SANTA BARBARA COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT
RULE 602 - EPISODES/DISASTERS
(Adopted 3/24/1974, revised and readopted 8/1975, readopted 10/23/1978, revised 6/15/1981)
A. Impact
1. Stage 1 Episode - Persons with special health problems should take precautions against exposure. Children of school age should refrain from excessive physical exercise. First steps in abatement action plans must be implemented.
2. Stage 2 Episode - Precautions of paragraph one emphasized. Abatement actions must be taken with a minimum of delay to reduce the pollution concentration.
3. Stage 3 Episode - Extensive actions must be taken to prevent exposure of people to the pollutant concentrations.
4. Air Pollution Disaster - A substantial number of persons are suffering or likely to suffer incapacitating effects from the air pollution concentrations.
B. Episode Stage Criteria and Declaration
1. The Air Pollution Control Officer shall declare the appropriate episode stage (Rule 602 E, F or G) when the pollutant concentrations shown in the table below are reached or are expected to be reached.
| Averaging Time |
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
| Photochemical Oxidant, as Ozone | 1 Hour | 0.20 ppm | 0.35 ppm | 0.50 ppm for one hour & predicted to persist for 1 additional hour |
| Carbon Monoxide | 1 Hour | 40 ppm | 75 ppm | 100 ppm for one hour & predicted to persist for 1 additional hour |
| 4 Hours | 25 ppm | 45 ppm | 60 ppm | |
| 8 Hours | 15 ppm | 30 ppm | 40 ppm |
| Particulate Matter | 24 Hours | 375 ug/m3 | 625 ug/m3 | 875 ug/m3 |
| Sulfur Dioxide | 1 Hour | 0.5 ppm | 1.0 ppm | 2.0 ppm |
| 24 Hours | 0.2 ppm | 0.7 ppm | 0.9 ppm |
2. Air Pollution Disaster (State of Emergency)
When it is determined by medical authorities or local officials that a substantial number of persons are suffering or are likely to suffer incapacitating effects from air pollution, regardless of measured pollutant concentration, and analysis of meteorological and air quality data by the Air Resources Board or the District indicates that the condition is likely to continue or recur, the Chairman or the Executive Officer of the Air Resources Board shall confer with the Director of the Office of Emergency Services (OES) and they shall jointly recommend to the Governor that an air pollution disaster (State of Emergency) be declared.
C. Episode Notifications
1. Following the prediction or declaration of a first, second, or third-stage episode, the Control Officer shall communicate notification to:
a. Appropriate elected officials.
b. The press, radio stations and television stations.
c. Sources of air contaminants specified in Rule 603 which requires alert status in preparation for implementation of prearranged emission reduction plans.
d. Local public health officials and hospitals.
e. School officials.
f. Local and state law enforcement agencies.
g. Air pollution control officers with the South Coast Air Basin and South Central Coast Air Basin.
h. The California Air Resources Board.
i. Public safety personnel, who have responsibilities for, or interests in, air pollution control.
j. District personnel.
k. Other parties as deemed necessary by the Control Officer.
2. The notice of prediction or declaration of a first-, second-, or third-stage episode shall include the following information:
a. The specific level predicted or achieved.
b. The contaminant for which the declaration is made.
c. The geographical area to be affected, or currently affected.
d. The geographic location where the air contaminants are measured.
3. Whenever the Control Officer predicts that a first-, second-, or third-stage episode will occur on the next day, he shall announce such a prediction not later than 4:00 p.m., when possible. Such predictions shall be public records and shall be made available to the public, press, radio, television and other mass media of communication.
D. Termination of Episodes
The Control Officer shall declare the termination of the appropriate episode whenever the concentration of an air contaminant which caused the declaration of such episode has been verified to be below standards set forth in Rule 602.B for the calling of such episode and the available scientific and meteorological data indicate that the concentration of such air contaminant will not immediately increase again so as to reach the standards set forth for such episode. The Control Officer shall immediately communicate the declaration of the termination of the episode in the manner provided in Rule 602.C. for the declaration of episodes.
E. First Stage Episode Actions
When a first-stage episode is declared, the Control Officer shall take the following actions:
1. The notifications required by Rule 602.C.
2. Radio and television stations shall be requested to announce or display at least once each hour, the Control Officer's declaration of a first-stage episode and to:
a. Advise the public that those individuals with special health problems should follow the precautions recommended by their physicians.
b. Request the public to stop all unnecessary driving.
c. Request the public to operate all privately owned vehicles on a pool basis.
d. Request all employers to activate employee car pools.
3. Notify members of the public who telephone the District's headquarters.
4. Ban the burning of any combustible refuse at any location within the District.
5. Insure that any person operating or maintaining any governmental, industrial, commercial or business establishment which emits hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides or any of the contaminants named in Rule 602.B. and any person operating any gasoline-fueled fleet vehicles takes the necessary preliminary steps for the action which will be required by the predeveloped plans should a second-stage episode be declared.
F. Second-Stage Episode Actions
When a second-stage episode is declared, the Control Officer shall take the following actions, in addition to the actions taken for Stage 1:
1. Suspend programs which involve outdoor physical exertion by participants using public parks or public recreational facilities in receptor areas. Such programs which are for adult participants in scheduled athletic events with paid attendance are expected.
2. Abatement actions:
a. Request the public to avoid all but emergency use of motor vehicles in emission source and receptor areas.
b. Request the public to avoid receptor areas.
c. Instruct participants in the traffic abatement plan in emission source and receptor areas to implement Stage 2 abatement plan provisions.
d. Instruct participants in the stationary source curtailment plan to implement Stage 2 curtailment plan provisions in emission source and receptor areas.
3. Inspect as many stationary sources as possible, pursuant to Rule 604.
4. Request radio and television stations to announce or display, at least once each hour, the pertinent facts and inform the public of the actions taken in accordance with the provisions of this Rule.
G. Third Stage Episode Actions
The following actions shall be taken upon the Control Officer's declaration of a third-stage episode in addition to the actions taken for Stages 1 and 2:
1. Abatement Action:
a. Instruct participants in the traffic abatement plan in emission source and receptor areas to implement Stage 3 abatement plan provisions, except for operations required for emergency reasons.
b. Instruct participants in the stationary source curtailment plan in emission source and receptor areas to implement Stage 3 curtailment plan provisions, except for operations necessary for emergency reasons.
c. During carbon monoxide (CO) episodes, instruct combustion sources of CO emissions to shut down in emission source and receptor areas.
d. During oxidant episodes, prohibit in emission source areas commercial and industrial spray painting, and other activities such as tar roofing, asphalt mixing and pouring and surface coating involving use of substantial quantities of volatile organic material.
e. If appropriate and feasible, request the public to evacuate the receptor area.
2. Implement Air Pollution Control District Source inspection plans, pursuant to Rule 604.
H. Air Pollution Disaster (State of Emergency) Actions
1. Notwithstanding the episode actions required of the Air Pollution Control Officer in this Regulation, only the Governor of the State of California shall declare an Air Pollution Disaster and order the institution of any health protection and abatement actions he considers necessary.
2. On declaration of an Air Pollution Disaster (State of Emergency), the Air Pollution Control Officer shall continue maximum Stage 3 abatement actions in accordance with this Regulation; the Air Pollution Control District shall commit all its available resources to the service of the Governor.