House of
Representatives
HB 2394
air quality; agricultural management practices
Sponsors: Representatives Pratt, Bowers, Cardenas, et al.
Overview
HB 2394 requires anyone who commences a regulated agricultural activity to immediately comply with the agricultural general permit beginning January 1, 2016.
History
The agricultural general permit and best management practices were both a result of the Governor’s Agricultural Best Management Practices Committee (Committee) established by Laws 1998, Chapter 217, Section 16. The Committee consists of governor-appointed stakeholders from various agriculture industries who were required to adopt, by rule, an agriculture general permit and best management practices to reduce PM10 from agriculture activities.
PM10 emissions refer to dust in the air and particulate matter measuring less than ten micrometers, and are regulated for public health reasons. The regulated areas of PM10 nonattainment are: 1) the Maricopa PM10 nonattainment area, 2) any portion of area A that is located in Maricopa County, and 3) any other PM10 particulate nonattainment area established in the state after June 1, 2009.
Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 49-457 defines an agricultural general permit as best management practices that reduce PM10 emissions from:
a) tillage and harvesting on a commercial farm;
b) areas of a commercial farm that are not normally in crop production;
c) areas of a commercial farm that are normally in crop production including prior to plant emergence and when the land is not in crop production;
d) areas of a commercial farm undergoing significant agricultural earthmoving activities; and
e) activities of a dairy or a beef cattle lot, a poultry facility or a swine facility.
Statute defines best management practices as techniques that are verified by scientific research and that on a case by case basis are practical, economically feasible and effective in reducing PM10 particulate emissions from a regulated agricultural activity (A.R.S. § 49-457).
Provisions
1. Removes the 18-month delay for compliance with the agricultural general permit and requires immediate compliance with the permit beginning January 1, 2016.
2. Makes technical changes.
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Fifty-second Legislature
First Regular Session 2 January 21, 2015
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