Proposed Amended Rule 1138 – Control of Emissions from Restaurant Operations

Rule 1138 contains requirements to reduce emissions of particulate matter (PM), which includes PM with particle size of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from chain-driven charbroilers used in commercial cooking operations. Proposed Amended Rule 1138 (PAR 1138) partially implements Control Measure BCM-12: Further Emission Reductions from Commercial Cooking, of the South Coast Air Basin Attainment Plan for the 2012 Annual PM2.5 Standard, by establishing more stringent thresholds regarding the amount of meat cooked that would qualify an owner or operator of a chain-driven charbroiler for an exemption from certain requirements in the rule by: 1) changing the existing threshold of less than 875 pounds per week to less than 400 pounds per week; and 2) adding a new alternative threshold of less than 10,800 pounds in any continuous 12-month period while maintaining a weekly rate of less than 875 pounds. PAR 1138 also removes outdated provisions. Implementation of PAR 1138 is expected to reduce PM emissions from existing chain-driven charbroilers that would no longer qualify for the exemption by approximately 0.05 ton per day(tpd); a co-benefit of 0.02 tpd of VOC emission reductions is also expected. By contributing to the region’s attainment of state and federal PM2.5 emission standards, implementation of PAR 1138 will benefit the public and nearby communities through improved air quality and reduced exposure to harmful air pollutants from chain-driven charbroilers.