Proposed Amended Rule 1401 – New Source Review of Toxic Air Contaminants

The South Coast Air Quality Management District is implementing Proposed Amended Rule 1401 (PAR 1401) to update health-risk-based permitting requirements for new, modified, or relocated equipment emitting toxic air contaminants (TACs). This initiative incorporates updated risk values from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), adding nine new compounds to the Table I list of TACs, introducing a new reference exposure level for an existing compound, and establishing 8-hour chronic hazard index requirements. The rule also removes outdated tentative risk values from Table II to better align with current risk assessment procedures. These updates are designed to enhance health protective measures for workers, nearby receptors, and surrounding communities by minimizing TAC emissions and reducing associated exposure risks. The project is located within the South Coast Air Quality Management District's jurisdiction, covering the South Coast Air Basin, including all of Orange County and non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, as well as specific portions of the Salton Sea and Mojave Desert Air Basins. While the requirements will not be applied retroactively to existing equipment, new or modified equipment emitting polymeric Hexamethylene Diisocyanate (HDI), para-chlorobenzotrifluoride (pCBtF), or tertiary butyl acetate (t-BAc) may require the installation of enhanced air pollution control equipment to obtain an operating permit. The project was filed on August 7, 2026, and has been granted a Common Sense Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as it is not expected to have significant adverse environmental effects.