Learn about the Air District's development process for Regulation 13, Rule 3, which would reduce emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds from composting operations in the Bay Area.
Find out about the status and anticipated timeline of the rule development process. Information on hearings, workshops, and other events is provided below, along with supporting documents and materials.
The Air District is developing a new rule to address emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds from composting facilities. Draft Regulation 13, Rule 3: Composting Operations aims to minimize these emissions, and is part of the Air District's Basin-Wide Methane Strategy (as outlined in the 2017 Clean Air Plan).
At a series of workshops held in late 2018, the Air District presented initial rule concepts for Rule 13-3, along with other rule development efforts addressing emissions from the Organic Recovery Sector. In June 2019, the Air District hosted another series of workshops on Climate Pollutants and presented a workshop report and draft version of Rule 13-2: Organic Material Handling and Composting Operations. The Air District received extensive comment from the affected industry, organic recovery advocacy groups, and municipal partners requesting further engagement to improve the draft Rule.
The Air District, in consideration of comments received, will be separating the draft Rule into two rule development efforts: draft Rule 13-2: Organic Material Handling Operations and draft Rule 13-3: Composting Operations.
Draft Rule 13-3 will be further developed, with a second round of workshops in the second quarter of 2020 and an anticipated date for consideration by the Board of Directors in the fourth quarter of 2020.
The scope of draft Rule 13-2 will be limited to Material Recovery Facilities, Transfer Stations, and Chip and Grind facilities. Staff will be issuing a call for comments to the affected industries in mid-November of 2019 and will continue to develop the draft Rule for consideration by the Board of Directors in March/April of 2020.
Hearings, Workshops and Other Events
Throughout the rule development process, we provide information on upcoming and past workshops, hearings, and other events.
A series of workshops on the development of Rule 13-3 and other rule development activity for climate pollutants, odors, VOCs, and toxics was held in late 2018.
Documents
Supporting materials, such as staff reports, regulatory language, and other technical documents related to rule development, are posted throughout the development process.
Comments
The Air District provides opportunities for the public to submit input throughout the development process, and posts comments received during the open public comment periods.