(a)  In addition to complying with the requirements of this chapter, a permit system established by a district pursuant to Section 42300 shall ensure that any agricultural source that is required to obtain a permit pursuant to Title I (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq.) or Title V (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7661 et seq.) of the federal Clean Air Act is required by district regulation to obtain a permit in a manner that is consistent with the federal requirements.

(b)  Except as provided in subdivision (c), a district shall require an agricultural source of air pollution to obtain a permit unless it makes all of the following findings in a public hearing:

(1)  The source is subject to a permit requirement pursuant to Section 40724.6.

(2)  A permit is not necessary to impose or enforce reductions of emissions of air pollutants that the district shows cause or contribute to the violation of a state or federal ambient air quality standard.

(3)  The requirement for the source or category of sources to obtain a permit would impose a burden on those sources that is significantly more burdensome than permits required for other similar sources of air pollution.

(c)  Prior to requiring a permit for an agricultural source of air pollution with actual emissions that are less than one-half of any applicable emissions threshold for a major source in the district for any air contaminant, but excluding fugitive dust, a district shall, in a public hearing, make all of the following findings:

(1)  The source is not subject to a permit requirement pursuant to Section 40724.6.

(2)  A permit is necessary to impose or enforce reductions of emissions of air pollutants that the district shows cause or contribute to a violation of a state or federal ambient air quality standard.

(3)  The requirement for a source or category of sources to obtain a permit would not impose a burden on those sources that is significantly more burdensome than permits required for other similar sources of air pollution.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 322. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.)