Public hearing on proposed amendments to air quality regulations for metalworking fluids.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED ADOPTION OF, OR AMENDMENT TO, THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT RE: Proposed Amended Rule 1144 Metalworking Fluids and Direct-Contact Lubricants NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVENthat a public hearing on the matter of adoption of rules and regulations for the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), or the amendments thereto, will be held on Friday, April 3, 2026 in the Dr. William A. Burke Auditorium at South Coast AQMD, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765, at 9:00 a.m., at which time evidence will be taken and all interested persons will be heard by the South Coast AQMD Governing Board. The meeting will be conducted through a hybrid format of in-person and/or virtual attendance via videoconferencing and by telephone with opportunities for public comment. Please refer to the instructions on South Coast AQMD's website for details on how to participate: http://www.aqmd.gov/home/news-events/meeting-agendas-minutes. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the South Coast AQMD is considering the adoption of Proposed Amended Rule 1144 Metalworking Fluids and Direct-Contact Lubricants (PAR 1144). The objective of PAR 1144 is to phase out two compounds that could be used in metalworking fluids or direct-contact lubricants, para-Chlorobenzotrifluoride (pCBtF) and tert-Butyl Acetate (t-BAc), which were determined to have carcinogenic health effects by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. PAR 1144 prohibits the manufacture, sale, and use of metalworking fluids and lubricants with more than trace levels of these solvents at future effective dates. In addition, PAR 1144 establishes prohibitions of other toxic compounds in metalworking fluids and lubricants, includes provisions to ensure enforceability, and incorporates revisions for clarity. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that Proposed Amended Rule 1144 will not be submitted for inclusion into the State Implementation Plan. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a written analysis pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 40727.2 has been prepared that identifies all existing federal air pollution control requirements, all South Coast AQMD existing and proposed rules and regulations, and all pollution control requirements and guidelines that apply to the same equipment or source type as the rule proposed for amendment. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15002(k) and 15061, PAR 1144 is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3). A Notice of Exemption will be prepared pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15062, and if the proposed project is approved, the Notice of Exemption will be filed for posting with the county clerks of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and the State Clearinghouse of the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the South Coast AQMD staff will prepare and make available the following documents on or before March 3, 2026, for consideration by the South Coast AQMD Governing Board, including: - Draft PAR 1144 - Draft Staff Report for PAR 1144 - Draft Comparative Analysis for PAR 1144, included in the Draft Staff Report NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the above documents, upon release, may be obtained from the South Coast AQMD website at https://www.aqmd.gov/home/rules-compliance/rules/scaqmd-rule-book/proposed-rules/rule-1144, or by calling the South Coast AQMD's Public Information Center at (909) 396-2001, or from: Lisa Tanaka Deputy Executive Officer/Public Advisor, South Coast AQMD, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765, (909) 396-2432, publicadvisor@aqmd.gov. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that at the conclusion of the public hearing, consistent with Health and Safety Code Section 40726, the South Coast AQMD Governing Board may make other modifications to PAR 1144, which are justified by the evidence presented, or may decline to adopt some or all of the proposed amendments. Please direct questions, comments, or requests for clarification regarding PAR 1144 to Jose Enriquez, jenriquez1@aqmd.gov, (909) 396-2640; CEQA inquiries to Sina Taghvaee, Ph.D., staghvaee@aqmd.gov, (909) 396-2192; and Socioeconomic Impact Assessment inquiries to Valerie Rivera, vrivera@aqmd.gov, (909) 396-3007. Comments and inquiries can also be submitted to the attention of the above person(s) to Planning, Rule Development and Implementation, South Coast AQMD, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. Interested persons may provide oral and written statements at the Public Hearing. Twenty-five (25) copies of all hard copy written materials must be submitted to the Clerk of the Boards. Individuals who wish to submit written or electronic comments must submit such comments to the Clerk of the Boards, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-4178, (909) 396-2500, or to cob@aqmd.gov on or before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Please note that under the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code Section 7920.000 et seq.) your written and oral comments, attachments, and associated contact information (e.g. your address, phone, email, etc.) become part of the public record and can be released to the public on request, or posted on the South Coast AQMD website. Americans with Disabilities Act and Language Accessibility Disability and language-related accommodations can be requested to allow participation in the Governing Board meeting. The agenda will be made available, upon request, in appropriate alternative formats to assist persons with a disability (Gov. Code Section 54954.2(a)). In addition, other documents may be requested in alternative formats and languages. Any disability or language related accommodation must be requested as soon as practicable. Requests will be accommodated unless providing the accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration or undue burden to the South Coast AQMD. Please contact the Clerk of the Boards, South Coast AQMD, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-4178, at (909) 396-2500 (for TTY, 909-396-3560) from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, or send the request to cob@aqmd.gov. DATED: February 19, 2026 Faye Thomas Clerk of the Boards 3/3/26 IVDB-4015509# INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN/LA