Air District To Host Open Houses On Proposed Rule For Toxic Emissions

BAY AREA, CA – The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is inviting residents to one of six open house events throughout the Bay Area to learn about and provide input on draft Regulation 11, Rule 18 – Reduction of Risk from Air Toxic Emissions at Existing Facilities.

The rule incorporates new California risk management guidelines and health risk values from the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

The Air District’s new rule will improve air quality and reduce emissions from stationary pollution sources from large facilities, such as factories, power plants and oil refineries, to smaller operations, like back-up generators and gas stations.

Air District staff estimates that hundreds of facilities will be subject to the proposed rule.

“We have made great advances in reducing Bay Area health risks from toxic air contaminants over the past few decades and this proposed rule builds on those efforts,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “This rule will help the Air District further our mission of protecting public health and air quality in the nine-county region.”

Rule 11-18 was proposed to ensure that emissions of toxic air contaminants from existing facilities do not pose an unacceptable health risk to people living and working nearby. The open house events are an opportunity to speak to air quality experts, ask questions and make suggestions that will shape the region’s air quality moving forward.

• Related: Your Input Sought On Proposed Rule For Toxic Emissions

Open House Schedule

• Richmond - Wed., Nov. 9, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.Richmond Memorial Auditorium, Bermuda Room, 403 Civic Center Plaza

• Oakland - Thurs., Nov. 10, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.Fruitvale-San Antonio Senior Center, Suite 201, 3301 E. 12th Street

• San Francisco - Mon., Nov. 14, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.Bay Area Metro Center, Ohlone Conference Room, 375 Beale Street

• San Jose - Tues., Nov. 15, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.Biblioteca Latinoamericana Public Library, Community Room, 921 S. 1st Street

• Martinez - Wed., Nov. 16, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.Contra Costa Co. Dept. of Conservation and Dev., AZ Room, 30 Muir Road

• Fremont - Thurs., Nov. 17, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.Fremont Community Center, 40204 Paseo Padre Pkwy

The scope of the environmental impact report on the rule will be discussed at a Nov. 14 scoping meeting at the Bay Area Metro Center, 375 Beale Street in San Francisco.

More information can be found at http://www.baaqmd.gov/riskreductionrule. The public can submit questions or comments via email to Victor Douglas at vdouglas@baaqmd.gov. The public comment period closes Dec. 2.

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--Info courtesy of BAAQMD/Morguefile image