Notice of Board Hearing

To be published September 20, 2011

Proposed Amended Rule 352, Natural Gas-Fired Fan-Type Central Furnaces and Small Water Heaters

Thursday, October 20, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.
or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard
Board of Supervisors Hearing Room
105 East Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, California 93101

General Project Description

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (District) Board of Directors will hold a public hearing at the time and location listed above to accept comments and consider adoption of Proposed Amended Rule 352, Natural Gas-Fired Fan-Type Central Furnaces and Small Water Heaters.  The revision is being done as a result of a 2010 Clean Air Plan commitment to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) from small water heaters.

Sources Potentially Affected

The proposed revision to Rule 352 affects any person who manufactures, supplies, sells, offers for sale, installs, or solicits the installation of any natural gas-fired water heaters for use in Santa Barbara County.  This rule applies to water heaters that are less than 75,000 British thermal units per hour in size.

Public Comment

The District is soliciting comments on the project.  You may submit written comments to the project manager identified below.

Project Details

The District’s Rule 352 regulates NOx emissions from natural gas-fired central furnaces and small water heaters with a heat input rating less than 75,000 British thermal units (Btu) per hour.  Rule 352 is a point-of-sale rule.   The 2010 Clean Air Plan includes a commitment for the District to adopt a control measure for natural gas-fired small water heaters subject to Rule 352 by reducing the current NOx limit of 55 parts per million (ppm) to 15 ppm.  Proposed amended Rule 352 fulfills this commitment.  The NOx emission limits for natural gas-fired fan-type central furnaces subject to Rule 352 will not be affected by this rule revision, and will remain at 55 ppm.

Environmental Review Findings

Proposed Amended Rule 352 has been examined in the Environmental Impact Report for the 2010 Clean Air Plan, which concluded that the implementation of revised Rule 352 would not result in any significant environmental impacts.

Document Availability

A copy of the proposed revised rule may be downloaded for review from the District?s web site, from this page.  Hard copies will be made available upon request.

How to Comment

Written comments should be submitted to the project manager, Rebecca Armstrong, by email at [email protected], or by mail at Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, 260 N. San Antonio Rd, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93110, Attention:  Rebecca Armstrong.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations to participate in the meeting should contact the District at least three working days prior to the scheduled meeting.

Published Tuesday, September 20, 2011


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