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COMPLIANCE
AND ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
The
Compliance and Enforcement Division's (C&E Division) goals are to
provide companies with assistance in complying with air quality rules
and regulations and when they cannot comply, to apply an appropriate level
of enforcement action proportionate to the non-compliance. The enforcement
of air quality regulations must concentrate first on obtaining compliance
and second providing an effective deterrence for non-compliance. The Division
is committed to fair, reasonable, and equitable treatment of regulated
sources. The compliance assistance activities include a full range of
educational and technical assistance programs such as a Compliance Hotline,
Courtesy Facility Reviews, a Speakers Bureau, Industry Compliance Schools,
and the publication of Policy and Procedure Guidelines which provide a
basis for self-inspection programs. The Division works with individual
companies, industry groups, trade associations, small business assistance
programs, and green business programs to promote self-compliance with
air regulations.
The Division has approximately
70 field-based, inspection staff that conduct inspections of air pollution
sources, verify compliance, investigate breakdowns, document violations,
and respond to citizen complaints about air pollution and accidental releases
of air contaminants. The Inspection Staff are assigned geographic areas
throughout the nine bay area counties. They are responsible for all the
permitted sources and inspection activity within that area. In addition
the Division has several specialized inspection groups that handle refineries,
auto body shops & dry cleaners, gas stations, and asbestos demolition
and renovation activities. Routine inspections combined with targeted
audits of sources of air pollution help ensure emission reductions written
into regulations are actually achieved. The enforcement program utilizes
a cooperative working relationship with the regulated sources in conjunction
with graduated levels of enforcement actions to maintain compliance with
air quality regulations.
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