Portable Equipment Definitions

Definition of Terms

• Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) means the air pollution control officer of a district, or his/her designee.
• Alternative Fuel means gasoline, natural gas, propane, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), hydrogen, ethanol, or methanol.
• CARB means the California Air Resources Board who is responsible for setting the final regulation standards for portable equipment
• Certified Compression-Ignition Engine means an engine meeting the non-road engine emission standards for compression-ignition engines, as set forth in Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations or 40 CFR Part 89 in effect at the time of application.
• Certified Spark-Ignition Engine means an engine meeting the non-road engine emission standards for spark-ignition engines, as set forth in Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations or 40 CFR Part 1048 in effect at the time of application.
• Certified Non-road Engine refers to an engine meeting an applicable non-road engine emission standard as set forth in Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations or CFR 40 Part 89.
• Compression-Ignition (CI) Engine means an internal combustion engine with operating characteristics significantly similar to the theoretical diesel combustion cycle. Compression-ignition engines usually control fuel supply instead of using a throttle to regulate power.
• Diesel Fuel means any fuel that is commonly or commercially known, sold, or represented by the supplier as diesel fuel, including any mixture of primarily liquid hydrocarbons-organic compounds consisting exclusively of the elements carbon and hydrogen-that is sold or represented as suitable for use in an engine.
• Diesel Particulate Matter (PM) means the particles found in the exhaust of diesel-fueled engines which may agglomerate and adsorb other species to form structures of complex physical and chemical properties.
• District means a District as defined in Health and Safety Code section 39025.
• Emergency means providing electrical power or mechanical work during any of the following events and subject to the following conditions:
  • The failure or loss of all or part of normal electrical power service or normal natural gas supply to the facility:
    • Which is caused by any reason other than the enforcement of a contractual obligation the owner or operator has with a third party or any other party.
    • Which is demonstrated by the owner or operator to the district APCO’s satisfaction to have been beyond the reasonable control of the owner or operator.
  • The failure of a facility’s internal power distribution system:
    • Which is caused by any reason other than the enforcement of a contractual obligation the owner or operator has with a third party or any other party.
    • Which is demonstrated by the owner or operator to the district APCO’s satisfaction to have been beyond the reasonable control of the owner or operator.
  • The pumping of water or sewage to prevent or mitigate a flood or sewage overflow.
  • The pumping of water for fire suppression or protection.
  • The pumping of water to maintain pressure in the water distribution system for the following reasons:
    • Pipe break.
    • High demand on water supply system due to high use of water for fire suppression.
  • The breakdown of electric-powered pumping equipment at sewage treatment facilities or water delivery facilities.
  • The training of personnel in the use of portable equipment for emergency purposes.
• Emergency Event refers to a situation arising from a sudden and reasonably unforeseen natural disaster such as an earthquake, flood, fire, or other acts of God, or other unforeseen event that requires the use of portable engines to help alleviate the threat to public health and safety.
• Engine means any piston-driven internal combustion engine.
• Engines Used Exclusively in Emergency Applications refer to engines that are used only during an emergency or emergency event, and includes appropriate maintenance and testing.
• Executive Officer means the Executive Officer of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) or his/her designee.
• Fleet refers to a portable engine or group of portable engines that are owned and managed by an individual operational entity, such as a business, business unit within a corporation, or individual city or state department under the control of a Responsible Official. Engines that are owned by different business entities that are under the common control of only one Responsible Official shall be treated as a single fleet.
• Fuel Additive means any substance designed to be added to fuel or fuel systems or other engine-related systems such that it is present in-cylinder during combustion and has any of the following effects: decreased emissions, improved fuel economy, increased performance of the engine; or assists diesel emission control strategies in decreasing emissions, or improving fuel economy or increasing performance of the engine. Fuel additives used in conjunction with diesel fuel may be treated as an alternative diesel fuel.
• In-Use Engines refers to portable diesel-fueled engines operating under valid permits or registrations as of December 31, 2005.
• Location means any single site at a building, structure, facility, or installation.
• Low-Use Engines refers to portable diesel-fueled engines that operate 80 hours or less in a calendar year.
• Maximum Rated Horsepower (brake horsepower (bhp)) is the maximum brake horsepower rating specified by the portable engine manufacturer and listed on the nameplate of the portable engine.
• Nonroad Engine means:
  • Except as discussed in paragraph (2) of this definition, a nonroad engine is any engine:
    • In or on a piece of equipment that is self-propelled or serves a dual purpose by both propelling itself and performing another function (such as garden tractors, off-highway mobile cranes and bulldozers).
    • In or on a piece of equipment that is intended to be propelled while performing its function (such as lawnmowers and string trimmers).
    • That, by itself or in or on a piece of equipment, is portable or transportable, meaning designed to be and capable of being carried or moved from one location to another. Indicia of transportability include, but are not limited to, wheels, skids, carrying handles, dolly, trailer, or platform.
  • An engine is not a nonroad engine if:
    • The engine is used to propel a motor vehicle or a vehicle used solely for competition, or is subject to standards promulgated under section 202 of the federal Clean Air Act.
    • The engine is regulated by a federal New Source Performance Standard promulgated under section 111 of the federal Clean Air Act.
    • The engine otherwise included in paragraph (1)(C) of this definition remains or will remain at a location for more than 12 consecutive months or a shorter period of time for an engine located at a seasonal source. Any engine(s) that replace(s) an engine at a location and that is intended to perform the same or similar function as the engine replaced will be included in calculating the consecutive time period. An engine located at a seasonal source is an engine that remains at a seasonal source during the full annual operating period of the seasonal source. A seasonal source is a stationary source that remains in a single location on a permanent basis (at least two years) and that operates at that single location approximately three (or more) months each year.
• Off-Road Engine means the same as nonroad engine.
• Permit refers to a certificate issued by the Air Pollution Control Officer acknowledging expected compliance with the applicable requirements of the district’s rules and regulations.
• PERP means Portable Equipment Registration Program which is for registration of portable engines and equipment in California
• Portable means designed and capable of being carried or moved from one location to another. Indicia of portability include, but are not limited to, wheels, skids, carrying handles, dolly, trailer, or platform. For the purposes of this regulation, dredge engines on a boat or barge are considered portable. The engine is not portable if:
  • The engine or its replacement is attached to a foundation, or if not so attached, will reside at the same location for more than 12 consecutive months. The period during which the engine is maintained at a storage facility shall be excluded from the residency time determination. Any engine, such as a back-up or stand-by engine, that replace engine(s) at a location, and is intended to perform the same or similar function as the engine(s) being replaced, will be included in calculating the consecutive time period. In that case, the cumulative time of all engine(s), including the time between the removal of the original engine(s) and installation of the replacement engine(s), will be counted toward the consecutive time period.
  • The engine remains or will reside at a location for less than 12 consecutive months if the engine is located at a seasonal source and operates during the full annual operating period of the seasonal source, where a seasonal source is a stationary source that remains in a single location on a permanent basis (at least two years) and that operates at that single location at least three months each year.
  • The engine is moved from one location to another in an attempt to circumvent the portable residence time requirements.
• Project means the use of one or more registered or permitted portable engines or equipment units operated under the same or common ownership or control to perform a single activity.
• Registration refers to either:
  • A certificate issued by the Executive Officer acknowledging expected compliance with the applicable requirements of the Statewide Portable Equipment Registration Program.
  • A certificate issued by the Air Pollution Control Officer acknowledging expected compliance with the applicable requirements of the district's Portable Equipment Registration Program.
• Responsible Official refers to an individual employed by the company or public agency with the authority to certify that the portable engines under his/her jurisdiction complies with applicable requirements of this regulation. A company or public agency may have more than one Responsible Official. A contracted designee cannot certify compliance in lieu of the Responsible Official.
• Stationary Source means any building, structure, facility or installation that emits any air contaminant directly or as a fugitive emission. Building, structure, facility, or installation includes all pollutant emitting activities which:
  • Are under the same ownership or operation, or which are owned or operated by entities which are under common control.
  • Belong to the same industrial grouping either by virtue of falling within the same two-digit standard industrial classification code or by virtue of being part of a common industrial process, manufacturing process, or connected process involving a common raw material.
  • Are located on one or more contiguous or adjacent properties.
  • Note: For the purposes of this regulation a stationary source and nonroad engine are mutually exclusive.
• Storage means a warehouse, enclosed yard, or other area established for the primary purpose of maintaining portable engines when not in operation.
• Third-party Rental means a non-rental business renting or leasing registered engines and/or equipment units to another party by written agreement.
• Tier 1 Engine means a certified compression-ignition engine according to the horsepower and model year as follows:
  • ≥50 bhp and <100 bhp; 1998 through 2003
  • ≥100 bhp and <175 bhp; 1997 through 2002
  • ≥175 bhp and <300 bhp; 1996 through 2002
  • ≥300 bhp and <600 bhp; 1996 through 2000
  • ≥600 bhp and ≤750 bhp; 1996 through 2001
  • >750 bhp; 2000 through 2005.
• Tier 2 Engine means a certified compression-ignition engine according to the horsepower and model year as follows:
  • ≥50 bhp and <100 bhp; 2004 through 2007
  • ≥100 bhp and <175 bhp; 2003 through 2006
  • ≥175 bhp and <300 bhp; 2003 through 2005
  • ≥300 bhp and <600 bhp; 2001 through 2005
  • ≥600 bhp and ≤750 bhp; 2002 through 2005
  • >750 bhp; 2006 through 2010
• Tier 3 Engine means a certified compression-ignition engine according to the horsepower and model year as follows:
  • ≥50 bhp and <100 bhp; 2008 through 2011
  • ≥100 bhp and <175 bhp; 2007 through 2011
  • ≥175 bhp and <300 bhp; 2006 through 2010
  • ≥300 bhp and <600 bhp; 2006 through 2010
  • ≥600 bhp and ≤750 bhp; 2006 through 2010.
• Transportable means the same as portable.
• Verified Emission Control Strategy refers to an emission control strategy, designed primarily for the reduction of diesel PM emissions which has been verified pursuant to the “Verification Procedure for In-Use Strategies to Control Emissions from Diesel Engines” in Title 13, California Code of Regulations, commencing with section 2700, and incorporated by reference.
• U.S. EPA refers to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Authority cited: Sections 39600, 39601, 39650, 39658, 39659, 39666, 41752, 43013 and 43018 Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 39650, 39666, 41752 Health and Safety Code.