Program Manager 
Phone: 858-307-6050
Fax: 858-307-4200

SDAPCD Open Burn Forecast Hotline: 858-586-2800, Select Option 3 or visit the SDAPCD Open Burn Forecast Page.

Program Overview

The Air Quality Program is responsible for the oversight of proper management and use of hazardous materials, equipment, and processes that emit air contaminants to ensure compliance with established federal, state, and county laws and regulations along with DoD, U.S. Marine Corps, and MCAS Miramar policies, procedures, and directives.

Contact the Program Manager for any specific information regarding Air Quality aboard MCAS Miramar.

Federal Laws

• Clean Air Act

State Laws and Regulators

• California Air Resources Board (CARB)

• DOORS In-Use Off-road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulation

• DOORS Large Spark Ignition (LSI) Engine Fleet Requirements Regulation

Local County Regulations

• San Diego County Air Pollution Control District Rules and Regulations

• Rule 61.8 - Certification Requirements for Vapor Control Equipment

• Rule 67.0.1 - Architectural Coatings

• Rule 67.6.1 Cold Solvent Cleaning and Stripping Operations

• Rule 69.4 - Stationary Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines - RACT

• Rule 69.4.1 - Stationary Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines - BARCT

• Rule 67.9 - Aerospace Coating Operations

• Rule 69.2.1 - Small Boilers, Process Heaters and Steam Generators

• Rule 71 - Abrasive Blasting

Marine Corps Policy

• MCO 5090.2 (JUN 2018)

• Air Quality Management Plan 

Practices

1. Aircraft operations and maintenance - As home to the Marine Corps 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), MCAS Miramar supports a large fleet of aircraft and hangars that are used for maintenance. There are several environmental aspects to the operations and maintenance work being executed on the installation including: aerospace coating, painting, solvent cleaning and degreasing, hazardous materials use, and abrasive blasting.
2. Fueling dispensing- MCAS Miramar operates fuel dispensing at MCX and other government gas stations.  In compliance with California and local air regulations, fuel nozzles are fitted with vapor recovery systems to reduce the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the air.
3. Facilities- The Station has employed the use of emergency back-up generators outside many of its buildings to ensure that operations are not interrupted by electrical power outages. Additionally, the Station provides inspections and oversight on boilers to ensure that they meet SDAPCD operating limits.

Aspects

1. Abrasive Blasting - Abrasive blast booths are used to strip paint from metal parts typically deriving from aircraft.  Blast booths are operated in compliance with APCD rules and spent blast media is disposed of as hazardous waste.
2. Aerospace and aircraft parts coating - Painting of aircraft and aircraft parts must meet several compliance parameters as expounded by APCD Rule 67.9 including: use of HVLP guns, coating and solvent usage logs, maintenance of an aerospace coating list (ACL), and maintenance of safety data sheets.
3. Internal Combustion Engines - Stationary internal combustion engines are used aboard the Station to provide emergency back-up power to buildings in the event of a power outage and are also used to power arresting gear engines used in tactical exercises for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW).  Internal combustion engines above 50 bhp meet the operating specifications of APCD Rule 69.4 and operating logs and maintenance records are available for engines operating under permits.
4. Boilers - Boilers provide water heating for some of the larger facilities aboard the Station.  Boilers are certified according to their NOx and CO emissions and are properly identified and labeled.  Fuel usage is tracked and regular maintenance and inspections are performed to identify any flaws in the equipment's ability to operate.
5.  Paint Booths - Paint booths are used primarily for the coating of aircraft parts and comprise of closed systems that prevent the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other air pollutants to the outside air.  The booths require permits to operate, regularly cleaned exhaust filters, and inspections to ensure that proper pressure drops across filters and exhaust fans are functional. 
6. Solvent Cleaning and Degreasing - Solvents dip tanks are used in the aircraft parts and maintenance work conducted at the Station and must follow strict operating instructions as posted on APCD permits. Daily usage records are to be maintained for three years and a list of solvents and associated authorized use list (AUL) shall be maintained on site.  Any site utilizing parts cleaners should ensure that if an organic solvent is used, that it is properly vetted by the EMD.  When possible, aqueous based parts cleaner solutions should be used in lieu of organic solvents.

Impacts

1. Abrasive Blasting - Spent blast grit from abrasive blasting procedures will need to be removed as hazardous waste due to the toxic characteristics of the blast by-product.  Blast booths may require APCD permits depending on their size.
2. Aerospace and aircraft parts coating - The paints used for aircraft and aerospace typically contain higher VOCs and vapor pressures than those used to paint a house or even the outside of a building. Because of this, the Station uses HVLP guns, paint booths and other means to ensure that the VOCs released to the atmosphere are minimal. All operations are done in compliance with the local APCD rules.
3. Internal Combustion Engines - Stationary Internal Combustion Engines aboard MCAS Miramar are only used in the event of a power outage. Large diesel engines are used to generate power for buildings until regular grid power is restored. Internal combustion engines for the generators run on ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, a mixture which reduces the amount of harmful NOx molecules released to the atmosphere. The engines on the installation are tested periodically to make certain that they function in an emergency but are always operated within the constraints of the local APCD permit.
4. Boilers - Boilers provide warm and hot water to the buildings on the station. Most boilers run on natural gas, a cleaner source than diesel.
5. Paint Booths - Paint booths, under ideal operating conditions, prevent the introduction of harmful VOCs and other air contaminants into the atmosphere. The system is closed from the outside environment during operation.  If the paint booth malfunctions, there is a risk that increased air pollutants can be introduced to the atmosphere and the Station may be subject to violations from the local air district.
6. Solvent Cleaning and Degreasing - For solvent cleaning and degreasing, the cleaning process should take place in a reservoir with an apparatus or cover to prevent evaporation of solvent to the atmosphere.  The Station operates all cleaning and degreasing pursuant to APCD permit parameters to ensure that excess volatile organic compounds are not released to the atmosphere.

Objectives

Targets