Hearing Board Orders

 

Effective:
June 25, 2007, to July 1, 2008

 

Petition No. 782-1 – Modified Stipulated Conditional Order of Abatement
Petitioner: Ventura County APCD
Respondent: United Water Conservation District
106 North 8th Street
Santa Paula, CA 93060
Rule 10 Permits Required
Rule 26.2 New Source Review - Requirements
Best Available Control Technology – (BACT)


United Water’s operation involves the pumping of groundwater for sale to agricultural operations in the Oxnard Plain. United Water operates five natural gas-fired internal combustion engines to pump water. The engines operate at five separate locations within Ventura County on the Oxnard Plain.

The engines release oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions when they operate. The engines are required to have a District Permit to Operate and meet Best Available Control Technology (BACT) requirements for the NOx emissions. United Water has been operating the five engines without District Permits to Operate and the engines cannot meet the BACT emission limits for NOx.

United Water is replacing the natural-gas fired pumps with electric pumps, thereby eliminating the NOx emissions and the requirement to obtain APCD Permits to Operate.

On May 22, 2006, the APCD Hearing Board issued Stipulated Conditional Order of Abatement No. 782 which allowed United Water to continue operating the engines as long as certain conditions set forth in the Order were met. Condition 3 required that 2 of the 5 engines be converted to electric power by July 1, 2007.

On April 5, 2007, United Water informed the District that due to equipment delays, they could not meet Condition 3 which requires that the conversion of 2 engines be completed by July 1, 2007. United Water requested a modification of Condition 3.

On June 25, 2007, the APCD Hearing Board issued Modified Stipulated Conditional Order of Abatement No. 782-1 which allows United Water to continue operating the engines as long as certain conditions set forth in the Order are met. If the conditions are not met, the Order will compel United Water to cease and desist operation of its five engines.

United Water’s facilities are not major stationary sources as defined by Environmental Protection Agency criteria.

 

 

Effective:
May 21, 2007

 

Petition No. 794 –Order of Abatement

 
Petitioner: Ventura County APCD

 
Respondent: Stir Crazy Coffee
11534 North Ventura Avenue
Ojai, California

 
District Rule 51, Nuisance

 
California Health and Safety Code Section 40700, Prohibited Discharges

 

Stir Crazy Coffee is a retail coffee house that sells coffee and espresso drinks and food products. Stir Crazy Coffee roasts green coffee beans in a coffee roasting machine; the roasted coffee beans are used in their coffee drinks and for retail sale.

Stir Crazy Coffee roasts green coffee beans in a 12 pound capacity Primo Coffee Roaster; during the coffee roasting process offensive vapors are generated. Stir Crazy Coffee has been the source of numerous odor complaints since 2002. The coffee roaster does not require an APCD Permit to Operate.

The Air Pollution Control District (District) petitioned for an Order of Abatement against Stir Crazy Coffee for violations of APCD Rule 51, Nuisance, and California Health and Safety Code Section 40700, Prohibited Discharges.

On May 21, 2007, the APCD Hearing Board issued an Order of Abatement which compels Stir Crazy Coffee to cease and desist from roasting coffee beans.

The facility is not a major stationary source as defined by Environmental Protection Agency criteria.

 

 

Effective:
January 22, 2007 to September 30, 2007

 

Petition No. 790, Regular Variance

 
Petitioner City of Simi Valley
2929 Tapo Canyon Road
Simi Valley, California

 
Facility Water Quality Control Plant
600 West Los Angeles Avenue
Simi Valley, California

 
Rule 29.C, Conditions on Permits -
Violation of Permit Condition 17

 
California Code of Regulations, Section 93115, Title 17 Air Toxic Control Measure for
Stationary Compression Ignition Engines

 

 

The City operates a stationary diesel engine at its Water Quality Control Plant. The engine provides power to the plant during periods of electrical power interruptions. The engine is also is enrolled in an Interruptible Service Contract with the Southern California Edison Company and the City is contractually required to operate the engine when directed by the California ISO. The engine does not meet particulate matter emission standards set by the City’s permit and section 93115, title 17, California Code of Regulations.

 

On September 11, 2006, the Hearing Board granted a short variance to the City of Simi Valley (“City”) which authorized the use of a non-compliant engine, when directed by the California Independent System Operator (“ISO”), until December 2006. After December 1, 2006, the City agreed to come in to compliance by either terminating their Interruptible Service Contract or installing an engine that meets the emission standards.

 

On November 21, 2006, the City filed a petition for a regular variance to allow use of a non-compliant engine, when directed by the California ISO, until September 2007.

 

On January 22, 2007, the Hearing Board granted a regular variance to the City which authorized the use of a non-compliant engine, when directed by the California ISO, until September 2007. The City plans to install a compliant engine that meets the diesel particulate emission standards.

 

The facility is not a major stationary source as defined by Environmental Protection Agency criteria.

 

 

Effective:
April 30, 2007 to July 2, 2007

 

Petition No. 789-1 – Extension to Regular Variance Order 789
Petitioner City of Thousand Oaks.
2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

 
Facility Mailing Address Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant
9600 Santa Rosa Road
Camarillo, CA 93012

 
Facility Location On Hill Canyon Road
2 miles from the Santa Rosa Road turnoff
Thousand Oaks, CA

 
Rule 29.C Conditions on Permits – Violation of Permit Conditions

 

The City of Thousand Oaks operates a Superior Boiler, rated at 2.5 million Btu per hour (MMBtu/hr), and a Sur-Lite flare rated at 7.5 MMBtu/hr to combust methane gas produced by three anaerobic digesters at the Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant. Without this boiler and flare, digester gas would be released to the atmosphere. The Plant’s Permit to Operate limits the amount of gas to be burned in the boiler and flare to 45 billion Btu per 12-month rolling period. More methane gas is being produced by the digesters than was originally predicted. As a result, the facility has exceeded the permit limit for the volume of gas allowed to be combusted.

 

On December 18, 2006, the APCD Hearing Board granted a regular variance from District Rule 29.C, Conditions on Permits - Violation of Permit Condition 2. The variance authorized the City of Thousand Oaks to continue operating a boiler and flare at the Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant in excess of the permit limit while cogeneration engines were installed at the facility. The cogeneration engines will burn digester gas to generate electricity and heat for the facility.

 

On March 16, 2007, City of Thousand Oaks, submitted a petition for an extension to the previously granted regular variance. The cogeneration engines had been expected to be operational no later than April 30, 2007. Due to delays, the cogeneration engines are now expected to be operational no later than July 2, 2007.

 

On April 30, 2007, the Hearing Board granted the City of Thousand Oaks an extension to Regular Variance Order Number 789. The variance authorizes the City of Thousand Oaks to continue operating a boiler and flare at the Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant in excess of the permit limit while cogeneration engines are installed at the facility. When the cogeneration engines become operational, the boiler and flare will be converted to standby.

 

The facility is not a major stationary source as defined by Environmental Protection Agency criteria.