----- Forwarded by Jeff Dasovich/NA/Enron on 01/26/2001 05:28 PM -----

=09Mary Schoen
=0901/26/2001 04:13 PM
=09=09=20
=09=09 To: Martin Wenzel/ENRON@enronxgate
=09=09 cc: Jeff Dasovich/NA/Enron@Enron
=09=09 bcc:=20
=09=09 Subject:=20

South Coast Air Quality Management District

=09=09Jan. 26, 2001
=09=09To Help Provide Power During Energy Crisis
=09=09AQMD EXTENDS OPERATIONS LIMIT ON EMERGENCY GENERATORS
=09=09In an effort to give essential public services greater ability to res=
pond to=20
power emergencies, the region's air quality agency issued an executive orde=
r=20
today extending the amount of time that such agencies can run emergency=20
generators.
=09=09"Gov. Davis declared a state of emergency last week due to the state'=
s power=20
crisis," said Barry Wallerstein, AQMD=01,s executive officer. "In response,=
AQMD=20
has increased the amount of time that emergency generators at hospitals,=20
police stations, fire houses and other essential public services can operat=
e."
=09=09Under AQMD's executive order, essential public service providers can =
operate=20
emergency generators up to 500 hours in a calendar year, which more than=20
doubles AQMD's Rule 1110.2 operation limit of 200 hours per year. AQMD rule=
s=20
normally limit emergency generators to 200 hours per year because they are=
=20
typically diesel-powered, have no pollution controls and emit 300 times mor=
e=20
smog-forming pollution per unit of energy than a new power plant.
=09=09Today's order allows essential public service providers to operate up=
to 500=20
hours per year during an imminent or actual power blackout in the provider'=
s=20
area. It also promotes the use of low-sulfur diesel fuel, defined as=20
containing 15 parts per million or less of sulfur, if reasonably available.=
=20
The provisions of the order are consistent with U.S. Environmental Protecti=
on=20
Agency guidance on this issue.
=09=09The order expires on Feb. 3, 2001, but can be renewed in 10-day incre=
ments.=20
It applies to the following public services:
=09=09
=09=09

=09=09
=09=09
=09=09Police and fire fighting facilities;
=09=09
=09=09Hospitals and other health care facilities;
=09=09
=09=09Kindergarten through high schools;
=09=09
=09=09Drinking water agencies;
=09=09
=09=09Public transit agencies;
=09=09
=09=09Prisons;
=09=09
=09=09911 emergency dispatch operations;
=09=09
=09=09Publicly owned sewage treatment plants;
=09=09
=09=09Landfill gas operations; and
=09=09
=09=09Critical military operations.
=09=09
=09=09Under AQMD's Rule 118, the agency's executive officer can suspend AQM=
D rules=20
for public health and safety services for 10 days at a time in response to =
a=20
state of emergency declared by the state or federal government.
=09=09AQMD has set up a hotline, (909) 396-2660, to assist operators of bac=
kup=20
generators at non-essential public services to voluntarily apply for a=20
variance with AQMD's independent Hearing Board.
=09=09AQMD also will approve applications submitted by any emergency genera=
tor=20
operator that is not an essential public service to revise their permit to=
=20
allow up to 200 hours of operation.
=09=09"The governor has determined that the power crisis poses an extreme p=
eril to=20
public safety," Wallerstein said. "We are doing our part to ensure that=20
public health and safety agencies can keep operating during periods of=20
potential blackouts."
=09=09AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and the ur=
ban=20
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Mary Schoen
Environmental Strategies
Enron Corp
713-345-7422