Rule 316 Handbook - Nonmetallic Mineral Processing

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

The Rule 316 Handbook for Nonmetallic Mineral Processing provides a practical guide for businesses covered by the Maricopa County Air Quality Department's rule. The handbook was developed collaboratively with the Arizona Rock Products Association (ARPA) and provides 58 pages of photographs, diagrams, charts and helpful hints throughout. The content is organized to respond to specific questions and provides answers to the most commonly encountered compliance challenges. In addition to assisting those businesses that are regulated under the existing rule, the handbook is an effective reference for county inspectors who conduct Rule 316 inspections. There are approximately 250 businesses covered by Maricopa County’s Rule 316, comprised of thousands of employees. These sources include sand and gravel (aggregate), asphaltic concrete, ready mix concrete, asphalt, lime products and portland cement operations as well as trucking firms, paving contractors and other aggregate end users such as material testing labs. Because Arizona's construction industry was hit hard during the recent economic downturn, the financial impact of noncompliance with these rules would exacerbate their economic conditions. Within two weeks of its official release, the handbook had more than 800 hits on the Air Quality Department's webpage where it is posted.