The South Coast Air Basin area encompassed by the South Coast AQMD amounts to about 10,750 square miles (27,850 square kilometres) and is the second most populated area in the United States. This area has a severe problem with smog, and the South Coast AQMD has been a leader in the nation's efforts to reduce air pollution emissions. The main office is located in the city of Diamond Bar.
Operations
South Coast AQMD develops, adopts and implements an Air Quality Management Plan for bringing the area into compliance with the clean air standards established by national and state governmental legislation.
Air quality and permissible air pollutant emission "rules" are promulgated to reduce emissions from various sources, including specific types of equipment, industrial processes, paints, solvents and certain consumer products. Permits are issued to the pertinent industries and businesses to enforce compliance with the air quality and emission rules, and South Coast AQMD staff conducts periodic inspections to ensure such compliance.
South Coast AQMD also operates an extensive network of air quality monitoring stations (about 40 stations) and issues daily air quality forecasts. The forecasts are made available to the public through newspapers, television, radio, its award-winning smartphone application, social media, its website, and a toll-free Smog Update telephone line.[1][2]
Air quality and air pollution dispersion modeling
The air quality modeling activities of the South Coast AQMD are one of the functions of the Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources section. That section is also responsible for oversight and commenting upon air pollution dispersion modeling[3] studies performed as part of any environmental impact studies that may be reviewed by or requested by South Coast AQMD. The models that may be utilized include:[4]
California Line Source Dispersion Model (CALINE-4)
The SCAQMD has authority to regulate stationary sources of air pollution. These include warehouses which induce truck trips, and thus qualify as indirect sources of air pollution. In 2021, the SCAQMD board voted to authorize the Indirect Source Rule, which requires warehouses larger than 100,000 square feet to take steps to cut pollution, fund similar air pollution mitigation projects, or face penalties. The Inland Empire has experienced substantial development of warehouses which serve the e-commerce industry. [5]
The indirect source rule's main program is the Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE). Under WAIRE, affected warehouses must earn WAIRE points to provide incentives to reduce emissions from trucks which serve them. They can earn points by operating electric trucks or other zero-emissions vehicle, installing charging station or solar panels, or paying to install particulate filters at local schools. Warehouse operators that do not earn sufficient points must pay mitigation fees.[6]
On August 2, 2024, the air district board unanimously voted to authorize a new indirect source rule to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from railyards in the district. The rule would apply to 25 facilites and would require the facility or all facilities operated by the same operator in the state of California to reduce emissions a specified percentage over the projected baseline or demonstrate that through reduced throughput the facility had a reduced Aggregate Emission Factor.[7] The rule builds upon the CARB In-Use Locomotive rule and the Advanced Clean Fleet rule that have yet to be approved by the EPA and thus the rule cannot go into effect until those are approved. The rule is expected to prevent 300 premature deaths and 2100 hospitalizations annually.[8][9][10]
Governing board
South Coast AQMD has a Governing Board of 13 members. Ten of the members are county supervisors and city council members. The remaining three are appointed by California state officials. Current members of the Governing Board include:[11]
The representative for Orange County cities is chosen by the 34 members of the Orange County City Selection Committee.[12] Appointment requires both a majority vote of the committee and a majority vote when weighted by population.[13] In November 2015, Republicans blocked reappointment of Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, a Democrat, to the board, voting to replace him with Republican Lake Forest Councilman Dwight Robinson.[13]
Administration
The chief Executive Officer of the South Coast AQMD reports to the Governing Board. The following departments report to the Executive Officer:
Administrative departments
Legal
Counsel
Prosecutor
Legislative, Public Affairs, and Media
Finance
Human Resources
Information Management
Operational departments
Engineering and Permitting
Compliance and Enforcement
Planning, Rule Development and Implementation
Monitoring and Analysis
Technology Advancement Office
Funding for South Coast AQMD
South Coast AQMD utilizes a system of evaluation fees, annual operating fees, emission fees, Hearing Board fees, penalties/ settlements and investments that generate around 73% of its revenue. The remaining 27% of its revenue is from federal grants, California Air Resources (CARB) subvention funds, and California Clean Air Act Motor Vehicle fees.[14]
^"SCAQMD RULE 2306"(PDF). South Coast Air Quality Management District. 2024-08-02. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-10-07.