Proposed Amended Rule 218 – Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEMS); Proposed Rule (PR) 218.2 – CEMS: General Provisions; and PR 218.3 – CEMS: Performance Spec.
Summary
SCH Number
2021030165
Public Agency
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Document Title
Proposed Amended Rule 218 – Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEMS); Proposed Rule (PR) 218.2 – CEMS: General Provisions; and PR 218.3 – CEMS: Performance Spec.
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/5/2021
Document Description
As part of transitioning South Coast AQMD’s NOx RECLAIM program to a command-and-control regulatory structure, amendments are proposed to Rule 218 and two new rules, Proposed Rule (PR) 218.2 and PR 218.3 are proposed for adoption. Specifically, Proposed Amended Rule (PAR) 218 will incorporate a phase-out provision that requires an owner or operator of any Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) subject to Rules 218 and 218.1 to transition to comply with PR 218.2 and PR 218.3 in accordance with the implementation schedule as specified in subdivision (d) of either PR 218.2 or PR 218.3, as applicable. PR 218.2 and PR 218.3 establish requirements and specifications for installation and operation for CEMS at non-RECLAIM and former RECLAIM facilities. Specifically, PR 218.2 focuses on CEMS administrative requirements and has been developed to: 1) incorporate provisions retained from Rule 218 but with updates to the certification process for CEMS modifications and reporting requirements; and 2) incorporate a new provision that would require the continuous operation of CEMS, except during qualifying CEMS maintenance and repair or when an emission source is offline for at least one week. PR 218.3 focuses on CEMS performance specifications and has been developed to: 1) incorporate provisions retained from Rule 218.1 but with modifications to span range, data acquisition and handling system, relative accuracy test audit, and calibration gas requirements; and 2) incorporate a new provision which provides specifications on data handling methods for data measured below 10 percent or above 95 percent of the upper span value, emission data averaging method, CEMS data availability requirements, and CEMS out-of-control period and alternative data acquisition.
Contact Information
Name
Ryan Banuelos
Agency Name
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Other Location Info
The proposed project is located within the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (South Coast AQMD) jurisdiction, which includes the four-county South Coast Air Basin (all of Orange County and the non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties), and the Riverside County portion of the Salton Sea Air Basin and the non-Palo Verde, Riverside County portion of the Mojave Desert Air Basin.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption
Reasons for Exemption
South Coast AQMD, as Lead Agency, has reviewed the proposed project pursuant to: 1) CEQA Guidelines Section 15002(k) – General Concepts, the three-step process for deciding which document to prepare for a project subject to CEQA; and 2) CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 – Review for Exemption, procedures for determining if a project is exempt from CEQA. Since the proposed project is comprised of administrative actions which migrate requirements from existing Rule 218 into PR 218.2 and PR 218.3 to provide clarification regarding CEMS operation and installation, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed project may have a significant adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption.
County Clerks
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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