From: GINSBURG Andy
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 5:24 PM
To: [All DEQ] AQ Staff
Cc: (All DEQ) Executive Management Team
Subject: FYI: EQC Air Quality Items

Dear AQ Staff –

We had another very successful Environmental Quality Commission meeting yesterday and today.

1.  Federal Emission Standards Rule Adoption. Jerry Ebersole gets the award for presenting the most wide ranging rule package of the year! The key element was adoption of national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants from a variety of smaller sources (known as area sources), many of which are small businesses. Of these, the requirements for gasoline stations stands out because it will significantly reduce exposure to benzene (which can cause leukemia). The gasoline dispensing rule requires recovery of vapors that otherwise leak when fuel is delivered to the gas stations, and it applies to many more tanks than the federal rule. Our rule also prohibits “topping off” during fueling, which causes extra emissions from spills. In addition to these rules, the package included stringent new requirements for toxic air pollutants from the municipal waste combustor in Brooks, responded to court-ordered changes in federal rules and adopted several new General Permits. The Commission had a lively discussion about several topics in the rulemaking, and Jerry did a great job of explaining our reasoning. In the end, the Commission adopted the package unanimously. Thanks also to Sarah Armitage, who did much of the work for the gasoline dispensing rules, and Uri Papish, the lead manager for this rulemaking.

Andy