• Posting Speed Limit Signs on Unpaved Roads: Effective October 1, 2005, public agencies must establish a maximum speed limit of 25 miles per hour for the unpaved roads under their jurisdictions. This requirement applies to the unpaved road segments where vehicle traffic reaches or exceeds 26 annual average dally trips (AADT). At a minimum, agencies are to post at least one speed limit sign in each direction for every mile of unpaved road located within an urban area, and one sign in each direction for every two miles of unpaved road within a rural area. For example, an unpaved road located within an urban area that is ½ mile long and exceeds 26 AADT requires at least one sign posted in each direction.
The unpaved surface must be maintained in a stabilized condition at all times in order to control fugitive emissions.
• Paving Existing Unpaved Roads and Paving or Stabilizing Unpaved Shoulders: On January 1, 2005, agencies provided the District with a report listing each unpaved road located within an urban area and each paved road with unpaved shoulders within urban and rural areas. On July 1, 2005, agencies provided a report listing each unpaved road located within a rural area. These reports include the length in miles and the AADT for each subject road and unpaved shoulder within the agency's jurisdiction.
As of January 1, 2005, agencies are to pave an annual average of 20 percent of the unpaved roads listed in their urban area unpaved road report, thereby paving 100 percent of these unpaved roads by January 1, 2010. This requirement does not apply to rural unpaved roads.
In urban areas, agencies are to pave or stabilize at least four-feet of unpaved shoulders on at least 50 percent of the existing paved roadways having the highest AADT. In rural areas, this is required on at least 25 percent of the existing paved roadways with the highest AADT. Compliance with these provisions must be complete by January 1, 2010.
If an agency cannot meet these provisions due to budgetary constraints, a statement of financial hardship must be submitted to the District and the USEPA for review and approval. • Incremental Progress Reports: Due on April 1 of each year, from 2006 through 2010, agencies must report their incremental progress to the District by reporting the total miles of urban unpaved roads that were paved over the previous calendar year, the total miles of unpaved shoulders that were paved or stabilized over the previous calendar year, and the percentage of cumulative miles treated relative to the For more information please contact the Compliance Department of the District office nearest to you.
Information on Regulation VIII is available on the District's website at:
www.valleyair.org
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San Joaquin Valley
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT
COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE BULLETIN
April 2007
Fugitive Dust Control at Construction Sites: New Requirements Peerationg tv, dust, and paulary libis in se istics Rules and Regulations apply to many acties that Fruitated sees he bear by also ander here ol as be asted at consteinsteipment ram.
The District adopted Regulation VIll in 1993 and its most recent amendments became effective on October 1, 2004. This is a basic summary of the regulation's requirements as they apply to construction sites.
These regulations affect all workers at a regulated construction site, including everyone from the landowner to the subcontractors. Violations of Regulation VIll are subject to enforcement action including fines.
Visible Dust Emissions (VDE) may not exceed 20% opacity during periods when soil is being disturbed by equipment or by wind at any time. Visible Dust Emissions opacity of 20% means dust that would obstruct an observer's view of an object by 20%. District inspectors are state certified to evaluate visible emissions. Dust control may be achieved by applying water before/during earthwork and onto unpaved traffic areas, phasing work to limit dust, and setting up wind fences to limit wind blown dust.
Soil Stabilization is required at regulated construction sites after normal working hours and on weekends and holidays.
This requirement also applies to inactive construction areas such as phased projects where disturbed land is left unattended. Applying water to form a visible crust on the soil and restricting vehicle access are often effective for short- term stabilization of disturbed surface areas. Long-term methods including applying dust suppressants and establishing vegetative cover.
the exit point onto a paved road. The appropriate clean-up methods require the complete removal and cleanup of mud and dirt from the paved surface and shoulder. Using a blower device or dry sweeping with any mechanical device other than a PM10-efficient street sweeper is a violation. Larger construction sites, or sites with a high amount of traffic on one or more days, must prevent carryout and trackout from occurring by installing gravel pads, grizzlies, wheel washers, paved interior roads, or a combination thereof at each exit point from the site. In many cases, cleaning up trackout with water is also prohibited as it may lead to plugged storm drains. Prevention is the best method.
Unpaved Access and Haul Roads, as well as unpaved vehicle and equipment traffic areas at construction sites must have dust control. Speed limit signs limiting vehicle speed to 15 mph or less at construction sites must be posted every 500 feet on uncontrolled and unpaved roads.
orthern Region Offic Central Region Office Southern Region Office BO0 Enterprise W 1990 East Gettysburg Avenu 2700 "M" Street, Suite 279 Modesto, CA 95356-8718 Fresno, CA 93726-0244 Bakersfield, CA 93301-2373 (209) 557-6400 • FAX (209) 557-6475 (559) 230-6000 • FAX (559) 230-6062 (661) 326-6900 • FAX (661) 326-6985 122
torage Piles and Bulk Materials have handling, storage, and transportation requirements that include applying wate hen handling materials, wetting or covering stored materials, and installing wind barriers to limit VDE. Also, limitir ehicle speeds, loading haul trucks with a freeboard of six inches or greater along with applying water to the top of th ad, and covering the cargo compartments are effective measures for reducing VDE and carryout from vehicle transporting bulk materials.
Demolition activities require the application of water to the exterior of the buildings and to unpaved surfaces where materials may fall. A Dust Control Plan will be required for large demolition projects. Consider all structures slated for demolition as possibly being regulated due to potential asbestos, per District Rule 4002 - National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Contact the District well before starting because a 10 working-day notice will likely be required before a demolition can begin.
Dust Control Plans identify the dust sources and describe the dust control measures that will be implemented before, during, and after any dust generating activity for the duration of the project. Owners or operators are required to submi plans to the District at least 30 days prior to commencing the work for the following Residential developments of ten or more acres of disturbed surface area. : Non-residential developments of five or more acres of disturbed surface area. • The relocation of more than 2,500 cubic yards per day of materials on at least three days.
Operations may not commence until the District has approved the Dust Control Plan. A copy of the plan must be on site and available to workers and District employees. All work on the site is subject to the requirements of the approved dust control plan. A failure to abide by the plan by anyone on site may be subject to enforcement action.
Owners or operators of construction projects that are at least one acre in size and where a Dust Control Plan is not required, must provide written notification to the District at least 48 hours in advance of any earthmoving activity. neasure is used.
ontrols such as applying long term dust palliatives, vegetation, ground cover materials, paving, or other durabl matenals. ecords must be kept for one year after the end of dust generating activities (Title V sources must kee records for five years).
Exemptions exist for several activities. Those occurring above 3,000 feet in elevation are exempt from all Regulation VIII requirements. Further, Rule 8021 - Construction, Demolition, Excavation, Extraction, and Other Earthmoving Activities exempts the following construction and earthmoving activities:
Blasting activities permitted by California Division of Industrial Safety. : Maintenance or remodeling of existing buildings provided the addition is less than 50% of the size of the existing building or less than 10,000 square feet (due to asbestos concerns, contact the District at least two weeks ahead of time).
• Additions to single family dwellings.
• The disking of weeds and vegetation for fire prevention on sites smaller than ½ acre. • Spreading of daily landill cover to preserve public health and safety and to comply with California Integrated Waste Management Board requirements.
uisances are prohibited at all times because District Rule 4102 - Nuisance applies to all construction sources of fugiti dust, whether or not they are exempt from Regulation VIII. It is important to monitor dust-generating activities ar implement appropriate dust control measures to limit the public's exposure to fugitive dust.
For more information please contact the Compliance Division of the District office nearest to you. Information on Regulation VIll, where you may obtain copies of record keeping forms, the Dust Control Plan template, and the Construction Notification form, is available on the District's website at:
www.valleyair.org, under Compliance Assistance/Dust Control. 123