In July 2017, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) adopted Rule 1466 – Control of Particulate Emissions from Soils with Toxic Air Contaminants. The new rule was amended last December before going into effect in early 2018 for all applicable earth-moving operations that take place in parts of California regulated by the SCAQMD.

South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is the agency responsible for regulating stationary sources of air pollution in the South Coast Air Basin and inspects more than 27,000 facilities, and responds to thousands of air quality public complaints. California is divided into air basins, which are served by either county air pollution control districts or multi−county air quality management districts. The SCAQMD includes Orange County, Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County. The region covers more than 10,000 square miles (17,000 km²) including Greater Los Angeles Area which is home to 18 million people. The SCAQMD has been a leader in the nation’s efforts to reduce air pollution emissions.

Aeroqual has partnered with SCAQMD under the U.S. EPA’s STAR grant to encourage research into community-level air monitoring. The initiative includes a pilot network of 100 AQY Micro Air Quality Monitors, provided by Aeroqual. Here’s the project case study.

The purpose of Rule 1466 is to minimize off-site fugitive dust emissions from earth-moving activities at sites containing specific toxic air contaminants. Dust control measures must be established at designated clean-up sites or sites near sensitive receptors.

The toxic air contaminants (TAC) of concern include:

In areas that contain applicable toxic air contaminants from sites designated by federal/state environmental agencies, the following activities are subject to Rule 1466:

In addition to notifying the SCAQMD, signage, continuous air monitoring, dust control measures, and recordkeeping are required. Failure to comply with Rule 1466 can result in citations and fines. Here’s the full text of Rule 1466.

Under Rule 1466, when earth-moving activities or vehicular movement occurs the owner or operator is required to conduct continuous direct-reading, near real-time ambient monitoring of concentrations of particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM₁₀). The PM₁₀ monitoring method must be a federal equivalent method or an Executive Officer approved method. Here’s the list of SCAQMD pre-approved PM₁₀ monitors.

A minimum of two real-time PM₁₀ monitors are required on any designated site. Rule 1466 requires PM₁₀ monitoring at one or more upwind locations, and one or more downwind locations. If the PM₁₀ site activity contribution (downwind minus upwind concentration) exceeds 25 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) averaged over one hour, the owner/operator must cease earth-moving activities and implement additional dust control measures. Earth-moving operations cannot recommence until the particulate contribution drops below 25 µg/m³ averaged over 30 minutes.

With input from SCAQMD and LA-based environmental consultants, we’ve developed a Visual Guide to Rule 1466 site compliance. Here’s the accompanying blog: 3 Simple Steps to Comply with SCAQMD Rule 1466.

We make it easier for you to comply with Rule 1466. Aeroqual has an affordable, reliable and easy-to-use PM₁₀ dust monitor that ensures your construction and remediation projects meet the requirements. The Dust Sentry PM₁₀ monitor is pre-approved by SCAQMD and seamlessly reports data in the required format and frequency using our integrated software platform.

Aeroqual is just one of three companies to have a pre-approved PM₁₀ monitor listed by SCAQMD. To become pre-approved the monitor must meet the requirements set out in Appendix 1 of the Rule.

International environmental engineering firm, SCS Engineers, recently deployed Dust Sentry PM₁₀ monitors to comply with SCAQMD Rule 1466. SCS Engineer’s client intended to redevelop the former industrial manufacturing site in Los Angeles area into a world-class industrial park. SCS Engineers was contracted to perform soil remediation and associated dust monitoring services. Ray Huff, SCS Vice President, says, “We found the Dust Sentry system reduced a lot of leg work associated with traditional air monitoring activities.” Read the full case study to find out more.

We work directly with environmental consultants, vendors and rental equipment suppliers to provide turnkey and hassle-free solutions, including Aeroqual Site Contribution, our automated remediation software. Aeroqual Site Contribution features selectable air quality regulations (including Rule 1466), simply select the regulation you need and let the software do the rest.

We’d like to hear about your next air monitoring project, so please contact us and tell us about your requirements.

Aeroqual makes advanced sensors and equipment for air quality monitoring. We help environmental consultants, industrial hygienists and EHS managers to deliver on budget and time-constrained projects by providing them with cost effective and reliable instrumentation. Aeroqual’s solutions are used for community air monitoring programs, on remediation and brownfield development sites, for environmental impact assessments, and industrial fenceline monitoring. Find out more about us and our technology.