CHAPTER 5. Monitoring Devices [42700. - 42708.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 5.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42700. Section 42700.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that stationary sources of air pollution are known to emit significant amounts of pollutants into the air, but that existing sampling techniques are not sufficiently precise to permit accurate measurement. The Legislature further finds and declares that more accurate data will improve the design of strategies for the control of pollutants in the most cost-effective manner. (b) The Legislature further finds and declares that public complaints about excessive emissions from stationary sources are difficult or impossible to evaluate in the absence of adequate means of monitoring emissions on a continuing basis. The Legislature further finds and declares that, although the state board and the districts are authorized under Sections 41511 and 42303 to require stationary sources of air contaminants to install and operate monitoring devices to measure and record continuously the emissions concentration and amount of any specified pollutant, many districts have failed to exercise that authority. (c) The Legislature further finds and declares that all districts, especially the bay district, the districts located, in whole or part, within the South Coast Air Basin, and the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, should be encouraged to require that monitoring devices be installed in each stationary source of air contaminants that emits into the atmosphere 100 tons or more each year of nonmethane hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, reduced sulfur compounds, or particulate matter or 1,000 tons or more each year of carbon monoxide. (d) The Legislature further finds and declares that, pursuant to Section 39616, the south coast district has required the installation of a substantial number of monitoring devices and the installation and use of strip chart recorders for compliance purposes. However, electronic or computer data capture and storage is generally less costly and may have the capability to provide greater data availability with the same degree of security. (e) To encourage the districts to take actions to monitor emissions of stationary sources as described in this section, the state board shall determine the availability, technological feasibility, and economic reasonableness of monitoring devices for those stationary sources as provided by Section 42701. (f) To make emissions data available to the public and to minimize burdens on the private sector, the districts shall allow stationary sources the option of using electronic or computer data storage for purposes of compliance with Section 39616.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42701. Section 42701.

(a) For the purposes of Sections 41511 and 42303, the state board shall determine the availability, technological feasibility, and economic reasonableness of monitoring devices to measure and record continuously the emissions concentration and amount of nonmethane hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, reduced sulfur compounds, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide emitted by stationary sources. Such determination shall be made for stationary sources which emit such contaminants in the quantities set forth in Section 42700, and may be made for stationary sources which emit lesser amounts. The state board shall complete an initial review of submitted devices by June 1, 1975.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42702. Section 42702.

The state board shall specify the types of stationary sources, processes, and the contaminants, or combinations thereof, for which a monitoring device is available, technologically feasible, and economically reasonable. Such specification may be by any technologically based classification, including on an industrywide basis or by individual stationary source, by air basin, by district, or any other reasonable classification.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42703. Section 42703.

The state board shall require the manufacturer of any monitoring device submitted for a determination to reimburse the state board for its actual expenses incurred in making the determination, including, where applicable, its contract expenses for testing and review.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42704. Section 42704.

After the state board has made a determination of availability, the state board may, as appropriate, revoke or modify its prior determination of availability if circumstances beyond the control of the state board, or of a stationary source required to install a monitoring device, cause a substantial delay or impairment in the availability of the device or cause the device no longer to be available.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42705. Section 42705.

Any stationary source required by the district in which the source is located to install and operate a monitoring device shall retain the records from the device for not less than two years and, upon request, shall make the records available to the state board and the district. The district shall allow the source the option of using electronic or computer data storage, as defined in Section 40407.5 and consistent with Section 40440.3, as a method of record retention. The source shall not be limited solely to the installation or maintenance of strip chart recorders.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42705.5. Section 42705.5.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions and related provisions shall apply: (1) “Community air monitoring system” means advanced sensing monitoring equipment that measures and records air pollutant concentrations in the ambient air at or near sensitive receptor locations and in disadvantaged communities and that may be useful for estimating associated pollutant exposures and health risks, determining trends in air pollutant levels over time, and in supporting enforcement efforts. (2) “Disadvantaged community” means a community identified as disadvantaged pursuant to Section 39711. (3) “Fence-line monitoring system” means monitoring equipment that measures and records air pollutant concentrations at or adjacent to a stationary source that may be useful for detecting or estimating emissions of pollutants from the source, including the quantity of fugitive emissions, and in supporting enforcement efforts. (4) “Nonattainment pollutant” has the same meaning as in Section 39607.1. (5) “Sensitive receptors” includes hospitals, schools and day care centers, and such other locations as the district or state board may determine. (6) “Stationary source” has the same meaning as in Section 39607.1. (b) On or before October 1, 2018, the state board shall prepare, in consultation with the Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants, the districts, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, environmental justice organizations, affected industries, and other interested stakeholders, a monitoring plan regarding the availability and effectiveness of toxic air contaminant and criteria air pollutant advanced sensing monitoring technologies and existing community air monitoring systems, as well as the need for and benefits of establishing additional community air monitoring systems. In preparing the monitoring plan, the state board shall conduct at least one public workshop in each of the northern, central, and southern parts of the state. (c) (1) Based on findings and recommendations in the monitoring plan prepared pursuant to subdivision (b), the state board shall select, concurrent with the monitoring plan, in consultation with the districts and based on an assessment of the locations of sensitive receptors and disadvantaged communities, the highest priority locations around the state to deploy community air monitoring systems, which shall be communities with high exposure burdens for toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants. By July 1, 2019, any district containing a location selected pursuant to this subdivision shall deploy a community air monitoring system in the selected location or locations. In implementing this subdivision, the district may require any stationary source that emits pollutants in, or that materially affect, the highest priority locations identified pursuant to this subdivision to deploy a fence-line monitoring system or other appropriate real-time, on-site monitoring, taking into account technical capabilities, cost, and the degree to which additional data would materially contribute to an understanding of community risk. (2) Subject to available funding, monitoring in a location selected under this subdivision shall be active for no fewer than five years, with an option for the district and the state board to agree to extend active monitoring for additional five-year periods, as necessary. (d) Subject to available funding, by January 1, 2020, and January 1 of every year thereafter, the state board shall select additional locations pursuant to subdivision (c), as the state board deems appropriate based on the monitoring plan described in subdivision (b). Any district containing a location selected pursuant to this subdivision shall deploy a community air monitoring system in the selected location within one year of the state board selecting the location. The state board shall hold an annual public hearing on the status of implementing the network of community air monitoring systems and make recommendations for improvements. (e) Subject to available funding, by July 1, 2026, and every five years thereafter, the state board shall update the monitoring plan detailed in subdivision (b). The update shall be considered and approved by the state board before it is implemented. (f) Subject to available funding, the districts shall provide to the state board the air quality data produced by the community air monitoring systems deployed pursuant to this section. The state board shall publish the air quality data on its internet website. (g) (1) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, by March 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the state board, in consultation with the districts, shall report to the appropriate subcommittees of the budget committee of each house of the Legislature about the progress the state board and the districts have made in implementing this section. This report shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following: (A) The status of implementation in each selected community. (B) Best practices identified. (C) Lessons learned through implementation. (D) Enforcement activities. (E) Any outcome data that is available, either through air monitoring or other means, including, but not limited to, achieved emissions reductions. (F) A report of expenditures made in furtherance of this section. (2) A report submitted to the Legislature pursuant to this subdivision shall also be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. (3) The chair of the state board and the executive directors or air pollution control officers of the relevant districts shall appear before the relevant policy committees or budget subcommittees of the Legislature, upon request of the chair of those committees, to present on the progress in implementing this section. This presentation may be done at a hearing that is held jointly with the relevant Assembly and Senate standing committees.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42705.6. Section 42705.6.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) “Refinery-related community air monitoring system” means equipment that measures and records air pollutant concentrations in the ambient air at or near sensitive receptor locations near a petroleum refinery and that may be useful for estimating associated pollutant exposures and health risks and in determining trends in air pollutant levels over time. (2) “Fence-line monitoring system” means equipment that measures and records air pollutant concentrations at or adjacent to a petroleum refinery and that may be useful for detecting or estimating the quantity of fugitive emissions, gas leaks, and other air emissions from the refinery. (b) Notwithstanding Section 42708, and on or before January 1, 2020, a refinery-related community air monitoring system shall be installed near each refinery that is consistent with the requirements and guidance applicable to the siting of air quality monitors as established by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and that meets all of the following requirements: (1) A district shall design, develop, install, operate, and maintain the refinery-related community air monitoring system, which shall be operated and maintained in accordance with guidance from the appropriate district. A district may contract with a third party to implement this paragraph. (2) The refinery-related community air monitoring system shall include equipment capable of measuring compounds emitted to the atmosphere from refinery processes, as determined by the appropriate district. (c) On or before January 1, 2020, the owner or operator of a petroleum refinery shall develop, install, operate, and maintain a fence-line monitoring system in accordance with guidance developed by the appropriate district. (d) The district and the owner or operator of a petroleum refinery shall collect real-time data from the refinery-related community air monitoring system and the fence-line monitoring system and shall maintain records of that data. To the extent feasible, the data generated by these systems shall be provided to the public as quickly as possible in a publicly accessible format. (e) Guidance developed by a district pursuant to this section shall take into account technological capabilities and incorporate input from affected parties and, to the extent feasible, shall be informed by refinery-related guidance in the monitoring plan prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 42705.5. (f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the owner or operator of a petroleum refinery shall be responsible for the costs associated with implementing this section. (2) To the extent a refinery-related community air monitoring system is intentionally utilized by a district to monitor emissions from sources under its jurisdiction other than a petroleum refinery, the district shall ensure the costs of the system are shared in a reasonably equitable manner.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42705.7. Section 42705.7.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) “Wastewater treatment facility” means a wastewater treatment or reclamation facility that comes within both of the following descriptions: (A) Is located within 1,500 feet of a residential neighborhood. (B) Has an original design capacity of 425,000,000 gallons or more per day. (2) “Wastewater treatment-related fence-line monitoring system” means equipment that measures and records air pollutant concentrations at or adjacent to a wastewater treatment facility and that may be useful for detecting or estimating emissions of pollutants from the treatment facility, including the quantity of fugitive emissions and other air emissions, and meets the minimum requirements of the appropriate air quality management district. (b) (1) On or before January 1, 2027, the owner or operator of a wastewater treatment facility shall develop, install, operate, and maintain a wastewater treatment-related fence-line monitoring system that is approved by the appropriate air quality management district. The wastewater treatment-related fence-line monitoring system shall include equipment capable of measuring pollutants of concern, including hydrogen sulfide, emitted to the atmosphere from wastewater treatment or reclamation processes that the appropriate air quality management district deems appropriate for monitoring. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering the responsibility of an owner or operator of a wastewater treatment facility to not exceed the limits for nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds established in existing air quality regulations, as determined by source tests required to be conducted by the operator or conducted by the appropriate air quality management district. Source testing by the owner or operator, or a contractor, shall be conducted pursuant to a protocol approved by the appropriate air quality management district. (c) (1) The owner or operator of a wastewater treatment facility shall collect real-time data from the wastewater treatment-related fence-line monitoring system, shall maintain records of that data, and shall transmit the data to the appropriate air quality management district. (2) The air quality management district and the owner or operator of a wastewater treatment facility shall maintain records of data from a wastewater treatment-related fence-line monitoring system for at least three years. To the extent feasible, the data generated by wastewater treatment-related fence-line monitoring systems shall be provided to the public by the owner or operator of a wastewater treatment facility in a publicly accessible format that provides a real-time data display. (d) The owner or operator of a wastewater treatment facility shall be responsible for all of the following costs: (1) The costs associated with development, installation, maintenance, and operation of a wastewater treatment-related fence-line monitoring system and source testing at the wastewater treatment facility. (2) The costs associated with providing the data to the air quality management district and the public as required pursuant to subdivision (c). (3) All costs incurred by the air quality management district related to the wastewater treatment-related fence-line monitoring system and source testing at the wastewater treatment facility, including, but not limited to, any costs to review and approve a wastewater treatment-related fence-line monitoring system plan, review documentation, identify appropriate pollutants to monitor, and collect, process, analyze, and store samples and data.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42706. Section 42706.

Any violation of any emission standard to which the stationary source is required to conform, as indicated by the records of the monitoring device, shall be reported by the operator of the source to the district within 96 hours after such occurrence. The district shall, in turn, report the violation to the state board within five working days after receiving the report of the violation from the operator.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42707. Section 42707.

The air pollution control officer shall inspect, as he determines necessary, the monitoring devices installed in every stationary source of air contaminants located within his jurisdiction required to have such devices to insure that such devices are functioning properly. The district may require reasonable fees to be paid by the operator of any such source to cover the expense of such inspection and other costs related thereto.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 42708. Section 42708.

This chapter shall not prevent any local or regional authority from adopting monitoring requirements more stringent than those set forth in this chapter or be construed as requiring the installation of monitoring devices on any stationary source or classes of stationary sources. This section shall not limit the authority of the state board to require the installation of monitoring devices pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 41500).

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026