California Air Resources Board

On July 25, 2024, the Board heard the “San Joaquin Valley 2024 State Implementation Plan for the 2012 12 µg/m3 Annual PM2.5 Standards, Amendments to the Agricultural Equipment Incentive Measure and the 1997 15 µg/m3 State Implementation Plan Revision, and Implementation Update on the 2018 PM2.5 Plan.”

At that hearing, the Board directed staff to survey the current status of facilities with significant fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in response to concerns raised by the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition (CVAQ). Specifically, the Board directed staff to analyze the documentation we have about the facility emissions and ensure that they are operating in compliance with their permitted standards. Additionally, the Board directed staff to look at the amount and source of emissions for both PM2.5 and NOx, type of pollution control equipment used at each source.

On September 15, 2025, CARB staff provided a memo to the Board documenting this “spot-check” review of facilities in the SJV Air District per the Board’s direction, identifying permitted equipment and associated emissions control technologies, identifying applicable air pollution control regulations, and assessing allowable and actual emissions. The goal of this spot-check analysis was to determine if existing permits issued to the 27 corporate operators identified by CVAQ for the largest PM2.5 emitting equipment effectively implemented the emission control requirements established by the SJV Air District, addressing the facilities identified by CVAQ. It also includes background history and actions the SJV Air District has taken to reduce emissions and achieve air quality.

Based on this spot-check review, CARB finds that the SJV Air District is substantively meeting its statutory responsibility to ensure that the permits reviewed are issued in conformance with statutory requirements. CARB did not find anything that would require legal intervention and the SJV Air District has made significant progress in emissions reductions since 2016.