The proposed amendments will increase all District fees in Regulation 3 by 5.3 percent effective July 1, 2002. This proposed increase is equal to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the California Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose) for 2001, as reported by the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Statistics and Research. The proposed amendments will also impose a new fee for transfer of an air permit to a new owner, increase the fee for a duplicate permit, and require permit applicants to pay the costs incurred by the District in performing, preparing, or reviewing an environmental evaluation required pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. These proposed amendments are authorized by Health & Safety Code Sections 42311(a), 42311(g), 42311.5, and 41512.5.

The District has determined that these amendments to Regulation 3 are exempt from provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, Sections 15061, subd. (b)(3) and 15273. The amendments increase District fees that are used to meet District operating expenses. In addition, the amendments are administrative in nature, do not affect air emissions from any sources, and can be seen with certainty to have no possibility of causing significant environmental effects. The District intends to file a Notice of Exemption pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15062.

The proposed changes to Regulation 3 are available on the District’s web site at www.baaqmd.gov. Copies are also available by calling Bertha Garlow at (415) 749-4767. Interested persons are invited to send written comments regarding this proposed rulemaking to Bill de Boisblanc, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 939 Ellis Street, San Francisco, California 91409, telephone (415) 749-4704, or electronically to wdeboisblanc@baaqmd.gov. Written comments must be received by the District prior to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 22, 2002.