discuss Volkswagen's claims. It was agreed that the vehicle
performance was of greatest concern.
Substantiating Test Data
Test data were presented by Volkswagen (Appendix 1) and the Air
Resources Board Laboratory (Appendix 2, Table II) showing the
effects of the STP device on maximum vehicle performance. The
Volkswagen data were generated from repeated tests (5 or more) on
the same vehicle. The ARB Laboratory data were obtained using
six vehicles.
A comparison of the two sets of data show agreement in the loss
of performance during the acceleration driving modes. Volkswagen
recorded a 53% average increase in the time of accelerate from
40-70 mph with the STP device (4th gear only). A 39% average
increase was recorded for 0-60 mph accelerations. ARB tests
indicate a 15% average increase in the acceleration time from 0-70 mph.
Volkswagen accounts for approximately 50% of the vehicles in
class (a) and is unique in that most models are equipped with
vacuum advance only distributors. In their case, the lowering of
the spark advance curve by the air bleed component has an effect
on full throttle performance. In vehicles having combined
centrifugal and vacuum advance distributors, the vacuum portion
of the spark advance is normally inoperative at full throttle.
Proposed Modification
It was STP Corporation's opinion that the data submitted by
Volkswagen and the ARB did not have the significance to allow an
exemption to 1966-70 model-year Volkswagens. However, it was
agreed by all parties that the elimination of the spark advance
modification (air bleed) would tend to minimize power loss on
vehicles with vacuum advance only distributors.