The following document has been published:

This is a major revision of an existing document.

The SLAC Environment, Safety, and Health Manual (SLAC-I-720-0A29Z-001-R023) is being revised.

This Chapter 30, "Air Quality", has been revised to pull together disparate information and consolidate it into a coherent whole that documents many informal policies, procedures, and understandings that have developed as the program has fundamentally changed and grown since the chapter was last revised.

Despite extensive revising and updating, however, no major increase in effort or expenditure by SLAC personnel is involved in complying with the conditions of this chapter. In fact, many of the activities outlined here are already in place, at least for some sources. Major changes are these

1. Inspection of all emissions sources, whether permitted or permit-exempt, needs to be done at least semi-annually. This requirement is already in place for a number of sources on site; this chapter formalizes the standard to apply to all such sources. A generic source inspection checklist is included as an exhibit.
2. Documentation associated with the use and storage of hazardous materials has been standardized and provided in this chapter as a package of five forms. The forms include a pre-work list, a post-work usage report, and monthly recordkeeping logs. Use of these forms to record reportable emissions is explained for all covered activities at SLAC. Note that the applicability of these forms has been expanded; they are now required for all construction projects, defined broadly, whether performed by SLAC personnel or outside contractors, insofar as they involve hazardous materials.
3. Greenhouse gases to date have been addressed primarily on a voluntary basis. However, with the passage of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (State Assembly Bill 32), recordkeeping and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions will be mandatory for subject facilities. The short-term impact on SLAC will be increased scrutiny of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), which is used in both electrical substation equipment and experimental apparatus.
4. SLAC personnel who operate permitted emissions sources and record monitoring data will notice primarily that the existing recordkeeping procedures have been formalized and standardized. These contacts are designated as emission source custodians, and their roles and responsibilities explained.
5. Finally, SLAC has instituted a strict no idling policy for all vehicles operated anywhere on site. This policy applies to passenger cars and trucks, commercial vehicles, forklifts, and mobile heavy equipment such as cranes. The policy comprises two main elements: (1) once the engine is started, start driving as soon as possible; and (2) if you leave your vehicle unattended for any length of time, turn the engine off. This policy is in response to growing concerns about exhaust fumes in various work areas at SLAC, and in particular, to several recent documented cases of workers inside buildings suffering exposure to fumes from idling vehicles outside.

This document replaces the existing Chapter 30, "Air Quality", published in October 1995.

For questions on the content of this chapter, contact the program manager, Kirk Stoddard (ext. 3801, stoddard@SLAC.Stanford.edu).

To view the comment and response record for this revision, go to "To View Revision Histories" at https://www-internal.slac.stanford.edu/esh/docreview/