CSC FAQ

What if I encounter contaminated soil during the tank removal?  If contaminated soil is found during the tank removal process, have the soil immediately removed to an approved disposal site.  Cover the the exposed area and any piles with 20-mil plastic sheeting.  Do not excavate any additional soil beyond what is required to remove tank.  Upon receiving a Fire Department approved Remedial Action Plan, apply for either an APCD Condition exemption (Form -07a) or a permit.

Excavation projects may qualify for an exemption if they are 1,000 yd3 or less.  What about project over 1,000 yd3?  Contaminated soil excavation projects over 1,000 yd3 require an APCD permit.  If your project will be close to the 1,000 yd3 exemption threshold, you may want to apply for a permit instead of a written exemption to ensure the project is not delayed if additional contamination is discovered.

Is there a contamination threshold (mg/kg, ppmw, etc.) for determining what is included in the 1,000 yd3?  The contaminated soil exemption threshold of 1,000 yd3 applies to the amount of contaminated soil and/or potentially contaminated soil removed from the site and transported to an approved offsite disposal facility for the entire project.  It is not dependent on a certain minimum concentration of contaminants.  Overburden soil that is excavated but not removed from the site does not count towards the 1,000 yd3 exemtion threshold.

For more information or assistance, call the APCD at (805) 979-8050 or e-mail us at [email protected].

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air pollution control district logo

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District will be closed December 25 through January 1, reopening on January 2, 2026.

If you experience an air quality emergency during this time, dial 9-1-1 to reach first responders. For non-urgent matters, you can send a message via our website: https://www.ourair.org/contact-us/. We look forward to working with you in the new year. Happy Holidays!

El Distrito de Control de la Contaminación del Aire del Condado de Santa Bárbara estará cerrado del 25 de diciembre hasta el 1 de enero y reabrirá el 2 de enero del 2026. Si tiene una emergencia de calidad del aire durante este tiempo, marque al 9-1-1 para comunicarse con los primeros auxilios. Para asuntos que no sean urgentes, puede enviar un mensaje a través de nuestra página de internet: https://www.ourair.org/contacto/?lang=es. Esperamos trabajar con usted en el nuevo año. ¡Felices Fiestas!