CARB — Air Toxics Program

Scope

The Air Toxics Program encompasses several pieces of legislation and aims to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals for all Californians.

Regulatory citations

• AB 1807 — Toxic Air Contaminant Identification and Control Act
• AB 2588 — Air Toxics “Hot Spots” Information and Assessment Act
• SB 25 — Children’s Environmental Health Protection Act
• AB 617 — Community Air Protection Program

Key definitions

• California Air Resources Board (CARB): The regulatory agency that oversees all efforts to control air pollution and conserve air quality standards in the state.
• Toxic air contaminants (TACs): 200+ identified air pollutants (e.g., benzene, hexavalent chromium, perchloroethylene, diesel exhaust) that are emitted from various industries as well as car, truck, and freight operations.

Summary of requirements

The CARB Air Toxics Program contains several key components:

• Identify and control/reduce air toxic substances through a two-step process:
  • Risk identification: At the request of CARB, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) assesses non-pesticide compounds’ health impacts. Those compounds may be identified as TACs if they either emit or have the potential to emit into the ambient air.
  • Risk management: In a report, CARB describes the necessity and extent of using control measure(s) to regulate the TACs.
• Notify the public of significant toxics exposure, including a process to reduce exposure risk. CARB requires certain qualifying facilities to prepare emission inventory plans and reports to quantify air toxics emissions exposure to nearby residents.
• Address community, children, and other health-sensitive groups. CARB and the OEHHA:
  • Review the sufficiency of ambient air quality standards related to children and infants;
  • Select locations throughout the state for additional air monitoring where children are typically present; and
  • Review, revise, and create protective measures to control and reduce exposure to air pollutants.