BOARD MEETING DATE: May 8, 1998 AGENDA NO. 32
REPORT:
Mobile Source Committee
SYNOPSIS:
The Mobile Source Committee met on Friday, April 24, 1998. Presentations were made on the following items: Legislative Update; Report on SB 836 and Rule 2202 Activities; RFP for Technical Enhancement Program for the Year 2000 AQMP Project; Update on Regional Transportation Plan; Technology Advancement Office Projects Quarterly Update; and Reports on Environmental Justice Initiatives #2, 4, and 7. The next meeting is May 15, 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 Vice Chair Dr. S. 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), Committee Members Norma Glover, and Jon Mikels, and Board Member Leonard Paulitz (not voting). Attachment 1 is an attendance roster.
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ITEMS
Legislative Update
Staff highlighted AB 2194 (Washington), SB 432 (Lewis) and SB 1643 (Hayden). Committee Member Glover expressed concern about SB 1247 (Hayden) which requires AQMD to include information on PM2.5 levels in its air pollution forecasts and notifications. Her concern was that this bill would increase AQMD’s responsibilities as well as the regulatory burden on the basin at a time when the existing burden is already substantial. (The handout distributed at the meeting is included in the May 1998 Board package as an attachment to agenda item "Legislative Committee.")
Progress Report on SB 836 (Lewis) and Rule 2202 Activities
Staff reported that a joint letter from SCAG and AQMD has been sent to the California Air Resources Board along with the results of the SB 836 Evaluation of Rule 2202 Voluntary Ridesharing and Other Replacement Measures. The conclusion of the study was that voluntary measures did not achieve equivalent emission reductions compared to what would have been achieved under Rule 2202. Staff distributed copies of a letter sent by Senator John Lewis to AQMD Board Chairman Burke. In the letter, Senator Lewis informed the Board that he had introduced a bill, SB 432, to maintain the Rule 2202 employee threshold at 250. He requested the support of the Board in implementing that change to the rule. Staff informed the Committee that the Legislative Committee had recommended that this issue be brought to the Governing Board at its May 8, 1998 meeting for discussion on a Board position.
Staff informed the Committee that the County Transportation Commissions are waiting for a determination on the regulatory status of the 100-249 employee worksites. This information will help them as they develop programs for the $1.5 million they will be receiving from the AQMD to promote voluntary ridesharing for the 1998/99 year.
Per Committee Member Soto's request at the last Mobile Source Committee meeting, staff reported on the possible alternatives for training Rule 2202 Employee Transportation Coordinators. Staff presented several alternatives to the Committee (see Attachment 2), and a recommended course of action, which was to remain with the existing method of training through a no-cost contract with an outside training provider. Staff also committed to sending a notice to local governments advising them that AB 2766 subvention funds could be used to cover the cost of ETC training. A member of the audience, Melinda Sue Norin, a former ETC training provider, expressed concerns about the RFP process. Staff agreed to revisit the AQMD RFP process for the next round of recruiting, and to take bring its recommendations to the Committee and the Board. Committee Member Mikels made a motion to approve staff's recommendation; Committee Member Glover seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
Staff informed the Committee that funds under the Rule 2202 AQIP program were being held pending decision by the Board regarding Rule 1610 - Old-Vehicle Scrapping. In response to a question by Committee Member Glover regarding the status of the program, staff informed the Committee that the Technology Committee was reviewing staff recommendations on modifications to Rule 1610 with input from ARB.
RFP for the Technical Enhancement Program for the Year 2000 AQMP (TEP2000) Project -- Ammonia Emission Inventory Emission Inventory
Enhancements (Attachment 3)
Staff informed the committee that the RFP would enable the AQMD to update the existing inventory which was developed in 1987. The updated information would be needed for particulate matter air quality modeling and control strategy development for the 2000 AQMP. An amount of $80,000 has been budgeted for this RFP with extra potential funding from the California Energy Commission.
Update on the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)
Staff informed the Committee that SCAG Regional Council approved the RTP. Copies of the final RTP would be available by May 1998. Three task forces have been set up by SCAG to receive comments and to revise the following sections of the plan: Growth, Long-term Financing, and Aviation. SCAG is working on the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) to ensure funding for transportation projects identified in the RTP. The TIP should be ready by September 1998.
Technology Advancement Office Projects Quarterly Update (Attachment 4)
Staff informed the Committee about three fuel cell projects being implemented by AQMD in collaboration with the California Air Resources Board, University of California at Irvine and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. The Detroit Diesel Corporation has demonstration projects involving the use of liquefied natural gas for their Series 60G engines. John Deere is converting some of MTA transit buses to compressed natural gas. Staff is encouraged by plans of the transit agencies to purchase buses that operate on alternative fuels. MTA is buying 470 compressed natural gas buses, Orange County Transportation Authority is buying 186 propane buses, and the City of Glendale is buying five compressed natural gas (32’) buses. The American Foods (Lucky) Corporation has purchased 25 liquefied natural gas trucks. The City of Santa Monica has bought 22 compressed natural gas trucks and LAX has purchased 20 liquefied natural gas buses.
Committee Member Glover asked whether oversized diesel pick-up trucks were on the road in Southern California as in Oklahoma, and expressed concern about their emissions. Discussion included the increased usage of sport utility vehicles by American households as their private automobiles and the absence of controls on emissions from these vehicles. Staff informed the Committee that ARB was developing emission standards for this class of vehicles.
Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives
Initiative #4 (a) CEQA Handbook Revision (Attachment 5): The Working Group continues to meet monthly. Staff has completed the first draft of the first five chapters which replace eight chapters from the existing CEQA handbook. The final handbook will be approximately ten chapters instead of the current 15 chapters. The next meeting of the Working Group is scheduled for May 28, 1998.
Initiative #4 (b) CEQA Document Commenting: Staff distributed a report which lists the CEQA documents received and reviewed for the period of March 14, 1998 through April 13, 1998. (This report is included in the May 1998 Board package as Attachments A-C to agenda item "Lead Agency Projects and Environmental Documents Received by the AQMD.")
Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiative Study
Initiative #2 - Ambient Monitoring of Air Toxics: Staff informed the Committee that all the equipment had been purchased. Staff has already started collecting data from four stations. All the ten stations will be in operation within the next four weeks. Six workshops have been held in the basin to inform the public about the study.
Initiative #7 - Cleanup Incentives for Diesel (Attachment 6): A fueling workshop was held at Lucky Grocery facilities in Buena Park to advise the company on converting its fleet of 400 trucks. The company has applied to the MSRC for funding assistance for the purchase of 25 liquefied natural gas trucks. Staff also had a briefing with Vons/Safeway on alternative fuel options for their fleet of trucks.
Update on the Mobile Source Measures in the SIP (Attachment 7)
Written report submitted, no comments.
Rule 2202 Activity Report/Upcoming Events (Attachment 8)
Written report distributed, no comments.
Other Business
The committee was informed about a public workshop on proposed amendments to Rule 1902-Transportation Conformity scheduled for later in the day, Friday, April 24, 1998 at 1:00 p.m.
Public Comment
There was no public comment. The meeting was adjourned at 11:16 a.m.
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