Coachella Municipal Code Ch. 8.20 Fugitive Dust Control

The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum requirements for construction and demolition activities and other specified sources in order to reduce man-made fugitive dust and the corresponding PM10 emissions.

(Ord. 896 § 2, 2003)

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions are applicable:

"Agricultural operations" are any operation directly related to the growing of crops, or raising of fowls or animals for the primary purpose of making a livelihood.

"AQMD" is the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the representatives thereof.

"Average daily traffic (ADT)" is the number of motor vehicles that traverse a given unpaved or paved surface during a specified twenty-four (24)-hour period. ADT levels are calculated as the average daily volume over a specified forty-eight (48)-hour period as determined by the city (county) in consultation with the AQMD.

"Bulk material" is all sand, gravel, soil, aggregate and other organic and inorganic particulate matter.

"Chemical dust suppressants" are non-toxic chemical soil binders that are not prohibited for use by the city (county), the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, the California Air Resources Board, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), or any other law, rule or regulation, used to reduce dust on disturbed surfaces.

"Coachella Valley best available control measures (CV BACM)" are methods to prevent or mitigate the emission and/or airborne transport of fugitive dust, as identified in the Coachella Valley Fugitive Dust Control Handbook.

"Coachella Valley Fugitive Dust Control Handbook" is the most recently approved reference document by the AQMD that includes a description of fugitive dust control measures, guidance for preparation of fugitive dust control plans, notification forms, signage provisions, and test methods.

"Construction activities" are any on-site activities preparatory to or related to the building, alteration, rehabilitation, or improvement of property, including, but not limited to, the following activities: grading, excavation, trenching, loading, vehicular travel, crushing, blasting, cutting, planning, shaping, breaking, equipment staging/storage areas, weed abatement activities or adding or removing bulk materials from storage piles.

"Demolition activities" are the wrecking or taking out of any load-supporting structural member of a structure or building and related handling operations or the intentional burning of any structure or building.

"Disturbed surface area" is any portion of the earth's surface (or material placed thereupon) that has been physically moved, uncovered, destabilized, or otherwise modified from its undisturbed native condition (including vehicular disturbances) thereby increasing the potential for the emission of fugitive dust. This definition does not include land that has been restored to a native condition, such that the vegetative ground cover and soil characteristics are equal to surrounding native conditions.

"Earth-moving operations" are the use of any equipment for an activity where soil is being moved or uncovered.

"Finish grade" is the final grade of the site that conforms to the approved grading plan.

"Fugitive dust" is any solid particulate matter that becomes airborne, other than that emitted from an exhaust stack, directly or indirectly as a result of human activities. PM10 is a subset of fugitive dust and is defined as particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ten (10) microns or less.

"Fugitive dust control plan" is a document that describes fugitive dust sources at a site and the corresponding control measures and is prepared in accordance with the guidance contained in the Coachella Valley Fugitive Dust Control Handbook.

"High-wind episode" is when wind speeds exceed twenty-five (25) miles per hour as measured by:

1. The closest AQMD monitoring station;

2. A certified meteorological monitoring station; or

3. An on-site wind monitor calibrated and operated on-site in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications with a data logger or strip chart.

"Operator" is any person who owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises any potential fugitive dust generating operation subject to the requirements of this chapter. This definition includes any person who has been officially designated by a property owner as the person responsible for fugitive dust control at a site, as indicated in an approved fugitive dust control plan.

"Paved road" is an improved street, highway, alley, public way, or easement that is covered by roadway materials (e.g., cement, asphalt or asphaltic concrete).

"Physical access restriction" is any barrier, including but not limited to: curbs, fences, gates, posts with fencing, shrubs, trees, or other measures that are effective in preventing vehicular and off-highway vehicle (OHV) use of a specified site.

"Silt" is any bulk material with a particle size less than seventy-five (75) micrometers in diameter that passes through a Number 200 sieve as determined by American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Test Method C 136 or any other test method approved by the U.S. EPA and AQMD.

"Site" is the real property on which construction, demolition, or other activities subject to this chapter may occur.

"Stabilized surface" is any portion of land that meets the minimum standards as established by the applicable test method contained in the Coachella Valley Fugitive Dust Control Handbook.

"Storage pile" is any accumulation of bulk material with a height of three feet or more and a total surface area of three hundred (300) or more square feet.

"Unpaved parking lot" is an area utilized for parking vehicles and associated vehicle maneuvering that is not covered with roadway materials (e.g., cement, asphalt or asphaltic concrete).

"Unpaved road" is any service roads, internal access roads, heavy and light duty equipment paths and other roadways which are not covered by typical roadway materials (e.g., cement, asphalt, asphaltic concrete).

"Temporary unpaved parking lots" are those used less than twenty-four (24) days per year.

(Ord. 896 § 2, 2003)

All performance standards and test methods referenced in this chapter shall be based on the methodologies included in the Coachella Valley Dust Control Handbook.

(Ord. 896 § 2, 2003)

A. Work Practices—All Fugitive Dust Sources.

1. No operator shall conduct any potential dust-generating activity on a site unless the operator utilizes one or more Coachella Valley best available control measures, as identified in the Coachella Valley Fugitive Dust Control Handbook for each fugitive dust source such that the applicable performance standards are met.

2. Any operator involved in any potential dust-generating activity on a site with a disturbed surface area greater than one acre shall, at a minimum, operate a water application system as identified in the Coachella Valley Fugitive Dust Control Handbook, if watering is the selected control measure.

3. Performance Standards and Test Methods. No person subject to the requirements contained in subsection (A)(1) of this section shall cause or allow visible fugitive dust emissions to exceed twenty (20) percent opacity, or extend more than one hundred (100) feet either horizontally or vertically from the origin of a source, or cross any property line.

B. Construction and Demolition Activities.

1. Any operator applying for a grading permit or a building permit for an activity with a disturbed surface area of more than five thousand (5,000) square feet, shall not initiate any earth-moving operations unless a fugitive dust control plan has been prepared pursuant to the provisions of the Coachella Valley Fugitive Dust Control Handbook and approved by the city (county).

2. Any operator applying for a grading permit, or building permit shall provide a two thousand dollar ($2,000.00) cash deposit and a bond, a cash certificate of deposit, or an equivalent form approved by the city, in an amount equal to at least two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) per acre. Such funds shall be in an amount sufficient to completely stabilize all disturbed areas in the event that the operator fails to adequately control dust, or abandons the site in order to initiate stabilization measures without a significant delay.

3. A complete copy of the approved fugitive dust control plan must be kept on site in a conspicuous place at all times and provided to the city (county) and AQMD upon request.

4. Any operator involved in demolition activities shall comply with AQMD Rule 1403 (Asbestos Emissions from Demolition/Renovation Activities) requirements, and the requirements of Title 40, Part 61 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

5. Any operator involved in earth-moving operations shall implement at least one of the following short-term stabilization methods during non-working hours:

a. Maintaining soils in a damp condition as determined by sight or touch;

b. Establishment of a stabilized surface through watering; or

c. Application of a chemical dust suppressant in sufficient quantities and concentrations to maintain a stabilized surface.

6. Within ten (10) days of ceasing activity, an operator shall implement at least one of the following long-term stabilization techniques for any disturbed surface area where construction activities are not scheduled to occur for at least thirty (30) days:

a. Revegetation that results in seventy-five (75) percent ground coverage provided that an active watering system is in place at all times;

b. Establishment of a stabilized surface through watering with physical access restriction surrounding the area; or

c. Use of chemical stabilizers to establish a stabilized surface with physical access restriction surrounding the area.

7. Any operator shall remove all bulk material track-out from any site access point onto any paved road open to through traffic:

a. Within one hour if such material extends for a cumulative distance of greater than twenty-five (25) feet from any site access point; and

b. At the conclusion of each workday.

8. Any operator of a project with a disturbed surface area of five or more acres or of any project that involves the import or export of at least one hundred (100) cubic yards of bulk material per day shall install and maintain at least one of the following control measures at the intersection of each site entrance and any paved road open to through traffic with all vehicles exiting the site routed over the selected device(s):

a. Pad consisting of minimum one inch washed gravel maintained in a clean condition to a depth of at least six inches and extending at least thirty (30) feet wide and at least fifty (50) feet long;

b. Paved surface extending at least one hundred (100) feet and at least twenty (20) feet wide;

c. Wheel shaker/wheel spreading device consisting of raised dividers (rails, pipe, or grates) at least three inches tall and at least six inches apart and twenty (20) feet long; or

d. A wheel washing system.

9. Any operator required to submit a fugitive dust control plan under subsection (B)(1) of this section shall install and maintain project contact signage that meets the minimum standards of the Coachella Valley Fugitive Dust Control Handbook, including a twenty-four (24)-hour manned toll-free or local phone number, prior to initiating any type of earth-moving operations.

10. Any operator of a project with a disturbed surface area of fifty (50) or more acres shall have an on-site environmental observer that:

a. Is hired by the property owner or developer;

b. Has dust control as the sole or primary responsibility;

c. Has successfully completed the AQMD Coachella Valley fugitive dust control class and has been issued a certificate of completion for the class; and

d. Is identified in the approved fugitive dust control plan as having the authority to immediately employ sufficient dust mitigation twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven days a week and to ensure compliance with this chapter, the approved fugitive dust control plan, and AQMD regulations.

11. Performance Standards and Test Methods.

a. No operator required to submit a fugitive dust control plan under subsection (B)(1) of this section shall cause or allow visible fugitive dust emissions to exceed twenty (20) percent opacity, or extend more than one hundred (100) feet either horizontally or vertically from the origin of a source, or cross any property line.

b. Exceedance of the visible emissions prohibition in subsection (B)(11)(a) of this section occurring due to a high-wind episode shall constitute a violation of subsection (B)(11)(a) of this section, unless the operator demonstrates to city (county) all the following conditions:

i. All fugitive dust control plan measures or applicable Coachella Valley best available control measures were implemented and maintained on site;

ii. The exceedance could not have been prevented by better application, implementation, operation, or maintenance of control measures;

iii. Appropriate recordkeeping was compiled and retained in accordance with the requirements in subsection (B)(12) of this section; and

iv. Documentation of the high-wind episode on the day(s) in question is provided by appropriate records.

12. Reporting/Recordkeeping.

a. Before Construction. The operator of a project with ten (10) acres or more of earth-moving operations shall:

i. Forward two copies of a site-specific, stand alone (8½ by 11 inch) fugitive dust control plan to the AQMD within ten (10) days after approval by the city (county). (Note: A separate AQMD approval will not be issued); and

ii. Notify the city (county) and the AQMD at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to initiating earth-moving operations.

b. During Construction.

i. Any operator involved in earth-moving operations shall compile, and maintain for a period of not less than three years, daily self-inspection recordkeeping forms in accordance with the guidelines contained in the Coachella Valley Fugitive Dust Control Handbook.

ii. Any operator involved in earth-moving operations that utilizes chemical dust suppressants for dust control on a site shall compile records indicating the type of product applied, vendor name, and the method, frequency, concentration, quantity and date(s) of application and shall retain such records for a period of not less than three years.

c. After Construction. Any operator subject to the provisions of subsection (B)(12)(a) of this section shall notify the city (county) and the AQMD within ten (10) days of the establishment of the finish grade or at the conclusion of the finished grading inspection.

C. Disturbed Vacant Lands/Weed Abatement Activities.

1. Owners of property with a disturbed surface area greater than five thousand (5,000) square feet shall within thirty (30) days of receiving official notice by the city (county) prevent trespass through physical access restriction as permitted by the city (county).

2. In the event that implementation of subsection (C)(1) of this section is not effective in establishing a stabilized surface within forty-five (45) days of restricting access, the owner shall implement at least one of the following long-term stabilization techniques within an additional fifteen (15) days, unless the city (county) has determined that the land has been restabilized:

a. Uniformly apply and maintain surface gravel or chemical dust suppressants such that a stabilized surface is formed; or

b. Begin restoring disturbed surfaces such that the vegetative cover and soil characteristics are similar to adjacent or nearby undisturbed native conditions. Such restoration control measure(s) must be maintained and reapplied, if necessary, such that a stabilized surface is formed within eight months of the initial application.

3. Any operator conducting weed abatement activities on a site that results in a disturbed surface area of five thousand (5,000) or more square feet shall:

a. Apply sufficient water before and during weed abatement activities such that the applicable performance standards are met; and

b. Ensure that the affected area is a stabilized surface once weed abatement activities have ceased.

4. Performance Standards and Test Methods. No person subject to the provisions of subsections (C)(1)—(C)(3) of this section shall cause or allow visible fugitive dust emissions to exceed twenty (20) percent opacity, or extend more than one hundred (100) feet either horizontally or vertically from a source, or cross any property line, and shall either:

a. Maintain a stabilized surface; or

b. Maintain a threshold friction velocity for disturbed surface areas corrected for non-erodible elements of one hundred (100) centimeters per second or higher.

5. Reporting/Recordkeeping.

a. Within ninety (90) days of chapter adoption, operators of property with disturbed surface area of five thousand (5,000) or more square feet shall notify the city (county) of the location of such lands and provide owner contact information.

b. Any person subject to the provisions of subsections (C)(1)—(C)(3) of this section shall compile, and retain for a period of not less than three years, records indicating the name and contact person of all firms contracted with for dust mitigation, listing of dust control implements used on site, and invoices from dust suppressant contractors/vendors.

D. Unpaved Roads.

1. Owners of public or private unpaved roads with average daily traffic levels between twenty (20) and one hundred fifty (150) vehicles must take measures (signage or speed control devices) to reduce vehicular speeds to no more than fifteen (15) miles per hour.

2. Owners of a cumulative distance of six or less miles of public or private unpaved roads shall pave each segment having one hundred fifty (150) or more average daily trips or, alternatively apply and maintain chemical dust suppressants in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications for a travel surface and the performance standards included in subsection (D)(4) of this section in accordance with the following treatment schedule:

a. One-third of qualifying unpaved road segments within one year of chapter adoption; and

b. Remainder of qualifying unpaved road segments within three years of chapter adoption. (Note: Treatments in excess of annual requirements can apply to future years.)

3. Owners of a cumulative distance of more than six miles of public or private unpaved roads shall stabilize each segment having one hundred fifty (150) or more average daily trips in accordance with the following treatment schedule:

a. At least two miles paved or four miles stabilized with chemical dust suppressants in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications for a travel surface and the performance standards established in subsection (D)(4) of this section within one year of the chapter adoption; and

b. At least two miles paved or four miles stabilized with chemical dust suppressants in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications for a travel surface and the performance standards included in subsection (D)(4) of this section in accordance with the following treatment schedule annually thereafter until all qualifying unpaved roads have been stabilized. (Note: Treatments in excess of annual requirements can apply to future years).

4. Performance Standards and Test Methods. Owners of any public or private unpaved road shall not allow visible fugitive dust emissions to exceed twenty (20) percent opacity, or extend more than one hundred (100) feet either horizontally or vertically from the origin of a source, and shall either:

a. Not allow silt loading to be equal to or greater than 0.33 ounces per square foot; or

b. Not allow the silt content to exceed six percent.

5. Reporting/Recordkeeping.

a. Within ninety (90) days of chapter adoption, owners of unpaved roads shall provide to the city (county) and the AQMD the location and ADT estimates for all unpaved roads.

b. Owners of unpaved roads that utilize chemical dust suppressants shall compile, and retain for a period of not less than three years, records indicating the type of product applied, vendor name, and the method, frequency, concentration, quantity and date(s) of application.

E. Unpaved Parking Lots.

1. Owners of parking lots established subsequent to chapter adoption are required to pave such areas, or alternatively apply and maintain chemical dust suppressants in accordance with the manufacturer' s specifications for traffic areas and the performance standards included in subsection (E)(4) of this section.

2. Owners of existing public or private unpaved parking lots shall implement one of the following control strategies within one hundred eighty (180) days of chapter adoption:

a. Pave;

b. Apply and maintain chemical dust suppressants in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications for traffic areas and the performance standards included in subsection (E)(4) of this section;

c. Apply and maintain washed gravel in accordance with the performance standards included in subsection (E)(4) of this section.

3. Owners of public or private temporary unpaved parking lots (those that are used twenty-four (24) days or less per year) shall apply and maintain chemical dust suppressants in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications for traffic areas and the performance standards included in subsection (E)(4) of this section prior to any twenty-four (24)-hour period when more than forty (40) vehicles are expected to enter and park. The owner of any temporary unpaved parking lot greater than five thousand (5,000) square feet shall implement the disturbed vacant land requirements contained in subsection C of this section during non-parking periods.

4. Performance Standards and Test Methods. The operator of any public or private unpaved parking lot shall not allow visible fugitive dust emissions to exceed twenty (20) percent opacity, or extend more than one hundred (100) feet either horizontally or vertically from the origin of a source, and shall either:

a. Not allow silt loading to be equal to or greater than 0.33 ounces per square foot; or

b. Not allow the silt content to exceed eight percent.

5. Reporting/Recordkeeping.

a. Within ninety (90) days of chapter adoption, owners of unpaved parking lots shall provide to the city (county) and the AQMD the location and ADT estimates and the size (in square feet) of unpaved parking lots.

b. Owners of unpaved parking lots that utilize chemical dust suppressants or apply gravel shall compile, and retain for a period of not less than three years, records indicating the type of product applied, vendor name, and the method, frequency, concentration, quantity and date(s) of application.

F. Public or Private Paved Roads.

1. Any owner of paved roads shall construct, or require to be constructed all new or widened paved roads in accordance with the following standards:

a. Curbing in accordance with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials guidelines or as an alternative, road shoulders paved or treated with chemical dust suppressants or washed gravel in accordance with the performance standards included in subsection (D)(4) of this section with the following minimum widths:

b. Paved medians or as an alternative, medians surrounded by curbing and treated with landscaping, chemical dust suppressants, or washed gravel applied and maintained in accordance with the performance standards included in subsection (D)(4) of this section.

2. Any owner of public or private paved roads shall remove or cause to be removed any erosion-caused deposits of greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet within twenty-four (24) hours after receiving notice by the city (county) or the AQMD or prior to resumption of traffic where the paved area has been closed to vehicular traffic.

(Ord. 896 § 2, 2003)

A. Any operator preparing a fugitive dust control plan shall complete the AQMD Coachella Valley fugitive dust control class and maintain a current valid certificate of completion.

B. At least one representative of each construction or demolition general contractor and subcontractor responsible for earth-movement operations shall complete the AQMD Coachella Valley fugitive dust control class and maintain a current valid certificate of completion.

C. All reporting/recordkeeping required by Section 8.20.040(B) of this chapter shall be provided to the city (county) and AQMD representatives immediately upon request.

D. All reporting/recordkeeping required by Section 8.20.040(C)—(F) of this chapter shall be provided to the city (county) and AQMD representatives within twenty-four (24) hours of a written request.

(Ord. 896 § 2, 2003)

A. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:

1. Agricultural operations including on-field sources and unpaved roads used solely for agricultural operations;

2. Any dust-generating activity where necessary fugitive dust preventive or mitigative actions are in conflict with either Federal or State Endangered Species Act provisions as determined in writing by the appropriate federal or state agency;

3. Any action required or authorized to implement emergency operations that are officially declared by the city (county) to ensure the public health and safety.

B. The provisions of Section 8.20.040(B)(1) of this chapter shall not apply to any construction or demolition activity meeting any of the following activity levels or requirements:

1. The activity is occurring entirely within an enclosed structure from which no visible airborne particulate matter escapes; or

2. Activities that do not require issuance of a grading permit or those that require a building permit provided that the project results in five thousand (5,000) or less square feet of soil disturbance.

C. The provisions of Section 8.20.040(B)(9) of this chapter shall not apply to:

1. Projects that takes two weeks or less to complete provided that a long-term stabilization technique(s) identified in Section 8.20.040(C) of this chapter are implemented; and

2. Line projects (i.e., pipelines, cable access lines, etc.).

(Ord. 896 § 2, 2003)

A. Violation of, or failure to comply with, any provisions of an approved fugitive dust control plan shall be a violation of this chapter.

B. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a infraction and subject to the penalties defined in Section 1.08.010 of this code.

(Ord. 896 § 2, 2003)

If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter and application of such provision(s) to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.

(Ord. 896 § 2, 2003)

Neither the adoption of this chapter nor the repeal of any other ordinance in which violations were committed prior to the effective date hereof shall be construed as a waiver of any license or penalty or the penal provisions application to any violation thereof. The provisions of the chapter, insofar as they are substantially the same as ordinance provisions previously adopted by the city of Coachella relating to the same subject matter, shall not be construed as a new enactment unless substantial revisions or provisions are required by this chapter.

(Ord. 896 § 2, 2003)

This chapter shall take effect thirty (30) days after its second reading by the city council.

(Ord. 896 § 2, 2003)

The city clerk shall certify to the adoption of this chapter and shall cause it to published and circulated in the city of Coachella.

(Ord. 896 § 2, 2003)