On Wednesday, November 6, 2002, the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District will conduct a public hearing to review and discuss proposed amendments to Regulation 8, Rule 5: Storage of Organic Liquids. The public hearing will be held in the 7th floor Board Room at the District Office at 939 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA. Board meetings commence at 9:30 a.m.

Regulation 8, Rule 5 regulates the storage of organic liquids in order to reduce emissions of compounds that form ozone in the lower atmosphere. The rule primarily affects petroleum refineries, chemical plants, and bulk gasoline distribution facilities. The proposed amendments are intended to implement control measure SS-12 from the Bay Area 2001 Ozone Attainment Plan. The amendments impose more stringent standards for tank fittings and operating practices and require more frequent tank inspections. The amendments are also intended to address EPA’s limited approval/limited disapproval of the rule (see 66 Fed. Reg. 51568, October 10, 2001) and allow EPA to fully approve the rule into the California State Implementation Plan for the national ozone standard.

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code § 21000 et seq.), an initial study for the proposed amendments to Regulation 8, Rule 5 has been conducted, concluding that the proposed amendments would not have significant adverse environmental impacts. Notice is hereby given that the District intends to adopt a negative declaration for the proposed amendments pursuant to Public Resources Code § 21080(c) and CEQA Guidelines 15070 et seq.

This notice, the proposed amendments, the initial study and negative declaration, and a staff report are available on the District’s website at www.baaqmd.gov. Copies of these documents are also available for review at the address below or by calling Lilia Martinez at (415) 749-4664. If you have any questions regarding the proposed amendments, please contact Julian Elliot at (415) 749-4705, or, by e-mail, at jelliot@baaqmd.gov.

Written comments on the proposed amendments or negative declaration must be addressed to Julian Elliot, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 939 Ellis Street, San Francisco, California, 94109, or to jelliot@baaqmd.gov. Comments will be received during the period from Monday, October 7 until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 28, 2002.