Features Regional Regulations
Air quality permit workshops still available

November 3, 2010 – Several
workshops are available in the next few weeks to assist California dairy and
other agricultural producers with new air quality requirements.
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workshops are available in the next few weeks to assist California dairy and
other agricultural producers with new air quality requirements.

The San Joaquin Valley Air
Pollution Control District has changed its attainment status to extreme (the
worst possible status) with the result that many smaller farming operations now
fall under emission permitting thresholds. The major source threshold has
dropped from 25 tons per year of NOx and VOC emissions to 10 tons per year.

Agriculture facilities
have been required to obtain air permits with emissions of half the major
source threshold, so the new rules mean that the permit threshold for
agricultural sources is now 5 tons per year for NOx and VOCs. The immediate
impact for Central Valley dairies is that those with herds of approximately 175
cows or more will be subject to district air permit requirements.

Western United Dairymen has joined with a
coalition of farming groups to host air permit educational workshops. Paul
Martin, WUD director of environmental services, explained, “These workshops
will provide a one-stop shop to get information on the new requirements. WUD
staff will be on hand at all workshops to help answer questions. Other rules
that apply to dairies, such as those for fuel storage and diesel pumps, will be
explained as well.”

WUD members are encouraged
to contact their local field representative for assistance in filling out the
air quality permit applications by the Dec. 10, 2010 deadline.

A.I.R. Quality Workshops:

• San Joaquin County, Nov 4,
  1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Robert J. Cabral Ag Center, 2101 E Earhart Ave, Stockton
• Tulare County, Nov 9, 9:30
  a.m. to 12:30 p.m., County Ag Center Auditorium, 4437 S. Laspina, Tulare