(a)  The Legislature hereby finds and declares that stationary sources of air pollution are known to emit significant amounts of pollutants into the air, but that existing sampling techniques are not sufficiently precise to permit accurate measurement. The Legislature further finds and declares that more accurate data will improve the design of strategies for the control of pollutants in the most cost-effective manner.

(b)  The Legislature further finds and declares that public complaints about excessive emissions from stationary sources are difficult or impossible to evaluate in the absence of adequate means of monitoring emissions on a continuing basis. The Legislature further finds and declares that, although the state board and the districts are authorized under Sections 41511 and 42303 to require stationary sources of air contaminants to install and operate monitoring devices to measure and record continuously the emissions concentration and amount of any specified pollutant, many districts have failed to exercise that authority.

(c)  The Legislature further finds and declares that all districts, especially the bay district, the districts located, in whole or part, within the South Coast Air Basin, and the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, should be encouraged to require that monitoring devices be installed in each stationary source of air contaminants that emits into the atmosphere 100 tons or more each year of nonmethane hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, reduced sulfur compounds, or particulate matter or 1,000 tons or more each year of carbon monoxide.

(d)  The Legislature further finds and declares that, pursuant to Section 39616, the south coast district has required the installation of a substantial number of monitoring devices and the installation and use of strip chart recorders for compliance purposes. However, electronic or computer data capture and storage is generally less costly and may have the capability to provide greater data availability with the same degree of security.

(e)  To encourage the districts to take actions to monitor emissions of stationary sources as described in this section, the state board shall determine the availability, technological feasibility, and economic reasonableness of monitoring devices for those stationary sources as provided by Section 42701.

(f)  To make emissions data available to the public and to minimize burdens on the private sector, the districts shall allow stationary sources the option of using electronic or computer data storage for purposes of compliance with Section 39616.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 618, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1997.)