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San Joaquin Valley AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE BULLETIN April 2007 Fugitive Dust Control at Construction Sites: New Requirements Regulation VIII, Fugitive PM10 Prohibitions, of the District's Rules and Regulations apply to many activities that generate fugitive dust, and particularly to construction sites. Fugitive dust is emitted into the air by activities that disturb the soil, such as earthmoving and vehicular/equipment traffic on unpaved surfaces. Windblown dust is also of concern where soil has been disturbed at construction sites. The District adopted Regulation VIII in 1993 and its most recent amendments became effective on October 1, 2004. This is a basic summary of the regulation's requirements as they apply to construction sites. These regulations affect all workers at a regulated construction site, including everyone from the landowner to the subcontractors. Violations of Regulation VIII are subject to enforcement action including fines. Visible Dust Emissions (VDE) may not exceed 20% opacity during periods when soil is being disturbed by equipment or by wind at any time. Visible Dust Emissions opacity of 20% means dust that would obstruct an observer's view of an object by 20%. District inspectors are state certified to evaluate visible emissions. Dust control may be achieved by applying water before/during earthwork and onto unpaved traffic areas, phasing work to limit dust, and setting up wind fences to limit wind blown dust. Soil Stabilization is required at regulated construction sites after normal working hours and on weekends and holidays. This requirement also applies to inactive construction areas such as phased projects where disturbed land is left unattended. Applying water to form a visible crust on the soil and restricting vehicle access are often effective for short- term stabilization of disturbed surface areas. Long-term methods including applying dust suppressants and establishing vegetative cover. Carryout and Trackout occur when materials from emptied or loaded vehicles falls onto a paved surface or shoulder of a public road or when materials adhere to vehicle tires and are deposited onto a paved surface or shoulder of a public road. Should either occur, the material must be cleaned up at least daily, and immediately if it extends more than 50 feet from the exit point onto a paved road. The appropriate clean-up methods require the complete removal and cleanup of mud and dirt from the paved surface and shoulder. Using a blower device or dry sweeping with any mechanical device other than a PM10-efficient street sweeper is a violation. Larger construction sites, or sites with a high amount of traffic on one or more days, must prevent carryout and trackout from occurring by installing gravel pads, grizzlies, wheel washers, paved interior roads, or a combination thereof at each exit point from the site. In many cases, cleaning up trackout with water is also prohibited as it may lead to plugged storm drains. Prevention is the best method. Unpaved Access and Haul Roads, as well as unpaved vehicle and equipment traffic areas at construction sites must have dust control. Speed limit signs limiting vehicle speed to 15 mph or less at construction sites must be posted every 500 feet on uncontrolled and unpaved roads. Northern Region Office Central Region Office Southern Region Office 4800 Enterprise Way 1990 East Gettysburg Avenue 2700"M"Street,Suite 275 Modesto,CA 95356-8718 Fresno,CA 93726-0244 Bakersfield,CA 93301-2373 (209) 557-6400♦ FAX(209) 557-6475 (559)230-6000♦ FAX(559)230-6062 (661) 326-6900♦ FAX(661) 326-6985