Toxics – HRAs and AB 2588 Prioritization Scores

Prioritization scores provide an initial assessment of chronic, cancerous, and acute risk from toxic air contaminants (TACs). AB 2588 requires facilities to be appraised and obtain a prioritization score. A high prioritization score may require the facility to conduct a health risk assessment (HRA), compose isopleth maps of health risk, and report criteria pollutants and TACs annually to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). However, a low prioritization score can be beneficial in avoiding HRAs and annual reporting to CARB.

HRAs are generally characterized as a method of estimating a person’s or population’s chances of experiencing cancer or other adverse health effects due to exposure to TACs. HRAs can vary in complexity depending on site-specific factors, the purpose of each HRA, and the regulatory requirements.

Additionally, Proposition 65 and “right to know” laws require facilities to disclose toxics to facility staff and possibly the local community.

Yorke Engineering, LLC’s environmental engineering staff is highly skilled at utilizing the most current risk assessment tools and methodologies. Our professional staff can expertly design and prepare HRA projects to address specific objectives, whether the challenges are complex or simple.

Toxics Services

• AB 2588 Facility-Wide Prioritization Scores and HRAs;
• AB 2588 Reporting and Inventories;
• Air Quality Permitting-Based HRAs;
• Air District Rule-Based HRAs;
• CEQA-Based HRAs;
• HRAs for Proposition 65 Notification mapping;
• HRAs for “In-House” Engineering or Project-Specific Evaluations; and
• HRAs for AB 617 Communities.

HRA Tool Proficiencies

• Hotspots Analysis and Reporting Program, Version 2 (HARP2);
• Refined Air Dispersion Models (e.g., AERMOD);
• Screening-Level Air Dispersion Models (e.g., AERSCREEN); and
• Air District-Specific Health Risk Calculators.

Toxics and AB 617

If a facility receives an “elevated prioritization score” as determined by the local District, they will be required to report their criteria and toxic emissions annually to CARB. In this case, Yorke can assist in:

• Elevated Prioritization Score Management;
• HRA Refinement for Potential Prioritization Score Reduction;
• Recordkeeping Systems for Annual Reporting; and
• Emission Quantification for Annual Reporting.

Agency-Specific Expertise

Yorke has experience preparing HRAs for the following agencies, among others:

• California Air Resources Board (CARB);
• Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA);
• South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD);
• San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD);
• Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD); and
• All Additional 31 Air Districts.