On Wednesday, November 27, 2002, the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District will conduct a public hearing to consider amendments to Regulation 8, Rule 18: Equipment Leaks and approval of a Notice of Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The hearing will be held in the 7th floor Board Room at the District Office, located at 939 Ellis Street, San Francisco. The Board meeting will commence at 9:30 a.m.

Regulation 8, Rule 18 regulates organic compound leaks from valves, flanges, connectors, pumps, compressors, pressure relief valves, and other equipment at Bay Area refineries, chemical plants, bulk plants, and bulk terminals. The proposed amendments would correct a minor oversight in the rule noted by US EPA in their limited approval/limited disapproval of the rule (66 Fed. Reg. 51568, October 10, 2001). The proposed amendments would explicitly require EPA approval of alternative compliance plans and are intended to allow EPA to fully approve the rule into the California State Implementation Plan for the national ozone standard.

The District has determined that these amendments to Regulation 8, Rule 18 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). The amendments are administrative in nature and can be seen with certainty to have no environmental impacts because they do not in themselves affect air emissions from any sources or operations subject to the rule. The District intends to file a Notice of Exemption pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15062.

This notice, the proposed amendments to Regulation 8, Rule 18, a draft staff report, and EPA's Federal Register notice are available on the District's website at www.baaqmd.gov. Copies are also available by calling Victor Douglas at (415) 749-4752. Written comments on the proposal should be directed to Victor Douglas, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 939 Ellis Street, San Francisco, California 94109, or by e-mail to vdouglas@baaqmd.gov. Written comments must be received by the District prior to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 11, 2002.