NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing on the matter of adoption of rules and regulations for the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), or the amendments thereto, will be held on June 5, 2009 in the Auditorium at AQMD Headquarters, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA, at 9:00 a.m., at which time evidence will be taken and all interested persons will be heard by the AQMD Board.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the AQMD is considering proposed amendments to Rule 1401 to add ethyl benzene as a carcinogen to the list of toxic air contaminants (TAC) in Table 1 of the rule.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the air quality objective of the proposed amended rule and the proposed rule is to reduce adverse public health impacts associated with exposure to ethyl benzene emissions, primarily from fuel storage and transfer; fuel combustion; coatings; and chemical processes.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the purpose of Proposed Amended Rule 1401 is to reduce ethyl benzene emissions from new, relocated, or modified equipment subject to Rule 1401.  In addition, because the list of TACs in Rule 1401 is also used for Rule 1402, the purpose is to reduce ethyl benzene emissions from existing facilities.  

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the effective date for use of the new cancer potency value for ethyl benzene would be the date of adoption for new, modified, or relocated equipment subject to Rule 1401.  The effective date for existing facilities subject to Rule 1402 would be one year after date of adoption.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the AQMD has prepared documents, for consideration by the AQMD Board, including: 

Proposed Amended Rule 1401

Draft Staff Report regarding Proposed Amended Rule 1401 and Impact Assessment for Facilities Subject to Rule 1402, and Comparative Analysis required by Health and Safety Code Section 40727.2

Draft Environmental Assessment Document for Proposed Amended Rule 1401 and Impact Assessment for Facilities Subject to Rule 1402, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)  

The above documents and materials are available for review at the AQMD Public Information Center, or may be obtained by contacting:

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that at the conclusion of the public hearing, the AQMD Board may make other amendments to Rule 1401 which are justified by the evidence presented, or may decline the amendments or adoption.

Information about Proposed Amended Rule 1401 can be obtained by contacting:

Interested persons may attend and submit oral or written statements at the Board Hearing.  Twenty-five (25) copies of all written materials must be submitted to the Clerk of the Board.  Individuals who wish to submit written comments for review prior to the hearing must submit such comments to the Clerk of the Board, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-4178, (909) 396-2500, or to cob@aqmd.gov on or before Tuesday, May 26, 2009.  Electronic submittals will only be accepted if no more than 10 pages including attachments; and in MS Word, plain or HTML format.

DATED:  April 26, 2009                                       SAUNDRA McDANIEL
                                                                         Clerk of the Board