REPORT:

Administrative Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Administrative Committee met Friday, November 20, 1998, and reviewed the proposed agenda for the December 11, 1998 Board meeting. The Committee also discussed various issues detailed in the Committee report. The next Administrative Committee meeting is Friday, December 18, 1998, at 9:30 a.m., in Conference Room CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file this report.

Norma J. Glover, Chairman
Administrative Committee

Attendance:
Present were Committee Chair Norma Glover, Committee Members Mee Hae Lee (arriving at 9:45 a.m.) and Roy Wilson (attending via teleconference from Larson Justice Center, 46200 Oasis Street, Suite 318 - Conference Room, Indio, CA 92201, a facility which is available to the public and at which location a copy of the agenda had previously been posted, in accordance with the Brown Act). Absent were Committee Vice Chairman James Silva, and Members Richard Alarcón and Nell Soto.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1. Chairman’s Report of Approved Travel: Dr. Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer, told the Committee that Councilmember Richard Alarcón’s recent trip to Washington, DC had been successful and advised that the Board will receive a report on the outcome. Less than a quorum was present; those committee members present communicated their concurrence. (See end of report for detail.)

2. Approval of Compensation for Board Member Assistant(s): None

3. Out-of-Country Travel: None

4. Status Report on Implementation of Inland Empire Initiatives: Dr. Wallerstein summarized the implementation progress on the seven Inland Empire Initiatives.

• Stage One Advisories to Board Members – The Initiative was implemented toward the end of the ozone season and will be continued.

• Near-Term Analysis of 1998 Stage One Episodes in Eastern Basin – The Board received an initial report on this initiative at its November 13, 1998 meeting. There appears to be a combination of factors causing the episodes: reformulated gasoline and lower VOC coating and solvent materials leading to lower VOC reactivity, warm summer conditions in 1998, greater amounts of biogenic emissions, and possibly the reduction of NOx at a higher rate than VOCs.

• Implementation of Real-Time Air Quality Information Using Pager
  System – The pilot program is moving forward and has received extensive media attention. The pager system is being met with great interest.

• Inland Empire Clean Air Fair –A proposal regarding this event will be submitted to the Inland Empire Board Members the following week for their consideration.

• Field Test of a Catalyst System to Reduce Ambient Ozone Levels on an Elementary School Playground – Staff is in the process of locating the appropriate school site to mount a catalyst on the school’s air conditioning system to determine if playground ozone levels can be reduced. As an initial step, a catalyst has been procured which have been attached to a home in the mountain area. Measurements disclosed a 50% reduction in ozone in the air drawn over the catalyst. The catalyst remains out in the environment to determine the environmental effect on the units when the ozone season begins.

• Expansion of the Upper Air Wind Profiler System: Staff investigated whether used profilers could be used for this purpose and found they were less expensive; however, their availability is limited. Staff has met with U.S. EPA and will be submitting a grant proposal by the end of the year.

• Evaluation of Geographically Based Strategies and Impacts – The study will include analysis of rules and programs to determine how they affect the eastern versus the western region. This issue will be addressed in the 2000 AQMP revision, and staff has begun to scope out how the analysis will be performed.

(Committee Member Mee Hae Lee arrived at 9:45 a.m.)

DECEMBER AGENDA ITEMS:

4. Recognize and Appropriate Funds from EPA for PM2.5 Program: Rudy Eden, Sr. Manager of Laboratory Services in Monitoring and Analysis, reported that EPA has promulgated a new PM_2.5 standard requiring extensive monitoring. EPA is funding the monitoring program and staff is requesting the Board recognize and appropriate $505,125 in Section 103 Grant funds to be used to operate and maintain the field and laboratory portions of the PM_2.5 monitoring program. An additional grant will be provided to cover speciation costs. Committee Chair Glover asked if the EPA has provided sufficient funding, as they committed to doing at a Finance Committee meeting earlier in the year. Dr. Wallerstein responded that, with this item, sufficient funding will be provided for the first year and staff will pursue additional funding for subsequent years. Committee Chair Glover directed staff to ensure that the funds committed by David Howekamp, EPA Director of Region IX Air Division, to provide AQMD sufficient funding for the program are received. Moved (Wilson), seconded (Lee) and unanimously recommended for approval.

5. Execute Contract to Purchase Document Scanning Services: Mark Henninger, Technology Implementation Manager in Information Management, reported on the results of the issuance of the RFP to select a vendor to provide scanning and indexing services for the AQMD’s paper permit files. The evaluation panel rated MSI Imaging the highest based on technical criteria and cost. Moved (Lee), seconded (Wilson) and unanimously recommended for approval.

6. Establish 1999 Board Meeting Schedule: Dr. Wallerstein explained that the proposed 1999 Board Meeting Schedule listed the meetings on the second Friday of each month in 1999, with one exception. Staff is proposing that the meeting in
   November, 1999, be held on the first Friday of the month due to the Veterans Day Holiday. Moved (Glover), seconded (Lee) and unanimously recommended for approval.

7. Permit Streamlining Task Force Status Report: Mohsen Nazemi, Permit Streamlining Ombudsman, provided the Committee with a status report regarding key streamlining issues:

• Permit Processing Fee Payment – Regarding the Board's previous approval to examine the possibility of credit card and electronic payments to facilitate filing applications through modem, internet and fax, Rick Pearce, Director of Finance, is discussing these possibilities with the Los Angeles County Treasurer. It is expected these systems will be in place early next year.

• Permit Streamlining Study by Consultants – The study was initiated in September and the final report will be presented to the Board in February, 1999. The consultants have interviewed staff and applicants, analyzed permitting at various other agencies, and studied workflow efficiencies at some non-permitting organizations.

• Streamlined Standard Permits – This is intended for permit applications for equipment that could be issued a standard permit based on a specific set of criteria to avoid detailed evaluation. Staff is looking at most frequently permitted equipment such as dry cleaners, certain types of spray coating operations, print shops, gas stations, as well as small boilers.

• CPP Program Enhancement – The Certified Permitting Professionals Program has been in existence for several years and was intended to train individuals to prepare applications in a form that would expedite the review process. The Permit Streamlining Task Force (PSTF) has recommended easier access for applicants and CPPs to gain information from the District for application preparation. Once all elements are included in the application, it would receive an expedited review for a more efficient process.

• Title V Facility Permits – Concerns have been raised with respect to the amount of resources that have been devoted to Title V, resulting in an increase in backlog of the non-Title V permits. Therefore, an alternative to preparing permits for Title V facilities has been discussed in an effort to reduce the preparation time for Title V permits. Basically, the concept is to utilize, to the extent feasible, the existing permits and add the necessary Title V requirements to meet the federal mandates. In May 1998 the Board amended Regulation III, the fee rule, and adopted a Resolution that requires staff to examine improvements to reduce the amount of time necessary to process Title V permits. The proposed alternative is expected to take less time to prepare which could, in turn, result in reduced cost to industry.

• AQMD Web Page for Permitting –The PSTF recommends more standardized information on the AQMD Web Page, to be used both internally and externally, for consistency and source familiarity. A final recommendation from the PSTF will be presented to the Board in the first quarter of 1999.

Committee Chair Glover requested that the Administrative Committee meeting minutes reflect her praise of Mr. Nazemi, stating that he has been doing a superb job as Permit Streamlining Ombudsman, adding the AQMD is fortunate to have someone of his caliber. Ms. Lee expressed her concurrence, noting this commendation should come from the entire Committee.

9. BACT/LAER Update Status Report: Dr. Anupom Ganguli, Sr. Manager, Stationary Source Compliance, referred the Committee to the handout which had been distributed and explained the details of the flowchart function and process. The Scientific Review Committee provides assistance to staff and, in addition to the Committee’s existing composition, it is recommended that individuals who can provide more technical input be added. Referring to past meetings which have been held on this issue, Dr. Ganguli reported that the public is generally in agreement but has expressed the need for a process where new technologies can be reviewed. Remaining issues are NSR policies and legal restrictions under which staff is required to operate.
   
   Dr. Wallerstein informed that Committee that U. S. EPA Regional Administrator Felicia Marcus indicated at a recent Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce meeting her agreement, with Administrator Carol Browner's concurrence, to set up a BACT/LAER Working Group to address the issues and concerns that have come forth from the Home Rule Advisory Group.
   
   Public Comment: Mr. John Billheimer, representing the Small Business Coalition, requested clarification regarding certain issues.

(Board Member Paul Woodruff arrived at 10:00 a.m.)

10. SCAQMD CEQA Implementation Guidelines Update: Dr. Elaine Chang, Director of Planning & Policy, explained that staff is proposing to rescind the 1988 SCAQMD CEQA Implementation Guidelines and adopt by reference the current state CEQA Implementation Guidelines. Potential supplemental implementation guidelines and policy issues were to be addressed at the November 20 Stationary Source Committee meeting. The supplementary guidelines will be brought to the Board within the next three to four months. Ms. Lee asked if there is a need for the Board to adopt the new guidelines now rather than wait until the supplemental guidelines are complete when the Board could consider both. Dr. Wallerstein responded that legal staff would prefer moving forward as quickly as possible with Board action due to the substantial changes that occurred during the last ten years to remove potential conflicts or lack of clarity.

11. Review December 11, 1998 Governing Board Agenda: Committee Chair Glover stated that the first item, which was to be added to the agenda at the request of a Board Member, is the Election of the Chair and the Vice Chair of the Governing Board. Ms. Lee said that it was her understanding that item was being withdrawn. Committee Chair Glover had not been notified of a request to withdraw the item; however, Ms. Lee said she is anticipating that the member who made the request is going to be withdrawing the item from the December agenda.

Public Comment: Mr. Billheimer advised that public comment can be expected from approximately a half dozen individuals as well as suppliers regarding Item # 1767 – Amend Rule 1151 – Motor Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Non-Assembly Line Coating Operations. The time scale for implementation depends on when material is available, which has not been defined, and recommended that the implementation schedule for the users be based on when the Board certifies the qualified material is available in sufficient quantity and quality.

12. Other Business: Mr. Jeb Stuart, air quality consultant, asked for clarification on Item #1772 – Adopt Revisions to SCAQMD CEQA Implementation Guidelines, and Dr. Wallerstein explained that the abstract was written prior to the recent public consultation meeting; therefore, the reference to the supplemental guidelines will be removed and will not be part of the package.

13. Public Comment: None, other than as referenced above. Committee Chair Glover adjourned the meeting at 10:13 a.m.
    
    Report on Board Member Travel Authorized by the
    Chairman (October 23 – November 20, 1998):

/ / /