Learn about the Air District's process for developing amendments to Regulation 6, Rule 5, which would further reduce particulate matter emissions from petroleum refinery fluidized catalytic cracking units.
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.
Air District staff has developed proposed amendments to Regulation 6, Particulate Matter, Rule 5: Particulate Emissions from Refinery Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Units (Rule 6-5). Rule 6-5 was originally adopted by the Air District Board of Directors in December 2015, and subsequently amended in December 2018 for minor clarifications and revisions. The purpose of the current rule development effort for amendments to Rule 6-5 is to further reduce emissions of particulate matter, including condensable particulate matter, from petroleum refinery fluidized catalytic cracking units (FCCU), which are some of the largest individual sources of particulate matter emissions in the Bay Area.
This current rule development effort for amending Rule 6-5 follows previous Air District rulemaking and planning actions to address emissions from these sources. Rule 6-5 was originally adopted in 2015. The Air District’s 2017 Clean Air Plan and AB 617 Expedited Best Available Retrofit Control Technology (BARCT) Implementation Schedule identified the need to further evaluate and consider additional efforts to control particulate matter emissions from these sources.
The Air District Board of Directors initiated a public hearing on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 to consider adoption of the proposed amendments to Rule 6-5. The Board of Directors will continue the public hearing on Wednesday, July 21, 2021.
The Air District released a Notice of Public Hearing, proposed amendments to Rule 6-5, and a Staff Report in March 2021 and accepted public comments on these materials. The Air District released the Final Proposal Package, including the proposed amendments to Rule 6-5, Final Staff Report, and a Summary of Comments and Responses, as well as a Notice of Continued Public Hearing.
- Notice of Continued Public Hearing - Proposed Amendments to Regulation 6, Rule 5: Particulate Emissions from Petroleum Refinery Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Units(180 Kb PDF, 2 pgs, revised 06/17/21)
- Notice of Public Hearing - Proposed Amendments to Regulation 6, Rule 5: Particulate Emissions from Petroleum Refinery Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Units(177 Kb PDF, 2 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Board Resolution (Draft) and Proposed Amendments to Regulation 6, Rule 5: Particulate Emissions from Petroleum Refinery Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Units(218 Kb PDF, 14 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Final Staff Report - Proposed Amendments to Regulation 6, Rule 5: Particulate Emissions from Petroleum Refinery Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Units(1 Mb PDF, 54 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Final Staff Report Appendices:
- Appendix A.1: Exposure and Health Equity Assessment for Regulation 6, Rule 5(990 Kb PDF, 6 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Appendix A.2: Modeling Fine Particulate Matter Emissions from the Chevron Richmond Refinery: An Air Quality Health Impact Analysis(1 Mb PDF, 22 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Appendix A.3: Modeling Fine Particulate Matter Emissions from the PBF Martinez Refinery: An Air Quality Health Impact Analysis(1 Mb PDF, 21 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Appendix A.4: Modeling Fine Particulate Matter Emissions from the Chevron Richmond Refinery: An Air Quality Analysis(6 Mb PDF, 56 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Appendix A.5: Modeling Fine Particulate Matter Emissions from the PBF Martinez Refinery: An Air Quality Analysis(6 Mb PDF, 57 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Appendix B: Source Test Results from Petroleum Refinery FCCUs throughout the US(104 Kb PDF, 4 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Appendix C: Socioeconomic Impact Analysis – Amendments to Rule 6-5(696 Kb PDF, 20 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Appendix D: 2018 Final Environmental Impact Report – AB 617 Expedited Best Available Retrofit Control Technology Implementation Schedule(7 Mb PDF, 345 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
Supporting Documents for Responses to Comments:
- Advisory Council Particulate Matter Reduction Strategy Report(30 Mb PDF, 568 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Transportation Fuels Trends, Jet Fuel Overview, Fuel Market Changes & Potential Refinery Closure Impacts - Presentation at Board of Directors Special Meeting, May 5, 2021(1 Mb PDF, 48 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
- Board Resolution 2018-08 - Adopting Expedited BARCT Implementation Schedule(591 Kb PDF, 10 pgs, revised 05/26/21)
Information for the continued public hearing on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 can be found on this page under "Hearings, Workshops, and Other Events". Verbal comments are welcome up to the day of, and during, the Public Hearing. Please note that members of the public who commented on this item at the June 2, 2021 public hearing will not be allowed to comment on the same item again at the continued public hearing. Members of the public who did not comment on this item at the June 2 hearing will be allowed to comment at the continued public hearing.
Hearings, Workshops and Other Events
Throughout the rule development process, we provide information on upcoming and past workshops, hearings, and other events.
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 comments throughout the development process, and posts comments received during the open public comment periods.