HomeMy WebLinkAboutYell. Co. Air Pollution ControlYELLOWSTONE COUNTY
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
3306 Second Avenue North
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 256-6841
Fax (406) 256-6891
TO: Laurel City Council
FROM: Steve Duganz, Director
SUBJECT: Regulation Revisions
DATE: January 2, 2002
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CITY OF LAUREL
The Yellowstone County Air Pollution Control Program regulations were revised and
subsequently approved by the Yellowstone County Air Pollution Control Board on
December 11, 2001. As required by the State of Montana, public hearing must be held
before each political entity within that county before the regulations will be approved by
the State Board of Environmental Review.
I have enclosed a copy of the final notice of the proposed changes that include the repeal
of the Emergency Episode Plane which refers to sources regulated by the State, updating
the definition of "public nuisance" and a minor clerical error in the Open Burning
Regulation.
I will be available to answer any questions you may have either before or during the
scheduled public hearing.
BEFORE THE YELLOWSTONE COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
In the matter of the repeal of the ) FINAL NOTICE OF AMENDMENT
Emergency Episode Plan, and minor ) AND REPEAL OF AIR POLLUTION
clerical amendments. ) CONTROL PROGRAM RULES
TO: All Concerned Persons
1. On September 2, 2001, the Yellowstone County Air
Pollution Control Program published notice of the proposed repeal
of Regulation No. 001, Control of Odors in the Ambient Air, and
the Emergency Episode Plan. Also noticed was the proposed
amendment of the definitions of "animal matter", "reduction" and
"public nuisance", and minor clerical revisions.
2. The Yellowstone County Air Pollution Control Board
(Board) has repealed the Emergency Episode Plan as proposed.
3. The Board did not repeal Regulation No. 001, Control of
Odors in the Ambient Air.
4. The Board did not amend Section IV, A.6 and A.25, the
definitions of "animal matter" and "reduction". These proposed
amendments were associated with the proposed repeal of Regulation
No. 001.
5. The Board has amended
section H.4.b.(i) as proposed.
6. The Board has amended
following changes (matter to be
Regulation 002, open Burning,
Section IV, A.24, with the
added is underlined):
SECTION IV. DEFINITIONS
A.1 through 23. remain the same.
24. Public Nuisance:
(a) a condition which endangers safety or health is
offensive to the senses, or obstructs the free use of property so
as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or
property by an entire community or neighborhood or by any
considerable number of persons;
(b) any premises where persons gather for the purpose of
engaging in unlawful conduct; or
(c) a condition which renders dangerous for passage a
public highway or right-of-way or waters used by the public.
(2) A person commits the offense of maintaining a public
nuisance if he knowingly creates, conducts, or maintains a public
nuisance.
(3) Any act which affects an entire community or
neighborhood or any considerable number of persons (as specified
in subsection (1)(a)) is no less a nuisance because the extent of
the annoyance or damage inflicted upon individuals is unequal.
(4) No agricultural or farming operation, place,
establishment, or facility or any of its appurtenances or the
operation thereof is or becomes a public nuisance because of the
normal operation thereof as a result of changed residential or
commercial conditions in or around its locality if the
agricultural or farming operation, place, establishment, or
facility has been in operation longer than the complaining
resident has been in possession or commercial establishment has
been in operation.
(5) Noises resulting from the shooting activities at a
shooting range during established hours of operation are not
considered a public nuisance.
25. through 31. remain the same.
7. The Board received the following comments and responds
as follows:
COMMENT #1: Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council (YVCC) commented
that they strongly oppose the repeal of the Yellowstone County
Air Pollution Control Regulation No. 001, which pertains to odors
in the ambient air. They further state that if the regulation is
removed, citizens will be forced to pursue remedies that require
either private attorneys or the county attorney's office.
RESPONSE: The Board agrees and therefore will not remove
Regulation No. 001, but will use the newer definition of public
nuisance, i.e., 45-8-111, MCA, which is printed above.
YELLOWSTONE COUNTY AIR
POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
By: ' ,
11L-D. Collins, Chairman
Approved December 11, 2001.