Best Available Retrofit Control Technology or BARCT
BARCT is an air emissions limit that applies to existing stationary sources of emissions and is the maximum degree of reduction achievable, taking into account environmental, energy, and economic impacts by each class or category of source.
Under Assembly Bill 617, air districts in non-attainment areas are required to adopt, by January 1, 2019, an expedited schedule to implement the most current BARCT limits on industrial sources that are subject to the AB 32 Cap-and-Trade program by December 31, 2023. These requirements are set considering feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and the nature and severity of the air quality challenge.
Process and Timeline for Expedited Review of BARCT Requirements
As a part of the public process associated with establishing the Expedited BARCT Implementation Schedule, to solicit input from stakeholders regarding the District’s proposed methodology to address the AB 617 requirement to adopt an expedited BARCT analysis schedule. The District then held a public workshop on December 11, 2018, to solicit further input from the stakeholders regarding the District’s proposed BARCT implementation schedule. Then, on December 18, 2018 (found here) the District’s Governing Board approved the Expedited BARCT Implementation Schedule as required under AB 617.
For all rules where further analysis is required to determine whether a District rule meets BARCT, the District will engage in a public process to assess specific air pollution control technologies associated with each rule, taking into account the local public health and clean air benefits to the community, the air quality and attainment benefits of each control option, and the cost effectiveness of each control option. Based on the BARCT assessment, the District will proceed with any necessary rule amendments through additional public processes to implement BARCT.
BARCT Evaluation Schedule
| Rule | Title | Schedule |
| 4:31 | Industrial, Institutional, and Commercial Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters Oxides of Nitrogen Control Measure. | The District will complete this evaluation process during calendar year 2021, including the adoption of a Industrial, Institutional, and Commercial Boilers, Steam Generators, and Process Heaters Oxides of Nitrogen Control Measure rule if necessary. |
| 4:34 | Stationary Internal Combustion Engines | The District will complete this process during calendar year 2021, including the adoption of a Internal Combustion Engine rule if necessary. |