Earth Moving Companies Operating in Southern California Respond to New Air Monitoring Requirements in Rule 1466

Late last year, California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) Rule 1466 – Control of Particulate Emissions from Soils with Toxic Air Contaminants was amended after being adopted last July. It is now in full compliance mode for all applicable earth moving operations in California that are regulated by the SCAQMD.

The purpose of Rule 1466 is to minimize off-site fugitive dust emissions containing specific toxic air contaminants. These contaminants are listed and range from arsenic, asbestos and lead to mercury, PCBs, PAHs and other specific substances. It aims to achieve this by establishing dust control measures that can be implemented during earth moving activities at sites that contain the dozens of listed toxic air contaminants.

“Rule 1466 states that when earth moving activities or vehicular movement occurs, the owner or operator shall conduct continuous direct-reading near real-time ambient monitoring of concentrations of particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM₁₀),” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “If the PM₁₀ concentration averaged over two hours exceeds 25 micrograms per cubic meter, the owner or operator shall cease earth moving activities, apply dust suppressant to fugitive dust sources, or implement other dust control measures as necessary until the PM₁₀ concentration is equal to or less than 25 micrograms per cubic meter averaged over 30 minutes.”

Earth moving activities from sites that meet the applicability requirements include excavating, grading, handling, treating, stockpiling, transferring and removing soil that contains the specified contaminants. Helping companies operating in California to comply with Rule 1466 are the environmental scientists at LA Testing. Their laboratories test for the dozens of applicable toxic air contaminants in soil and air. They also provide all of the sampling supplies necessary and offer air monitoring instruments to detect and document PM₁₀ concentrations.

To learn more about this or other air quality, occupational, environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. 

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals.  In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC Elite, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states.  LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.

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