Ag air quality permit workshops still available

Oct. 15, 2010 - - Several workshops are available in the next few weeks to assist 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.
WUD has joined with a coalition of farming groups to host air permit educational workshops running through October. 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.”

A.I.R. Quality Workshops

San Joaquin County
Thu, Nov 4 • 1:00p to 4:00p
Robert J. Cabral Ag Center
2101 E Earhart Ave, Stockton

Merced County
Mon, Nov 1 • 9:30a to 12:30p
UCC Extension Classroom
2145 W Wardrobe Ave, Merced

Tulare County (2 workshops)
Tue, Nov 9 • 9:30a to 12:30p
County Ag Center Auditorium
4437 S. Laspina, Tulare

Kings County (2 workshops)
Wed, Oct 27 • 9:30a to 12:30p
Wed, Oct 27 • 1:00p to 4:00p
Hanford Fraternal Hall
1015 North 10th Ave, Hanford

Kern County (2 workshops)
Thu, Oct 28 • 9:30a to 12:30p
Thu, Oct 28 • 1:00p to 4:00p
Kern Agriculture Pavilion
3300 E Belle Terrace, Bakersfield