[pct-l] SCAQMD Rule 1143 & Denatured Alcohol Question

[Mike Schaeffer]

I'm trying to figure out what parts of the trail are impacted by not being able 
to buy denatured alcohol.  It looks like it starts around Mile 132 and ends 
somewhere after Agua Dulce.  It looks like the PCT wanders outside the district 
so that Wrightwood falls outside (can anyone confirm this?)  Typical resupply 
towns of Idyllwild, Big Bear, and Agua Dulce would not have alcohol available.

If I am reading the SCAQMD map correctly, a good alcohol fuel plan would be:
	* Stock up in Warner Springs with enough fuel to get to Wrightwood  (260 miles)
	* Resupply in Wrightwood with enough to get to Tehachapi/Mojave (197 miles)
If Wrightwood does fall within the SCAQMD, never mind the above plan. Hopefully 
something will be resolved before we get that far but I think this could be a 
viable contingency plan.  

 
Any other ideas?
 
Mike Schaeffer
AT '78
PCT '11
 




________________________________
From: Donna Saufley <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
To: pct-l at mailman.backcountry.net
Sent: Sat, April 2, 2011 3:48:02 PM
Subject: [pct-l] SCAQMD Rule 1143 & Denatured Alcohol Question

This morning we stopped by our local hardware store.  The owner Trish, who
has done countless kindnesses for hikers including donating denatured
alcohol, gave us her last three cans and told us she will not be able to
order any more.  She said South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule
1143 is the reason;  it bans numerous paint solvents within their district
boundaries  www.aqmd.gov/news1/2009/Rule1143PR.html  



According to their map, www.aqmd.gov/map/mapaqmd1.pdf the PCT goes through
SCAQMD boundardies from San Bernardino to where the trail meets the Mojave
floor at Hwy 138.  "Rule 1143 - Reduction of VOC Emissions from Consumer
Paint Thinners and Multi-Purpose Solvents establishes an interim VOC limit
of 300 grams/liter (g/l,) effective January 1, 2010, and a VOC limit of 25
g/l effective January 1, 2011, for all consumer paint thinners and
multi-purpose solvents."



The denatured alcohol we've been using (the cans Trish just donated) is VOC:
815 g/L, obviously way in excess of the new limit within the district.  Can
anyone verify the VOC of Heet?  Or know if the new lower VOC products will
work in stoves?



It sounds like SCAQMD is acting as environmental leaders with this rule, and
I have not heard that denatured and other solvents will be banned in other
areas.  Imagining enforcement on the PCT is difficult.  However, hikers may
not be able to buy denatured at resupply locations within the district, and
other regions may be considering similar bans.



L-Rod







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