Landscape Architect Articles

2008 VOC Regulations03-21-07 | News

2008 VOC Regulations

Discussions were held at the 2007 World Ag Expo in Tulare, Calif. regarding the state?EUR??,,????'???s 2008 regulations on volatile organic compounds, which mix with nitrogen oxides and sunlight to create smog. The 2008 VOC Regulations will be drafted in the spring, hearings will be held over the summer and finalized late this year, according to Jerry Campbell, assistant director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The regulations will be available in books by December 1st, 2007.

DPR has been under pressure to bring several areas of the State into compliance with a 1994 State Implementation Plan to control emissions and improve air quality. Environmental groups won a lawsuit recently requiring new regulations to be activated by Jan. 1, 2008. The new regulations are expected to focus on emulsifiable concentrates and fumigants, which represent more than 40 percent of pesticide VOC emissions in the San Joaquin Valley.

Johnny Siliznoff, an air quality specialist for the Natural Resource Conservation, said that that San Joaquin Valley?EUR??,,????'???s topography, climate booming population work against efforts to control ozone problems. But there is some potential help for farmers including four cost-share programs. ?EUR??,,????'??Agriculture is not the only problem,?EUR??,,????'?? he added. ?EUR??,,????'??Everybody is going to have to help eliminate Nox and VOCs.?EUR??,,????'??