Airboard to consider composting regulation at Monday's meeting

The regional air board will meet Monday at 9:30 a.m. to decide what regulations should be required for composting facilities, a decision that could affect the proposed biosolids composting site to be built by Nursery Product’s near Hinkley.

The district does not have rules in place regulating composting facilities, according to air district spokeswoman Violette Roberts. If the board determines they should establish regulations, they could direct staff to begin that process.

Groups opposed to the proposed Hinkley facility are watching closely because the board could require that composting facilities be enclosed. There will be the opportunity for public comment during the meeting.

However, according to the meeting agenda, the air district’s staff will recommend to the board that composting facilities use operational practices to minimize dust instead of recommending that facilities be enclosed as opposition groups want. Chris Seney, director of operations for Nursery Products, has called enclosure unnecessary and prohibitively costly.

In 2003, the California Air Resources Board asked the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District to undertake a study to determine whether the air board should establish regulations concerning composting facilities. According to Roberts, the study was due in 2009, but the district sped up the process due to the planned Nursery Products facility.

If you go

What: Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District board meeting

When: 9:30 a.m. Monday

Where: Air board, 14306 Park Ave. in Victorville