Uniform Statewide Permitting Policies 2015 (Leonard)

SUMMARY:

SB 2015 will promote permit uniformity statewide and, thereby, providing industry with needed consistency.

BACKGROUND:

Local air districts hold the authority to regulate stationary sources of air pollution. Under this authority, districts permit and monitor existing, new and modified air pollution sources to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local emission standards.

The Air Pollution Permit Streamlining Act requires districts to institute new, efficient procedures to simplify and streamline the air pollution permitting process. It also requires districts, with populations greater than 250,000, to develop standardized application forms, written in clear and understandable language, that provide applicants with adequate information to complete the forms. Currently, these forms remain district specific, and there is little effort toward statewide standardization.

PROBLEM:

There are 34 air districts in California: each operates autonomously, and each has developed its own unique permit application forms, emission calculations, and list of exempt equipment. These differences are confusing, particularly for businesses operating in a number of air districts within the state. Businesses applying for a permit must complete applications from each district in which they will operate. Each district may require different data or a different format for the same equipment. When working with multiple districts, this can result in incomplete applications and delays.

ANALYSIS:

The goal of SB 2015 is to pull together the common threads among air districts to provide a level of statewide uniformity without sacrificing autonomy and without imposing on small districts the control requirements of larger districts.

SB 2015 would authorize the Air Resources Board to develop statewide permitting policies and would require all air districts to use them. These statewide policies would include:

Uniform, statewide permit application forms to allow a business to submit a complete application to any air district in the state.

Uniform, statewide emission calculation procedures so that similar sources in different parts of the state can expect similar permit evaluations.

Uniform, statewide permit exemptions so that businesses with equipment that is exempt in one air district are assured that their equipment is exempt in all districts.

CONTACT:

Chris Reynolds, Legislative Director, (916) 322-2896, Kurt Karperos, Legislative Representative, California Air Resources Board, (916) 322-2896