Proposed Amended Rule 1153.1 – Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Commercial Food Ovens
Summary
SCH Number
2023080113
Public Agency
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Document Title
Proposed Amended Rule 1153.1 – Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Commercial Food Ovens
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/4/2023
Document Description
Proposed Amended Rule 1153.1 (PAR 1153.1) is applicable to Regional Clean Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM), non-RECLAIM, and former RECLAIM facilities that operate commercial food ovens with a rated heat input capacity equal to or greater than 325,000 British thermal units (Btu) per hour which are used to prepare food or products for making beverages for human consumption. Commercial food ovens include bakery ovens, cooking ovens, dryers, drying ovens, roasters, smokehouses, and tortilla ovens. PAR 1153.1 seeks to implement two phases of NOx emission limits. Phase I establishes a NOx emission limit of 15 parts per million by volume (ppmv) for tortilla ovens heated only by infrared burners, and a NOx emission limit of 30 ppmv for all other commercial food ovens. Phase II establishes zero-emission limits for bakery ovens and cooking ovens rated less than or equal to three million Btu per hour, indirect-fired bakery ovens, and smokehouses. In addition, PAR 1153.1 proposes: 1) interim NOx emission limits to prevent backsliding if a facility exits the RECLAIM program before they are required to meet the proposed limits in PAR 1153.1; and 2) an Alternative Compliance Schedule Plan to address additional time that might be needed by a utility provider to upgrade electrical infrastructure to provide electricity to operate electric zero-emission oven(s). Upon full implementation by 2043, PAR 1153.1 is estimated to reduce NOx emissions by 0.11 ton per day, which will benefit public health and ambient air quality.
Contact Information
Name
Farzaneh Khalaj
Agency Name
South Coast AQMD
Job Title
Air Quality Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Regions
Countywide
Other Information
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
15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
South Coast AQMD, as Lead Agency, has reviewed the proposed project (PAR 1153.1) 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. While activities to implement the proposed project involve the replacement of equipment or burners at the end of its useful life between years 2023 and 2047, due to the wide variations in equipment/burner age, the replacement activities are not expected to overlap in a manner that would cause a significant adverse effect on the environment. Thus, it can be seen with certainty that implementing the proposed project would not cause a significant adverse effect on the environment, and is therefore, 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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