Draft Environmental Impact Report for Proposed Amendments to Regulation VIII, (New Source Review),
and Other Associated Rules (commonly referred to as NSR revisions)
Public Comment Period Starts April 27, 2016
Summary
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (District) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Proposed Amendments to Regulation VIII, (New Source Review), and Other Associated Rules (commonly referred to as NSR revisions).
The District is proposing to revise its New Source Review (NSR) permitting program. NSR rules apply to businesses that are proposing to install or modify any equipment or operation that requires a permit and that could emit regulated air pollutants. These revisions are designed to update the District’s current NSR permitting program to reflect recent regulatory mandates, and to simplify the permitting process while maintaining an equally stringent rule set, among other changes.
The NSR revisions will apply in Santa Barbara County, in California State Tideland waters, and on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) within 25 miles of the coast of Santa Barbara County. California State Tidelands are coastal waters within three miles of the coastline.
The District Board is a lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the NSR revisions, and will use the EIR in its decision-making process when it considers whether to adopt the proposed revisions to District rules. No significant environmental impacts were identified for the NSR revisions; therefore, no mitigation measures are included in the EIR.
Public Review
The Draft EIR for the NSR revisions will be available for review and comment for 45 days beginning on April 27, 2016. The Draft EIR will be available at public libraries in Santa Maria, Buellton, Lompoc, Goleta, Santa Barbara, UCSB, on this website on the Rules Currently Under Development webpage and at the following two locations:
Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District
260 N. San Antonio Road Suite A
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
805.961.8800
Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District
301 E. Cook Street Suite L
Santa Maria, CA 93454
805.961.8800
In addition, a District Staff Report for the NSR revisions is available for review at the District offices listed above, as well as on the District website.
Written Comments
All written comments on the Draft EIR must be received, preferably by email, by 5:00 PM on Friday, June 10, 2016. Submit comments to Carly Barham at the District, 260 N. San Antonio Road, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, or [email protected]. For more information, please contact Carly Barham at (805) 961-8890.
to be published Sunday April 24, 2016
