Public hearing on proposed air quality rules and regulations.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED ADOPTION OF, OR AMENDMENT TO, THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT RE: Proposed Rule 444.1 - Particulate Matter Emission Reductions from Forestry and Agricultural Waste Proposed Amended Rule 401 - Visible Emissions Proposed Amended Rule 404 - Particulate Matter - Concentration Proposed Amended Rule 405 - Solid Particulate Matter - Weight Proposed Amended Rule 219 - Equipment Not Requiring a Written Permit Pursuant to Regulation II Proposed Amended Rule 222 - Filing Requirements for Specific Emission Sources Not Requiring a Written Permit Pursuant to Regulation II NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that 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, June 5, 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 Rule 444.1 Particulate Matter Emission Reductions from Forestry and Agricultural Waste (PR 444.1). The objectives of PR 444.1 are to establish requirements for air curtain incinerators (ACIs) and prescribed fire vehicles used to reduce vegetative waste, and reduce PM emissions from forestry and agricultural waste management practices. PR 444.1 specifies requirements for ACIs and prescribed fire vehicles including best management practices, monitoring, and recordkeeping. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the South Coast AQMD is considering the amendments of Proposed Amended Rule 401 Visible Emissions (PAR 401), Proposed Amended Rule 404 Particulate Matter - Concentration (PAR 404), and Proposed Amended Rule 405 Solid Particulate Matter - Weight (PAR 405). The objective of PAR 401, PAR 404, and PAR 405 is to include an exemption for ACIs and prescribed fire vehicles regulated under PR 444.1 to allow their use in South Coast AQMD jurisdiction. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the South Coast AQMD is considering the amendments of Proposed Amended Rule 219 Equipment Not Requiring a Written Permit Pursuant to Regulation II (PAR 219) and Proposed Amended Rule 222 Filing Requirements for Specific Emission Sources Not Requiring a Written Permit Pursuant to Regulation II (PAR 222). The objective of PAR 219 is to exempt some ACIs and prescribed fire vehicles from South Coast AQMD permit requirements. The objective of PAR 222 is to require ACIs and prescribed fire vehicles, exempt from permit requirements in PAR 219, to be registered with the South Coast AQMD. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that PR 444.1, PAR 401, PAR 404, PAR 405, PAR 219, and PAR 222 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 rules proposed for adoption or amendment. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15002(k) and 15061, the proposed project (PR 444.1, PAR 401, PAR 404, PAR 405, PAR 219, and PAR 222) consists of actions necessary to prevent or mitigate wildfire-related emergency conditions which are statutorily exempt from CEQA requirements pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15269(c). 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 May 5, 2026, for consideration by the South Coast AQMD Governing Board, including: - Draft PR 444.1, PAR 401, PAR 404, PAR 405, PAR 219, and PAR 222 - Draft Staff Report for PR 444.1, PAR 401, PAR 404, PAR 405, PAR 219, and PAR 222 - Comparative Analysis for PR 444.1, PAR 401, PAR 404, PAR 405, PAR 219, and PAR 222, included in the Draft Staff Report - Draft Socioeconomic Impact Assessment for PR 444.1, PAR 401, PAR 404, PAR 405, PAR 219, and PAR 222, 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-404-and-444-1, 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 PR 444.1, PAR 401, PAR 404, PAR 405, PAR 219, and PAR 222, 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 PR 444.1, PAR 401, PAR 404, PAR 405, PAR 219, and PAR 222 to Niyati Rami, nrami@aqmd.gov, (909) 396-2249; CEQA inquiries to Sina Taghvaee, Ph.D., staghvaee@aqmd.gov, (909) 396-2192; and Socioeconomic Impact Assessment inquiries to Valerie Quezada, vquezada@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, June 2, 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: April 21, 2026 Faye thomas Clerk of the Boards 5/5/26 IVDB-4036508# INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN/LA