California’s Rule 1466 to Control Toxic Particulate Emissions from Earth-Moving Operations is in Full Effect

Last July, California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) adopted Rule 1466 – Control of Particulate Emissions from Soils with Toxic Air Contaminants. The new rule was amended last December before going into effect earlier this year for all applicable earth-moving operations that take place in parts of California regulated by the SCAQMD.
 
The purpose of Rule 1466 is to minimize the amount of off-site fugitive dust emissions containing toxic air contaminants by reducing particulate emissions in the ambient air as a result of earth-moving activities. These activities include excavating, grading, handling, treating, stockpiling, transferring and removing soil that contains applicable toxic air contaminants from sites that meet the applicability requirements of subdivision.  
 
Under the conditions defined by Rule 1466, air monitoring requirements are now in place. The rule states that when earth-moving activities or vehicular movement occurs, the owner or operator shall conduct continuous direct-reading near real-time ambient monitoring of concentrations of particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM₁₀). If the PM₁₀ concentration averaged over two hours exceeds 25 micrograms per cubic meter, the owner or operator shall cease earth-moving activities, apply dust suppressant to fugitive dust sources, or implement other dust control measures as necessary until the PM₁₀ concentration is equal to or less than 25 micrograms per cubic meter averaged over 30 minutes.
 
“Rule 1466 has now been in full compliance mode for applicable earth-moving operations in California’s South Coast Air Basin for several months,” said Franco Seif, President at Clark Seif Clark (CSC).  “To help companies comply with the new requirements, CSC’s engineers and environmental specialists offer consulting services, environmental site assessments, testing for the toxic air contaminants detailed in the new rule, and air monitoring for PM₁₀.” 
 
To learn more about the testing and monitoring requirements for Rule 1466 or other environmental, occupational, air quality, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address IAQ, and environmental, health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.
 

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Paul Cochrane

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Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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