BOARD MEETING DATE: July 10, 1998 AGENDA NO. 34
REPORT:
Mobile Source Committee
SYNOPSIS:
The Mobile Source Committee met on Friday, June 26, 1998. Presentations were made on the following items: Legislative Update; Reports on Environmental Justice Initiatives #2, 4, and 7; Report on SB 836, SB 432 and Rule 2202 Activities; Rule 2202 AQIP Proposal of Recommendations for Third and Fourth Quarter 1997; Issue RFP to Conduct Rule 2202 Employer/Employee Surveys; Recommendation to Award Contract for ETC Training Provider; Proposed Amendments to Rule 1902 – Transportation Conformity; Proposed Amendments to Rule 1612 – Credits for Clean On-Road Vehicles, and Rule 1620 – Credits for Off-Road Mobile Equipment; Recommendation to Execute Contract to Develop Enhanced Ammonia Emissions Inventory as Part of Technical Enhancement Program for Year 2000 AQMP; and report on Implementation of Rule 1186 - PM10 Emissions from Paved and Unpaved Roads, and Livestock Operations, and Amended Rule 403 – Agricultural Dust Control. The next meeting is July 17, 1998, 9:30 a.m., in Conference Room CC-8.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file this report.
Nell Soto, Chair
Mobile Source Committee
ATTENDANCE: Present: Committee Chair Nell Soto, Committee Members Norma Glover, Ronald Loveridge, and Jon Mikels. Also present was Committee Vice Chair Roy Wilson from the teleconference center in Indio. Absent: Committee Member Mee Hae Lee. Attachment 1 is an attendance roster.
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ITEMS
Staff informed the Committee that the Acting Executive Officer met with Senator Tom Hayden to discuss AB 2194 (Washington). The bill extends the $1 registration fee for clean fuel technology in the air basin through January 1, 2004. The bill has passed the Assembly and the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill has yet to go to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Staff informed the Committee that Governor Wilson had signed SB 432 (Lewis). SB 432 raises the Rule 2202 employee threshold to 250 effective immediately, and relieves the AQMD from paying $1.5 million annually to the Regional Transportation Agencies' Coalition (RTAC) for voluntary rideshare activities.
Initiative #4 (b) CEQA Document Commenting: Staff distributed a report which lists the CEQA documents received and reviewed for the period of May 2, 1998 through June 1, 1998. During the period, the AQMD received 73 documents in addition to 23 documents which were carried over from the previous review period. 23 comment letters were sent out. (This report is included in the July 1998 Board package as Attachment A-C to agenda item "Lead Agency Projects and Environmental Documents Received by the AQMD.")
Initiative #4 (a) CEQA Handbook Revision: The Working Group has met twice since the Mobile Source Committee’s May meeting. Staff has drafted four chapters which are currently being reviewed by the Working Group. Staff expects to complete the full draft of the CEQA Handbook by the end of August 1998. After review and revision by AQMD management, the draft will be presented to the Committee. This will be followed by a public workshop before the final handbook is published.
Staff gave an overview of the concepts that have been proposed over the years that have air quality benefits (see Attachment 4). The concepts include Livable Communities, Clean Cities, Cool Communities, Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), and Clean Air Communities (CAC). The Working Group has been considering the Clean Air Communities concept for possible inclusion in the Handbook.
During the discussion, Rick Zbur of Latham and Watkins, one of the concept proponents, pointed out that under the current CEQA Guidelines, developers of very large multi-use developments tend to be penalized. Because of the sheer size of their projects, the air quality impacts can never be mitigated to less than the significance thresholds. The Clean Air Communities concept seeks to correct this by evaluating development projects on a per unit of development basis. Michael Lewis, a representative of the Building Industry Association (BIA), which is opposed to the concept, addressed the concerns of the BIA. One of their objections is that the mere designation of one project as a Clean Air Community implies that the other projects which have not been designated as such are bad for air quality. This, they believe, is unfair. The BIA believes that while the current system is not perfect, the Clean Air Communities concept is not the right solution.
Staff's position is that all the concepts have merits. Staff pointed out that only those benefits that can be quantified would be considered for inclusion in the CEQA analysis. Staff believes that the inclusion of these concepts will give local lead agencies additional information in reviewing projects for development in their respective jurisdictions. However, staff does not support the change of significant thresholds.
Committee Member Mikels made a motion which was seconded by Committee Chair Soto asking staff to investigate the legal and legislative framework for implementing light-colored asphalt as a preferred material for roadway construction. It was pointed out that the light-colored asphalt cools the air temperature in the neighborhood, reducing the need to run air conditioners, etc., thus, reducing energy production. Also, by having a cooler temperature, it helps to avoid ozone formation. Staff was asked to write a letter to SCAG to consider the use of light-colored asphalt on roads.
Staff informed the Committee that Governor Wilson signed SB 432 (Lewis) into law on June 19, 1998. This law, which goes into effect immediately, exempts employers with less than 250 employees from complying with Rule 2202. Additionally, the AQMD is no longer required to pay $1.5 million annually to the Regional Transportation Agencies' Coalition to promote voluntary ridesharing. Staff is preparing a letter that will be sent to the regulated community informing them about these developments. The AQMD will also meet with the Air Resources Board to discuss how the emissions shortfall would be met. An RFP is to be released to survey employers and the commuting population to determine the size of the emissions shortfall.
For the 3rd Quarter of 1997, staff recommended two contracts to be awarded: one to Market Based Solutions for the amount of $277,290, and one to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for the amount of $40,720. For the 4th Quarter of 1997, staff recommended that one contract be awarded to Ecology Auto Wrecking for the amount of $216,000. In response to a question, staff explained that the new contracts would be subject to the provisions of the revised Rule 1610 - Old Vehicle Scrapping, which will be presented to the Board at its July meeting. The contractors would be free to accept or decline the contracts if they were not in favor of the new provisions. In addition, staff noted that it would verify the basis for Award for the Third Quarter in response to a question from the audience.
Staff explained that these surveys would be a follow-up of those that were conducted last year to find out the state of voluntary ridesharing among the employers and employees of companies that were exempted from Rule 2202 by SB 836 (Lewis). The proposed RFP would apply to only employers with 100 to 249 employees. The Committee approved the RFP for submission to the Board.
Staff informed the Committee that five proposals were received in response to the RFP for the Rule 2202 Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) Training Provider. The evaluation panel, which comprised two AQMD staff, one person representing the City of Santa Monica and one person representing multi-site employers, recommended that the no-cost contract be awarded to Ryan Snyder Associates, Inc. Ryan Snyder Associates, Inc. scored the highest among the five competitors. The Committee approved the contract award for submission to the Board. Staff informed the Committee that a letter was mailed out to local governments, advising them that AB 2766 Subvention Funds may be used to cover the cost of ETC training.
Staff informed the Committee that a number of amendments had been made to Rule 1902 in response to changes to the Federal Transportation Conformity Rule made by EPA in April 1997. The Public Hearing to amend Rule 1902 will take place at the August Board meeting.
In response to ARB comments, staff has revised Rules 1612 and 1620. The major changes include issuing credits only for ARB approved retrofits kits (Rules 1612 and 1620), eliminating credits for high mileage fleet vehicles (Rule 1612), and establishing ARB provided maximum baseline emission levels (Rule 1620). ARB supports these changes, but EPA has expressed some concerns on rule approvability. The Committee approved the revised rules for public hearing at the July Board meeting.
Staff informed the Committee that four proposals were received in response to the RFP that was released on May 8, 1998. The proposals were reviewed by a panel comprising AQMD and ARB staff members. Two proposals met the technical criteria and the panel recommended awarding the contract to AeroVironment Environmental Services, Inc. which had the highest score. The Committee approved forwarding staff's recommendation to the July Board meeting.
The working groups on Rules 1186 and 403 continue to meet. Recommendations for amendments to the rules will be presented to the Committee for discussion at the conclusion of deliberations.
Initiative #2 - Ambient Monitoring of Air: Eight monitoring sites are now in operation, located at Burbank, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Fontana, Pico Rivera, Anaheim, Rubidoux and Huntington Beach. Staff is working on two additional sites, one in Compton and the other in Wilmington. Mobile platforms for microscale studies have been deployed in Pacoima and Montclair, and also will soon be inTorrance. A proposed pilot health study has been submitted for review by the Air Toxics Study Technical Review Group (ATSTRG). (This report is included in the July 1998 Board package as an attachment to agenda item "Technology Committee Report.")
Initiative #7 - Cleanup Incentives for Diesel: Staff informed the Committee that AB 2194 (Washington), the bill to reauthorize the AQMD Clean Fuels program, was approved by both the Assembly and the Senate Transportation Committee. Senator Hayden wants to increase oversight of the program to ensure appropriate expenditure of funds. AQMD Staff has met with the staff of the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to discuss the coordination of future programs and projects on diesel and clean fuels. (This report is included in the July 1998 Board package as an attachment to agenda item "Technology Committee Report.")
Written report submitted, no comments.
Written report distributed, no comments.
There was no other business.
There were no public comments. The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.
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