Commercial Agricultural Operations

Background
The District is currently nonattainment for the States PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometers or less) standards.  Activities associated with Agricultural Operations (AG) have been identified as a significant source of producing PM10 emissions (fugitive dust) that can contribute to poor air quality in regions of Eastern Kern County.  The District recognizes a majority of the fugitive dust being generated from AG can easily be mitigated.

On March 12, 2015, the District’s Board adopted Rule 402.2 (Agricultural Operations), which is designed to prevent, reduce, and mitigate ambient concentrations of anthropogenic fugitive dust emissions generated from agricultural operations through implementation of Conservation Management Practices.

Requirements for Agricultural Operations
An owner/operator of each commercial AG facility (located in Eastern Kern County) with 10 or more acres of contiguous, or adjacent farmland, is required to prepare and submit a Conservation Management Practice (CMP) plan to the District for approval.

Conditions of a District approved plan must be implemented no later than ten (10) days after its approval.  A separate CMP plan must be submitted and approved for each crop and each site farmed.

Confined animal feed operations (CAFOs) are Exempt from CMP requirements.

Conservation Management Practice Plan
A CMP Plan is:  A document (District CMP Plan Form) prepared by the owner/operator of an AG site that lists the selected CMPs that will be implemented in order to mitigate fugitive dust.  A CMP Plan also contains, but is not limited to, owner or operator contact information, description of the operation, locations of agricultural parcels, and any other pertinent information describing the extent and duration of CMP implementation.

Conservation Management Practices
An approved CMP Plan will include implementation of at least one (1) Conservation Management Practice from each of the following categories:

1.   Land Preparation and Cultivation.

2.   Harvest Activities.

3.   Unpaved Roads and Traffic Areas.

4.   Windblown Dust/Cropland-Other.

Processing Fee
A filing/review fee of $120, paid by check or money order, is required with all CMP Plan submittals.