SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT

RULE 311- SULFUR CONTENT OF FUELS
(Adopted 10/18/1971 and 5/1/1972, revised 3/3/1975, 10/27/1975 and 5/15/1978, readopted 10/23/1978)

A. Exception: This Rule shall not apply:

1. To the burning of sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, acid sludge or other sulfur compounds in the manufacturing of sulfur or sulfur compounds.

2. To the incinerating or waste gases, provided the gross heating value of such gases is less than 300 British Thermal Units per cubic foot at "Standard Conditions" and provided the fuel used to incinerate such waste gases does not contain sulfur compounds in excess of the amount specified in this Rule.

3. To the use of solid fuels in any metallurgical process.

4. To the use of fuels where the gaseous products of combustion are used as raw materials for other processes.

5. To the use of liquid or solid fuel to propel or test any vehicle, aircraft, missile, locomotive, boat or ship.

6. Where sulfur compounds are removed from combustion products, or a mixture of fuels is used, to the extent that the emission of sulfur compounds in the atmosphere is no greater than that which would be emitted by using a liquid or solid fuel complying with this Rule.

7. To the use of liquid fuel whenever the supply of liquid fuel with a sulfur content of 0.5% or less is not physically available to the user due to accident, strike, act of war, sabotage, act of God, failure of the supplier or by reason of any Federal or State of California rule or regulation prohibiting the purchase or use thereof, providing that an application for a variance to burn non-complying fuel is filed within three days with the Clerk of the Hearing Board.

B. No person shall burn within any portion of the Southern Zone any gaseous fuel containing sulfur compounds in excess of 15 grains per 100 cubic feet (calculated as hydrogen sulfide at standard conditions) or any liquid or solid fuel having a sulfur content in excess of 0.5 percent by weight.

C. No person shall burn within any portion of the Northern Zone any gaseous fuel containing sulfur compounds in excess of 50 grains per 100 cubic feet (calculated as hydrogen sulfide at standard conditions) or any liquid or solid fuel having a sulfur content in excess of 0.5 percent by weight.

1. Exception
a. Section C shall not apply to the burning of liquid fuel with a sulfur content not exceeding one percent (1%) by weight by any stationary source in operation prior to March 1, 1978, providing that the burning of such fuel does not or will not interfere with or prevent the attainment or maintenance of any applicable state or national air quality standard in the South Central Coast Basin or adjacent basins.

b. No stationary source eligible to burn fuel under this exception shall do so until it has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Control Officer, through the submission of adequate monitoring, modeling or other such data, that burning such fuel will meet the requirements of section a. above.

c. Any authority granted under this subsection shall be conditional and shall be of no force or effect if the Control Officer finds, after granting written permission, that operation on such fuel violates the requirements of section a. above and notifies the operator(s) of the source of such findings. The operator(s) of the source shall terminate the use of liquid fuel having a sulfur content in excess of 0.5% by weight within 30 days after being so notified. The operator(s) of a source whose Permit to Operate has been terminated as provided in this paragraph may appeal such termination. The appeal shall be made and the hearing thereon shall be conducted substantially in accordance with the District's Regulations relating to appeals from the denial of a Permit to Operate.

d. Each stationary source burning such fuel during any calendar month shall, within the first 10 days of the next calendar month, provide a written record to the Control Officer, in a format specified by the Control Officer, the total quantity of such fuel burned, the sulfur content thereof, air quality monitoring information in the California Air Resources Board monthly data format, and such other information as may be required by the Control Officer to enforce the provision of this section.