Proposed Amended Rule 1138 – Control of Emissions from Restaurant Operations
Summary
SCH Number
2025090212
Public Agency
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Document Title
Proposed Amended Rule 1138 – Control of Emissions from Restaurant Operations
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/5/2025
Document Description
Rule 1138 contains requirements to reduce emissions of particulate matter (PM), which includes PM with particle size of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from chain-driven charbroilers used in commercial cooking operations. Proposed Amended Rule 1138 (PAR 1138) partially implements Control Measure BCM-12: Further Emission Reductions from Commercial Cooking, of the South Coast Air Basin Attainment Plan for the 2012 Annual PM2.5 Standard, by establishing more stringent thresholds regarding the amount of meat cooked that would qualify an owner or operator of a chain-driven charbroiler for an exemption from certain requirements in the rule by: 1) changing the existing threshold of less than 875 pounds per week to less than 400 pounds per week; and 2) adding a new alternative threshold of less than 10,800 pounds in any continuous 12-month period while maintaining a weekly rate of less than 875 pounds. PAR 1138 also removes outdated provisions. Implementation of PAR 1138 is expected to reduce PM emissions from existing chain-driven charbroilers that would no longer qualify for the exemption by approximately 0.05 ton per day(tpd); a co-benefit of 0.02 tpd of VOC emission reductions is also expected. By contributing to the region’s attainment of state and federal PM2.5 emission standards, implementation of PAR 1138 will benefit the public and nearby communities through improved air quality and reduced exposure to harmful air pollutants from chain-driven charbroilers.
Contact Information
Name
Farzaneh Khalaj
Agency Name
South Coast AQMD
Job Title
Air Quality Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Regions
Countywide
Other Location Info
The proposed project is located within the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (South Coast AQMD) jurisdiction, which includes the four-county South Coast Air Basin (all of Orange County and the non-desert portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties), and the Riverside County portion of the Salton Sea Air Basin and the non-Palo Verde, Riverside County portion of the Mojave Desert Air Basin.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3) and 15308
Reasons for Exemption
South Coast AQMD, as Lead Agency, has reviewed the proposed project pursuant to: 1) CEQA Guidelines Section 15002(k) – General Concepts, the three-step process for deciding which document to prepare for a project subject to CEQA; and 2) CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 – Review for Exemption, procedures for determining if a project is exempt from CEQA. Since PAR 1138 is expected to affect a limited number of facilities which have existing chain-driven charbroilers that are already equipped or can be retrofitted with commercially available air pollution control devices via the use of hand tools, it can be seen with certainty that implementation of the proposed project will not cause a significant adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption. The proposed project is also categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 – Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment, because PAR 1138 is intended to further protect or enhance the environment by improving public health and air quality through reduced exposure to harmful air pollutants from chain-driven charbroilers. Further, there is no substantial evidence indicating that any of the exceptions to the categorical exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 – Exceptions, apply to the proposed project.
County Clerks
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.