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REPORT:

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met on Friday, January 16, 1998. Presentations were made on the following items: SB 836 Contract Activities; Rule 2202 AQIP Funding Recommendations for Third Quarter/1997; Update on Regional Transportation Plan; Reports on Environmental Justice Initiatives #2, 4, and 7; Report on Rule 1186 Working Group; and Report on Grasscycling Project. The next meeting is February 27, 1998, 9:30 a.m., in Conference Room CC-2.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file this report.

Nell Soto, Chair
Mobile Source Committee

ATTENDANCE: Present: Committee Chair Nell Soto (arrived at 10:45 a.m.), Committee Member Norma Glover (arrived at 10:04 a.m.), Committee Member Mee Hae Lee (left at 11:10 a.m.), Committee Member Ronald Loveridge (arrived at 9:57 a.m., left at 11:15 a.m.), Committee Member Jon Mikels (left at 11:00 a.m.), and Board Member Wayne Nastri (arrived at 11:20 a.m.). Absent: Committee Vice Chair Dr. S. Roy Wilson. Attachment 1 is an attendance roster.

MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ITEMS

1. Progress Report on SB 836 (Lewis) Contract Activities

Staff informed the committee that the Regional Transportation Agencies’ Coalition (RTAC) is awaiting the final report on the Employer and Employee surveys from Godbe Research and Associates. Godbe Research received 703 employer surveys and 1,916 employee surveys taken from different samples of 2,771 worksites deregulated from Rule 2202 per SB 836. The report on the survey findings is expected by Friday, January 23, 1998.

Haug International is reviewing and analyzing the survey data from the employer and employee surveys, along with the State of the Commute (SOC) data collected by SCAG in October of 1997. The final report from Haug International is due February 24, 1998. Committee Member Mikels asked if legislation had been introduced in the California legislature to prevent lowering the Rule 2202 employee threshold to 100. It was pointed out that action is not likely to be taken on the employee threshold until the final results of the three surveys (indicating whether equivalent emission reductions have been achieved by deregulated sites) are reported to CARB. The Public Affairs Office is asked to follow up on this to determine if any new bill is introduced on this subject.

2. Rule 2202 AQIP Proposal of Recommendations for Third Quarter/1997

Staff informed the Committee that the contracts for the third quarter funding had not been executed. The delay is due to an unresolved issue regarding a Notice of Violation (NOV) served to one of the firms that had submitted a proposal (Pick Your Part Auto Wrecking), and had been disqualified for funding consideration. AQMD staff will be meeting with the firm in the next week to resolve this issue. After a complete investigation regarding the status of the NOV, AQMD staff will resubmit their funding recommendations to be considered at the February Board meeting. Additionally, the AQMD has received a letter from Eco-Scrap, (one of the firms recommended for funding) withdrawing their proposal from consideration.

3. Update on the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)

Staff informed the Committee that the 1998 Draft RTP and Draft Master EIR were released by SCAG on November 16, 1997 for public comment. The commenting period ends on March 18, 1998 and SCAG’s Regional Council is scheduled to adopt the plan at its meeting on April 2, 1998. A Public Consultation Meeting has been scheduled by SCAG to take place at AQMD on Tuesday, January 27, 1998 (see Attachment 2). The AQMD has mailed out 19,000 notices.

In response to a question by Committee Member Mikels regarding how SCAG was proposing to deal with the VOC emissions shortfall, Committee Member Lee, who was chairing the meeting at the time in the absence of Committee Chair Soto, directed staff to study the issue and report back. The issue had to do with a proposed "trucks only" lane which is currently unconstrained.

Committee Member Mikels commented that SCAG may be adjusting the emission reductions from the "black box" measures after accounting for the RTP. Staff indicated that it was not the case and provided a table (see Attachment 3) listing the emission reductions associated with the "black box" measures.

Committee Member Loveridge asked about impacts from the suspension of three rail lines as announced by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Staff responded that in addition to jeopardizing the Basin’s air quality attainment goals, the Basin may lose some federal transportation funds.

4. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives

Initiative #4 (a) CEQA Handbook Revision: Staff informed the Committee that a kickoff meeting of the CEQA Handbook Working Group was held at the AQMD on Wednesday, January 14, 1998 (see Attachment 4). There were 16 persons present comprising nine local government officials, two environmental community representatives and five private sector representatives. AQMD staff will prepare a master list of all the issues raised for subsequent discussion at the Working Group’s future meetings. The Working Group agreed to meet on the last Thursday of every month.

Initiative #4 (b) CEQA Document Commenting: Staff informed the Committee that since January 5, 1998, 13 documents have been received by Transportation Programs and eight of these will be reviewed by staff. Staff will continue to submit monthly reports on projects received and reviewed.

Committee Member Lee asked whether there were adequate resources to handle the increasing workload. Staff explained that in the attempt to maintain a manageable workload with the existing resources, a prioritizing system is being developed which will identify those projects with potentially significant environmental impacts. In response to a question by Committee Member Mikels, staff stated that in the absence of a set of completed screening criteria, staff will first review projects that are perceived to have the most potential to pose significant environmental (air quality) impacts.

In response to a question by Committee Member Loveridge, staff informed the Committee that the AQMD’s role in the CEQA process may go beyond mere commenting on projects that are submitted to the AQMD. In addition to AQMD staff identifying the impacts that they consider significant, staff may request the lead agency to specify strategies to mitigate these impacts to the extent feasible.

5. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiative Study (Attachment 5)

Under Initiative #2 - Ambient Monitoring of Air Toxics: Staff informed the Committee that the Air Toxic Study Technical Review Group (ATSTRG) had three meetings in November and December 1997. The Board approved the workplan at its December meeting, and ARB has confirmed their support for the monitoring and laboratory work. Two subgroup meetings are taking place in January. One additional mobile platform is being proposed and will be brought to the Board for approval in February. Individual monitoring sites will be selected with the help of a technical committee that will advise on criteria.

Under Initiative #7 - Cleanup Incentives for Diesel: Staff reported that the Board approved an RFP for the development of Alternative Fuel and Electric Off-Road Equipment, including heavy-duty applications. In addition, three RFPs have been released to provide incremental cost funding for alternative fuel heavy-duty vehicles including transit, school buses and heavy-duty trucks. Staff has also been communicating with transit districts, LACMTA and OCTA, to examine options for non-diesel alternatives.

6. Progress Report on Rule 1186 Working Group (Attachment 6)

Staff reported on the formation of the Rule 1186 (PM₁₀ Emissions from Paved and Unpaved Roads and Livestock Operations) Working Group, comprised as follows: 15 members, representing the AQMD (one), cities (five), counties (four), Leagues of Cities (one), Councils of Governments (three), and the street sweeper manufacturers/distributors (one). The Working Group had two meetings in November and December 1997 and has initiated the development of a street sweeper certification process. An interim certification protocol is also being prepared by staff. An outreach plan will be developed including the identification of funding sources.

7. Grasscycling Project (Attachment 7)

Staff introduced the multiagency $500,000 public education program to promote electric mulching lawnmowers. The outreach portion of the program, which is being funded by a number of cities and agencies, will consist of brochures, utility bill stuffers, newspaper and radio ads - in both English and Spanish, and possibly additional languages. The 1998 goal of the program is to replace 8,000 residential gasoline lawn mowers throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties with electric, mulching mowers. At nine sites in the two counties between April 18 and May 16, 1998, the mowers will be offered at exchange discounts ranging between $70 and $120. In addition, L. A. County residents would receive a $30 rebate from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Committee Chair Soto and Committee Members Glover and Lee expressed strong support for the program and asked that small-scale gardeners also be targeted in the program since gardening services are a significant source of livelihood for many low-income minority residents. This is a multi-year program, and based on the outcome of the initial pilot promotion, the program will most likely be expanded to other counties and a larger population target.

8. Rule 2202 Activity Report/Upcoming Events (Attachment 8)

Written report submitted, no comments.

9. Update on the Mobile Source Measures in the SIP (Attachment 9)

Written report submitted, no comments.

10. EIR Review and Preparation

A written report was distributed and summarized by staff. (This report is included in the February 1998 Board package as Attachments A-C to agenda item "Lead Agency Projects and Environmental Documents Received by the AQMD.")

11. Other Business

There was no other business.

12. Public Comment

There were no public comments. The meeting was adjourned at 11:23 a.m.

Attachments

1. Attendance Roster

2. RTP Summit Public Consultation Notice

3. SCAG RTP Methodology Table

4. Update on CEQA Handbook Revision

5. Progress Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives #2 and #7

6. Progress Report on Rule 1168 Working Group

7. Report on Grasscycling Project

8. Rule 2202 Activity Report/Upcoming Events

9. Update on the Mobile Source Measures in the SIP

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