On Wednesday, November 27, 2002, the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District will continue the public hearing begun on November 6, 2002 to review and discuss proposed amendments to Regulation 8, Rule 5: Storage of Organic Liquids. This continuation of 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 9:45 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.

The hearing on the proposed amendments has been continued to allow additional public comment on minor changes in the proposed regulatory language. These changes were made after issuance of the notice for the November 6th hearing and in response to public comments on the original proposal. The changes are discussed in the Board memorandum for the November 6th hearing.

This notice, the proposed amendments as modified by the new language (indicated in double strikethrough and double underline), 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 new language must be addressed to Julian Elliot, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, 939 Ellis Street, San Francisco, California, 94109, or to jelliot@baaqmd.gov.