Proposed Amended Rule 1401 – New Source Review of Toxic Air Contaminants
Summary
SCH Number
2026080231
Public Agency
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Document Title
Proposed Amended Rule 1401 – New Source Review of Toxic Air Contaminants
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/7/2026
Document Description
Proposed Amended Rule 1401 (PAR 1401) updates South Coast AQMD’s health-risk-based permitting requirements for new, modified, or relocated equipment that emit toxic air contaminants (TACs). PAR 1401 incorporates new California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) adopted risk values by adding nine new compounds to the Table I list of TACs, adding a new reference exposure level for one existing compound, adding 8-hour chronic hazard index requirements, removing the outdated Table II list of TACs with previously tentative risk values, and improving clarity and alignment with current risk assessment procedures. PAR 1401 requirements will not be applied retroactively to existing equipment or sources. However, new, modified or relocated equipment emitting polymeric Hexamethylene Diisocyanate (HDI), para-chlorobenzotrifluoride (pCBtF), or tertiary butyl acetate (t BAc) may require installation of enhanced air pollution control equipment in order to obtain a permit to operate. Implementation of PAR 1401 will provide improved health protective measures to minimize TAC emissions and reduce exposure and associated risk which will benefit workers, nearby receptors, and surrounding communities.
Contact Information
Name
Farzaneh Khalaj
Agency Name
South Coast AQMD
Job Title
Air Quality Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Name
Tiffani To
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
Southern California
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)
Reasons for Exemption
South Coast AQMD, as Lead Agency, has reviewed the proposed project (PAR 1401) 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. It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that implementation of PAR 1401 may have a significant adverse effect on the environment because: 1) installation of new, enhanced air pollution control equipment or the modification of existing air pollution control equipment (if required), would typically involve minimal construction activities and minor operational differences and would only apply to new, modified, or relocated equipment that emits polymeric HDI, pCBtF, or t-BAc; and 2) other changes are administrative in nature. Therefore, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) – Common Sense Exemption.
County Clerks
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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