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BOARD MEETING DATE: May 14, 1999 AGENDA NO. 15

REPORT:

Progress Report on Public Awareness and Education Programs to Reduce VOC Emissions

SYNOPSIS:

This is a six month progress report on the implementation of a series of outreach programs approved at the September 1998 meeting of the Governing Board (AQMP Control Measure CTS-04). These programs address hair salons, research laboratories and alternative fuel vehicle operators.

COMMITTEE:

Stationary Source, April 23, 1999, Reviewed

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

At the September 11, 1998 Board meeting, three programs were approved to reduce emissions through public awareness and education. These programs address hair salons, research laboratories, and the availability of fueling sites for use by owners of alternative fuel vehicles. The intent of this program is to develop a partnership between the District and smaller, more diversified businesses to inform them about alternative, lower-emitting products, techniques, processes and equipment modifications that can be used at their facilities to reduce pollution.

Hair Salons

1. Staff co-authored a fact sheet with ARB that informs salon operators about newly reformulated products (hair sprays, mousses, gels, etc.) to reduce their contribution to air pollution. The fact sheet asks them to cooperate with manufacturers and distributors to ensure that any problems with products are resolved. This publication will soon be available for distribution in both English and Spanish. Versions in other languages would be developed as needed.

2. The American Lung Association (ALA) volunteered to conduct an outreach program specifically to the Korean hair salons in the City of Los Angeles. Last fall, ALA surveyed 10 businesses and found that many were unaware of the relationship between smog and their products. ALA then drafted language for a brochure to be printed in English and Korean for distribution to local salons. Future work by ALA will entail:

• Distributing information to media (local newspapers, Korean cable channel, industry associations, etc.)
• Conducting a telephone survey to determine if the level of understanding increases after outreach.

Laboratory Fume Hoods

Staff formed a cooperative partnership with Laboratory Safety Environmental Management, a non-profit association of industry and academic lab environmental managers, to develop a one-day workshop on air and waste management issues. The workshop is scheduled on May 20, 1999 at the District.

The technical program is designed to apprise local laboratories of recent and future changes to regulations and to provide the latest information and innovations in pollution prevention techniques. As a chance for a wide variety of academics and industry professionals to network with their peers, the workshop format provides an optimal opportunity for information exchange. By including multi-media topics (e.g., recent changes to the California hazardous waste regulations), we hope to attract additional attendees who would otherwise not attend if the conference were strictly about air pollution issues. The District will be cosponsoring the workshop through in-kind services (facilities, mailing and printing brochures and program, and staff resources) and food and beverages. Additional conference costs will be offset by a nominal charge.

Information Dissemination on Alternative Fuel Dispensing Sites

As the infrastructure to support alternative fuel vehicles is being developed, it is important to assure current and future vehicle owners that convenient fueling sites are available and easy to locate.

Staff proposed to assist in developing comprehensive web sites to provide detailed maps of fueling sites and other information on alternative fuels. The AQMD Governing Board has authorized a contract about to be executed with CALSTART (co-sponsored by ARB) to consolidate existing home pages on alternative fuels to one site and to expand the site to include statewide information on all types of alternative fuels. This 18-month process will commence in June 1999.

The MSRC has completed its EV signage in the Inland Empire and is in the process of installing signs in Orange and Los Angeles Counties.

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