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REPORT:

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on January 16, 1998. Major items discussed included feature presentations on the implications of any potential phase-out of MTBE from reformulated gasoline, and auto makers green car proposals; updates, reports and discussion items included an update on the TAO Clean Fuels Program reauthorization, monthly reports on Environmental Justice Initiatives #. 2, 7, 8, and 10, and a discussion of a potential contract to expand Internet on-line mapping of clean fuel vehicle refueling infrastructure. Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the February Board Meeting were reviewed. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided, together with an attendance roster. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on February 27, 1998 at 11:30 a.m. in CC-2.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file this report.

Wayne H. Nastri, Chairman
Technology Committee

Attendance: Present were Committee Chairman Wayne Nastri and Committee Member Norma Glover. In the absence of Committee Members Leonard Paulitz, Jon Mikels and Roy Wilson, and pursuant to the Procedures for Standing Committees of the Governing Board, Vice Chair Norma Glover appointed Board Member Nell Soto as an ad hoc Member of the Technology Committee for the meeting on January 16, 1998 only. Meeting attendance is detailed in Attachment A.

Technology Advancement Feature Presentations

Implications of Any Potential Phase-Out of MTBE from Reformulated Gasoline - Dean Simeroth of ARB and Charlie Aarni of Chevron presented overviews of the implications of any potential phase-out of MTBE from reformulated gasoline. Mr. Simeroth answered questions pertaining to ground water contamination and, in response to Board Member Nell Soto’s inquiry regarding contamination of local lakes, indicated he would ensure that the data pertinent to these lakes would be given to her. Mr. Aarni suggested removing the federal reformulated gasoline oxygen content mandate to create more flexibility in the regulatory environment. In response to questions regarding health effects studies, Mr. Aarni agreed to forward copies of a pertinent health effects study to Committee members.

Auto Makers Green Car Proposals - Cindy Sullivan of Technology Advancement presented an overview of green car proposals from the Big Three U.S. automakers, indicating that a lot of work is being done with lead acid batteries and nickel metal hydride batteries, fuel cells, and hybrid vehicles.

Updates and Reports

TAO Clean Fuels Program Reauthorization - Lupe Valdez, DEO of Public Affairs and Local Government Assistance, indicated that no author has yet been found for the bill. There is support from the Assembly to submit bill language, and additional language will be added to allow it to be submitted to the Senate as well. An author for the bill needs to be found in both houses by February 20, 1998.

Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives

Initiative #2 - Chung Liu, ADEO of Technology Advancement, indicated that he had previously presented a status report on Environmental Justice Initiative #2, Ambient Toxic Monitoring, at the Mobile Source Committee meeting directly preceding the Technology Committee meeting. Since Technology Committee Members had attended that meeting, and in the interests of expediency, he would not make a duplication presentation at this time. A monthly status report appears as Attachment B.

Initiative #7 - Chung Liu, ADEO of Technology Advancement, indicated that he had previously presented a status report on Environmental Justice Initiative #7, Cleanup Incentives for Diesel, at the Mobile Source Committee meeting directly preceding the Technology Committee meeting. Since Technology Committee Members had attended that meeting, and in the interests of expediency, he would not make a duplication presentation at this time. A monthly status report appears as Attachment C.

Initiative #8 - Carol Coy, ADEO of Stationary Source Compliance, presented a status report on Environmental Justice Initiative #8, Advanced Field Inspection Technology. A monthly status report was handed out and appears as Attachment D.

Initiative #10 - Jill Whynot, Planning and Rules Manager, Stationary Source Compliance, presented a status report on Environmental Justice Initiative #10, Rules 1401 and 1402. John Billheimer of the Small Business Coalition indicated support for an environmental assessment for upcoming Rules 1401 and 1402. A monthly status report was handed out and appears as Attachment E.

Discussion of Potential Contract to Expand Internet On-Line Mapping of Clean Fuel Vehicle Refueling Infrastructure - Paul Wuebben, Clean Fuels Officer, presented a status report on an Internet mapping project, outlining its goals and objectives, cost comparisons, and potential future steps.

February Board Agenda Items

1. Execute Contract to Support National Fuel Cell Research Center at University of California, Irvine - The National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC) is being established at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) to develop, test, and showcase fuel cells and other advanced, low-emission power generation technologies. Founding Members of the NFCRC include the U.S. Department of Energy, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas, and other industry partners. UCI has invited AQMD to become a Founding Member of the NFCRC. The annual fee is $40,000 with a minimum three-year membership, for a total cost of $120,000. As a member, AQMD will be involved in the NFCRC’s activities, have access to all data and reports, and receive assistance from NFCRC staff in technical evaluations of fuel cell technologies, reports, proposals, etc. The Committee reviewed the information presented, and noted their approval of staff’s recommendation.

2. Amend Contract with City of Palm Desert to Cost Share Year Three of Palm Desert Renewable Hydrogen Transportation Project - In 1995 the Board authorized $550,000 for the first two years of the Palm Desert Renewable Hydrogen Transportation Project to develop and demonstrate small vehicles powered by proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Staff noted that an additional $275,000 might later be recommended for the third, final year. The Department of Energy is providing $1.44 million over three years; Palm Desert and industry are also providing funding. The first two years have been successful; three PEMFC-powered utility vehicles have been completed. Scope changes were made, including adding safety work and reducing the total number of vehicles. A third-year cost share for AQMD of $275,000 is proposed, bringing the total over three years to $825,000. The Committee reviewed the information presented and noted their approval of staff’s recommendation.

3. Execute Contract to Evaluate Efficiency of Zero- or Low-VOC Aqueous Solvents for Cleaning "Extra Heavy-Duty" Grease from Heavy-Duty Trucks - On December 12, 1997, the Board approved staff’s recommendation to conduct additional studies on the implementation of Rule 1171 - Solvent Cleaning Operations, for cleaning baked, carbonized and chemically combined grease and grime in heavy-duty truck repair and maintenance activities. This action is to award contract to the College of Engineering - Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), to conduct a study in cooperation with the California Trucking Association (CTA), to identify and evaluate the cleaning efficiency of aqueous solvents on "hard to clean" parts with "extra heavy-duty" grease and grime for repair and maintenance operation of heavy-duty trucks. Total project cost not to exceed $50,000. The Committee reviewed the information presented, and noted their approval of staff’s recommendation.

4. Issue RFP to Evaluate Low NOx Combustion Systems for Natural Gas-Fired Large Water Heaters and Small Boilers - Large water heaters and small boilers rated between 75,000 and 2,000,000 Btu/hr heat input are estimated to emit over 14 tons of NOx per day in the Basin. Rule 1146.2 established NOx limits for these units that will reduce their contribution by about 9 tons per day. This action is to issue an RFP to select a contractor to conduct the implementation study proposed in conjunction with Rule 1146.2 to evaluate the technical performance and costs of low NOx combustion systems for large water heaters and small boilers. The AQMD cost to fund this project shall not exceed $150,000. The Committee reviewed the information presented, and noted their approval of staff’s recommendation.

Other Business - Committee Chairman Wayne Nastri asked that all future Technology Advancement Board Letters contain a clause indicating the source of project funding and the legislative mandate as to use of these funds.

Public Comment Period - John Billheimer of the Small Business Coalition suggested that Technology Advancement office final contract reports be filed in the Library so the public can access this information and become familiar with what Technology Advancement projects accomplish. Cindy Hasenjager of the California Renewable Fuels Council, asked Charlie Aarni of Chevron why Chevron wanted an oxygenate-free fuel and he reiterated his earlier comment on the need for regulatory flexibility.

Attachments

Attachment A - Attendance
Attachment B - Environmental Initiative #2 Status Report
Attachment C - Environmental Initiative #7 Status Report
Attachment D - Environmental Initiative #8 Status Report
Attachment E - Environmental Initiative #10 Status Report

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Carolyn Syms Luna	AQMD Board Assistant
Daniela Fernandez	AQMD Board Assistant
Edric Guise	AQMD Board Assistant
John Dutrey	AQMD Board Assistant
Maureen Toal	AQMD Board Assistant
Jennifer Korn	AQMD Board Assistant
Peter Whittingham	Assistant to Supervisor Antonovich
Lupe Valdez, DEO Public Affairs & Local Government Assistance	AQMD
Carol Coy, ADEO Major Sources	AQMD
Jack Broadbent, ADEO Stationary Source Compliance	AQMD
Chung Liu, ADEO Technology Advancement	AQMD
Barbara Baird, District Counsel	AQMD
Bill Wong, District Counsel’s Office	AQMD
Jill Whynot, Stationary Source Compliance	AQMD
Anupom Ganguli, Stationary Source Compliance	AQMD
Nancy Covey, Finance	AQMD
Sam Atwood, Public Affairs	AQMD
Alfonso Baez, Public Affairs	AQMD
Woody Hastings, Public Affairs	AQMD
Rudy Eden, Technical Support Services	AQMD
Andy Abele, Technology Advancement	AQMD
Jon Leonard, Technology Advancement	AQMD
Paul Wuebben, Technology Advancement	AQMD
Fred Minassian, Technology Advancement	AQMD
Cindy Sullivan, Technology Advancement	AQMD
Drue Ramirez, Technology Advancement	AQMD
Dory Kilgour, Technology Advancement	AQMD
John Holmes	ARB
Dean Simeroth	ARB
Charlie Aarni	Chevron
Bob Nicksin	Southern California Gas Company
Peter Lehman	SERC-HSU
Paul Shillcock	City of Palm Desert
Jack Brouwer	UCI
Bill Van Amburg	CALSTART
David Brandmeyer	Battelle
Rita Loof	RadTech International
Cindy Hasenjager	California Renewable Fuels Council
John Billheimer	Small Business Coalition

AQMD staff, with peer review feedback, will design and conduct a program of ambient monitoring for toxic hot spots. Expanded, accurate, reliable and suitable data on exposure levels will enable us to begin to apply that knowledge to effective problem-solving.

Actions

1. MATES-II and Microscale Workplan Development
   • Air Toxic Study Technical Review Group (ATSTRG) Meetings - 11/5/97, 11/13/97, 11/19/97, 12/9/97
   • Board Approval of Workplan at December meeting
   • ARB confirms monitoring and laboratory support

2. ATSTRG subgroups formation
   • Excluded-Compounds Group
   • Limited-Sampling Compounds Group
   • Microscale Study Group

3. Monitoring Site Selection
   • Fixed sites selected
   • Additional mobile platform proposed
   • Letter sent to Microscale Study Group soliciting comments on microscale site selection criteria

4. Monitoring Equipment Procurement
   • RFQ for mobile platform released and bids being evaluated
   • Special toxics monitoring equipment ordered

5. Inventory Development
   • RFP 9798-13 - Point Source Air Toxics Emissions Inventory Development released 12/12/97
   • Bidders Conference held 1/8/98

Upcoming Items

1. ATSTRG Microscale subgroup conference call in January to discuss and formulate Microscale site selection criteria

2. ATSTRG Excluded-Compounds subgroup conference call in January to discuss process and criteria for addressing the excluded compounds

3. ATSTRG meeting 2/4/98

4. RFP 9798-13 - Point Source Air Toxics Inventory Development proposals due 1/22/98

5. Request for Third Mobile Platform at February Board Meeting

6. Development of Monitoring and Laboratory Protocol

The Governing Board will pursue a set of Initiatives at the local, state, and federal level to incentivize the early clean-up or removal of diesel engines in the Basin. Research indicates that low-income communities and communities of color experience disproportionate air quality impacts associated with diesel engine use.

• Promote Technology Advancement

- Board approved RFP for Development of Alternative Fuel and Electric Off-Road Equipment, including Heavy-Duty applications.

• Coordinate with MSRC and Local Government

- 3 RFP’s released to provide incremental cost funding for alternative fuel heavy-duty vehicles, including transit, school buses, and heavy-duty trucks

- Proposals began arriving January 6, 1998.

• Coordinate with Transit Districts

- Met with MTA to discuss various options for the alcohol bus fleet.

- NGV Ecotrans submitted proposed to MTA to convert up to 10 alcohol buses to CNG, demonstrating the first use of a John Deere CNG engine in transit application.

- At this time, MTA staff are uncertain when the alcohol bus fleet issue will be addressed by the Board.

• Continue Statewide Coordination

- Meeting in Sacramento, January 14, 1998, of District Corridor Group, to include discussion of pending funding incentive legislation.

- Sacramento, San Joaquin, and South Coast (through MSRC) AQMD’s all have issued RFP’s to provide incremental cost funding incentives for clean heavy-duty trucks.

• Conduct Public Education and Outreach

- January 29, 1998 in Anaheim: Leadership Cities Roundtable meeting - to exchange information on alternative fuel technologies availability and experiences.

Initiative: The AQMD staff will formulate a plan to use modern advances in technology for enhanced field inspection purposes to better detect pollution problems identified by the public and investigate ways to enhance AQMD’s field presence.

December Progress:

• Refine Testing and Analysis Technologies

- The proposed workplan was presented and approved at the December 12 Governing Board meeting. The workplan was reviewed at the November 21 Stationary Source Committee meeting and the December 11 Technology Committee.

• Improve In-Field Enforcement Capability

- The proposed workplan to investigate the technical feasibility and cost of using detection and monitoring instrumentation for routine inspections was presented and approved at the December 12 Governing Board meeting. The workplan was reviewed at the November 21 Stationary Source Committee meeting and December 11 Technology Committee.

• State-of-the-Science Contract Study to Identify Advanced Inspection, Testing, and Analytical Technology

- AST and SSC staff drafted the RFP language.

January Goals:

• Refine Testing and Analysis Technologies and

• Improve In-Field Enforcement Capability

- Workplans will be implemented according to the Board-approved proposals.

- Statistics on the nature of past complaints currently under review by AST and SSC staff.

• State-of-the-Science Contract Study to Identify Advanced Inspection, Testing, and Analytical Technology

- The Board letter transmitting the proposed RFP will be presented to the January 16 Technology Committee meeting and January 23 Administrative and Stationary Source Committee meetings in advance of the February 13 Governing Board meeting for approval.

• Establish a Peer Review Group

- AST and SSC will complete development of proposed membership to be discussed at the February Stationary Source and Technology Committee meetings.

Presented at January 16, 1997 Technology and January 23 Stationary Source Committee

Attachment: Proposed RFP

Initiative:      The Governing Board will re-open for public comment the toxics significant thresholds for cancer and non-cancer impacts contained in Rule 1402 - Control of Toxic Air Contaminants from Existing Source, and consideration of adding additional compounds and non-carcinogenic impact prevention into Rule 1401 - New Source Review of Carcinogenic Air Contaminants.

Status of Efforts:

Board Air Toxics Workshop December 18, 1997

• Successful, well attended event

• Summary attached

Air Toxics Policy Review Group

• First meeting February 6, 1998

• Important input for rule development process

Rule Development Approach

• Considering 2 rule packages

• Complete impact assessments for each rule

• Parallel efforts to address:

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