Proposal:
Execute a Contract to Cost-Share a Follow-Up Tunnel Study
to Evaluate the Impact of Reformulated Phase 2 Gasoline
on Emissions from Vehicles
Synopsis:
The Coordinating Research Council (CRC), with AQMD's cofunding, conducted a nationwide tunnel study in 1995 that included the Sepulveda and Van Nuys tunnels. The proposed contract with CRC will be a follow-up study at the Sepulveda and/or Van Nuys tunnels after the introduction of Phase 2 reformulated gasoline. The results will be compared to the 1995 study to evaluate the actual on-road impact of Phase 2 gasoline on vehicle emissions. Total project cost is $275,000. AQMD's contribution is $250,000, and CRC's contribution is $25,000.
Committee:
Technology, April 10, 1996, Recommended for Approval
Recommedation Action:
Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the Coordinating Research Council in an amount not to exceed $250,000 to evaluate the actual on-road impact of Phase 2 reformulated gasoline on vehicle emissions in the South Coast Air Basin.
James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
CSL:ARA:MAN:FM
Background
Mobile sources are responsible for a large percentage of the region's air quality problem. In 1995, the CRC, with cofunding from the AQMD and other entities, conducted a nationwide tunnel study entitled, "High Exhaust Emitters Project Site Characterization/-Selection/Feasibility Study" at five different locations, which included the Sepulveda and Van Nuys tunnels. The purpose of the study was to obtain improved emissions data and a broadened database from various types of fleets to better estimate mobile source emissions. During the 1995 study, the Southern California fleet was operating on transitional gasoline.
As of March 1, 1996, Phase 2 reformulated gasoline has been available in Southern California and, by June, 1996, all gasoline fueled vehicles will be operating on the new reformulated gasoline. The Phase 2 gasoline contains 2% oxygen, with lower amounts of sulfur, olefins, and aromatics, which should result in significantly lower amounts of CO, VOC, and possibly lower carcinogen emissions. Both the AQMD and CARB currently are conducting projects on reformulated gasoline where the specific composition of liquid and gas phases are analyzed and compared with the old gasoline. However, the scope of these projects only outlines the differences in fuel composition and does not evaluate the impact of Phase 2 reformulated gasoline on actual emission changes from the operating fleet.
The proposed follow-up study to be conducted during the summer of 1996 at the Sepulveda and/or Van Nuys locations will quantify the emissions generated by the local fleet operating on Phase 2 reformulated gasoline. The relatively short time that has elapsed between this proposed study and the previous study conducted in 1995 should facilitate separating the effect of fleet turnover from the effect of the new gasoline on emissions. This will improve the basis for comparison of emissions trends and quantification of benefits solely due to gasoline reformulation.
Proposal
Traffic through both the Sepulveda and Van Nuys tunnels provides an excellent representation of the Southern California fleet. The tunnels offer adequately long driving paths, relatively constant speed, and heavy traffic. Based on the run-to-run variability of the results obtained at each tunnel during the 1995 study, a decision will be made to either measure emissions at the inlet and outlet of both tunnels equal to the previous study, or conduct the measurements at the Sepulveda tunnel only, with an increased number of samples to improve reliability of the results. Sampling periods will be chosen to represent different driving patterns, fleet mixes, and ambient temperatures. Samples will be collected and analyzed for PM10, PM2.5, NOx, CO, CO2, non-methane hydrocarbons (nmhc), and aldehydes. Vehicles will be characterized with traffic measurements including counts, vehicle types and age distributions. Vehicle license numbers will be obtained by video-taping vehicles traveling through the tunnel. Air flow, temperature, and relative humidity also will be measured.
Data from field measurements will be transferred to a common database, validated, and then used to calculate on-road emission factors. Analysis will be conducted to separate the effects of fleet turnover from the effects of reformulated gasoline. Emission factors will be compared with model EMFAC7G, and the results of the 1995 study, to evaluate the effects of Phase 2 reformulated gasoline.
This proposed project is included in the Technology Advancement Plan for the Clean Fuels Program TR-01, "Advanced Transportation Systems Research, Development and Demonstration." The expected benefits of this project include the evaluation of on-road emission changes due to the introduction of Phase 2 reformulated gasoline.
Sole Source Justification
Section II, Step 3(C) of the Consultant Selection Policy identifies four provisions under which the Governing Board may award a sole-source bid: (1) cost to prepare documents exceeds the cost for consultants, (2) delay would result in the endangerment of public health, (3) services are only available from sole-source, (4) other circumstances exist identifying sole-source as in the best interest of the AQMD. This request for sole sole-source award is being made under provision (4).
CRC is the pre-eminent leader in the United States in the area of conducting mobile source emission studies. During the past six years, it has conducted the on-road vehicle emissions workshop in San Diego, and presented numerous papers in this field. It was the leading group in conducting the Southern California Air Quality Study in 1987, which included the Van Nuys tunnel, and the nationwide tunnel study in 1995, which included the Sepulveda and Van Nuys tunnels. AQMD played a major role in both studies. The 1995 study evaluated vehicle emissions contributed from the fleet operating on transitional gasoline and compared the results with the 1987 findings. It also established the basis for the upcoming study to evaluate the impact of Phase 2 reformulated gasoline on emissions from vehicles.
CRC intends to secure the services of the University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN) for this study. UCCSN, a subcontractor to CRC, is an expert in mobile emissions testing and will be responsible for emission measurements and development of profiles for use in ambient receptor monitoring. The UCCSN team will be led by Dr. Alan Gertler, who is an expert in the area of atmospheric chemistry and has authored several papers in this field. He has been investigating discrepancies between observed and predicted automotive emission factors. He also led the UCCSN team in conducting the previous CRC 1995 tunnel study that included the Sepulveda and Van Nuys tunnels.
The proposed follow-up study will utilize the methodologies and procedures established during the 1995 nationwide study that was also conducted by CRC with the services of UCCSN. The experience gained from the 1995 study, specifically at the Sepulveda and Van Nuys locations will help in conducting the proposed study in a cost effective manner. Furthermore, CRC is participating in this study by contributing $25,000.
UCCSN encourages the participation of, and uses as subcontractors, small businesses, and minority-, disabled veteran-, and woman-owned business enterprises in its programs to the maximum extent possible to ensure efficient performance and comply with contract requirements and applicable laws.
Resource Impacts
The total cost of the project is $275,000, with AQMD's contribution amount not to exceed $250,000. CRC intends to provide the $25,000 balance of funding for this project. Sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 1995-96 to fund this project.
BD13:5-96A