Proposed Amended Rule 1118 – Control of Emissions from Refinery Flares
Summary
SCH Number
2024040298
Public Agency
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Document Title
Proposed Amended Rule 1118 – Control of Emissions from Refinery Flares
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/5/2024
Document Description
Rule 1118 contains requirements for flares operated at petroleum refineries and related operations, including requirements to submit notifications and reports, monitor emissions, meet emissions targets, and maintain a public inquiry hotline. Proposed Amended Rule (PAR) 1118 utilizes the information gathered from the previous amendments in 2017 and proposes to establish: 1) a more stringent annual sulfur dioxide (SO2) performance target threshold for all facilities which will reduce emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx); 2) a new annual nitrogen oxides (NOx) performance target for clean service flares at hydrogen production plants; 3) new requirements for clean service flares at refineries (e.g., flares for liquified petroleum gas tanks); 4) an adjustment to mitigation fees annually based on the most recent consumer price index; and 5) updated and standardized reporting requirements for facilities through the flare event notification system. Finally, PAR 1118 removes outdated rule language and reorganizes the rule structure to ensure consistency with recently amended or adopted rules. PAR 1118 will be applicable to 12 facilities with 31 flares, and to comply with PAR 1118 requirements, installations of the following are expected: 1) continuous flow meters (CFMs) on three flares; 2) one refrigeration/chiller for one flare; and 3) replacement of an existing flare system with one new flare system. Implementation of PAR 1118 is expected to result in emission reductions of 10.1 tons per year of NOx, 16.6 tons per year of SO2 and 3.8 tons per year of VOC by 2029 which will benefit public health and ambient air quality. In addition, SO2 is a precursor to the formation of PM2.5; therefore, the SO2 emission reductions will result in approximately 3.3 tons of PM2.5 reduced per year.
Contact Information
Name
Jivar Afshar
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 Location Info
The location of the proposed project is the portion of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) jurisdiction covering the federal nonattainment area known as the Coachella Valley, which consists of the Riverside County portion of the Salton Sea Air Basin, excluding tribal lands.
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 1118) 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. The analysis of the anticipated physical changes that may occur as a result of implementing the proposed project indicates that the construction activities and associated emissions are expected to be minimal. Thus, it can be seen with certainty that implementing the proposed project would not cause 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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