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Best Available Retrofit Control Technology (BARCT)

BARCT is an air emissions limit that applies to existing stationary sources of emissions and is the maximum degree of reduction achievable, taking into account environmental, energy, and economic impacts by each class or category of source.

Under Assembly Bill 617, air districts in non-attainment areas are required to adopt, by January 1, 2019, an expedited schedule to implement the most current BARCT limits on industrial sources that are subject to the AB 32 Cap-and-Trade program by December 31, 2023. Unlike many other air districts, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has adopted BARCT rules on an ongoing basis to reduce emissions from existing sources of particular source categories. These requirements are set considering feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and the nature and severity of the air quality challenge.

Process and Timeline for Expedited Review of BARCT Requirements

As a part of the public process associated with establishing the Expedited BARCT Implementation Schedule, the District conducted a public scoping meeting on June 14, 2018, to solicit input from stakeholders regarding the District’s proposed methodology to address the AB 617 requirement to adopt an expedited BARCT analysis schedule.  The District then held a public workshop on November 1, 2018, to solicit further input from the stakeholders regarding the District’s proposed BARCT implementation schedule.  Then, on December 20, 2018 the District’s Governing Board approved the Expedited BARCT Implementation Schedule as required under AB 617. 

For all rules where further analysis is required to determine whether a District rule meets BARCT, the District will engage in a robust public process to assess specific air pollution control technologies associated with each rule, taking into account the local public health and clean air benefits to the community, the air quality and attainment benefits of each control option, and the cost effectiveness of each control option. Based on the BARCT assessment, the District will proceed with any necessary rule amendments through additional public processes to implement BARCT.

Additional information associated with the District’s expedited review of BARCT:

The California Air Resources Board maintains a clearinghouse of air pollution control technologies associated with the statewide BARCT evaluation process at the following website:

Expedited BARCT Implementation Schedule
Rule Title Determination Status Determination Schedule Anticipated District Rule
Adoption Date (if necessary)
4454 Refinery Process Unit Turnaround Removed from Schedule - Rule Meets BARCT 2019 N/A
4641 Cutback, Slow Cure, And Emulsified Asphalt, Paving And Maintenance Operations Removed from Schedule - Rule Meets BARCT 2019 N/A
4104 Reduction of Animal Matter Removed from Schedule - Rule Meets BARCT 2019 N/A
4409 Components at Light Crude Oil Production Facilities, Natural Gas Production Facilities, and Natural Gas Processing Facilities Completed - BARCT Rule Adopted 2019 6/15/2023
4455 Components at Petroleum Refineries, Gas Liquids Processing Facilities, and Chemical Plants Completed - BARCT Rule Adopted 2019 6/15/2023
4702 Internal Combustion Engines (VOC only) Completed - BARCT Rule Adopted 2020 08/19/2021
4623 Storage of Organic Liquids Completed - BARCT Rule Adopted 2020 06/15/2023
4694 Wine Fermentation and Storage Tanks Removed from Schedule - Emission Units Exempt from Schedule under CH&SC § 40920.6(c)(3) 2020 N/A
4624 Transfer of Organic Liquid Completed - BARCT Rule Adopted 2020 6/15/2023
4603 Surface Coating of Metal Parts and Products, Plastic Parts and Products, and Pleasure Crafts Removed from Schedule - Rule Meets BARCT 2020 N/A
4601 Architectural Coatings Completed - BARCT Rule Adopted 2020 04/16/2020
4401 Steam-Enhanced Crude Oil Production Wells Completed - BARCT Rule Adopted 2021 6/15/2023
4566 Organic Material Composting Operations Removed from Schedule - Emission Units Exempt from Schedule under CH&SC § 40920.6(c)(3) 2021 N/A
4625 Wastewater Separators Removed from Schedule - Rule Meets BARCT 2022 N/A
4621 Gasoline Transfer Into Stationary Storage Containers, Delivery Vessels, and Bulk Plant Removed from Schedule - Emission Units Exempt from Schedule under CH&SC § 40920.6(c)(2) 2022 N/A
4402 Crude Oil Production Sumps Completed - BARCT Rule Adopted 2022 12/21/23

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