Proposed Amended Rule 301 – Permitting and Associated Fees

The South Coast Air Quality Management District is implementing Proposed Amended Rule 301 to update and establish annual operating and maintenance fees for fenceline and community air monitoring systems at major petroleum refineries and related facilities. This rule applies to entities previously subject to Rule 1180 and introduces new fee structures for facilities now covered under either Rule 1180 or Rule 1180.1, ensuring the district can recover the costs of administering and maintaining these monitoring systems. While the amendment does not result in additional emissions reductions, it is designed to provide financial sustainability for ongoing regulatory enforcement across the South Coast Air Basin and portions of the Salton Sea and Mojave Desert Air Basins, with administrative changes made to improve clarity and consistency in fee application. The rule is exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15273, recognizing it as a routine fee adjustment for regulatory compliance purposes rather than a project with environmental impacts. The action is classified as a forecast with no formal solicitation, contract number, or procurement contract type, as it constitutes a regulatory amendment rather than a competitive procurement. The district is responsible for both overseeing and carrying out the rule’s implementation, with administrative support handled internally through designated staff including Farzaneh Khalaj and Albert Ochoa as primary contacts for CEQA and permitting matters. No federal acquisition regulations apply, and no standard contract clauses, payment details, delivery schedules, or evaluation criteria are present, as this is not a procurement transaction but a regulatory fee structure adjustment. The place of performance encompasses the four-county South Coast Air Quality Management District jurisdiction, and while the agency’s physical address is listed as Diamond Bar, California, no invoicing mechanisms, accounting codes, inspection protocols, or submission guidelines are outlined beyond the administrative approval date of October 3, 2025.