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BOARD MEETING DATE: May 14, 1999 AGENDA NO. 27

REPORT:

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on April 16, 1999. Major items discussed included a presentation on MTBE Phase-Out; Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the May Board meeting; an update on TAO reauthorization bills AB 38 and SB 98; a presentation on a completed Technology Advancement project; and monthly reports on Environmental Justice Initiatives 2, 7, and 10. 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 May 28, 1999 at 11:30 a.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Receive and file.

Hal Bernson, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Present were Committee Vice Chair Leonard Paulitz and Committee member Norma Glover. Video-teleconference difficulties were experienced in connecting with the offices of DWP and William Burke due to an accidental severing of the telephone fiber wires of the bridging service. There being no members of the public in attendance at Dr. Burke's video-teleconference site of 11110 West Ohio Avenue, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA, efforts to continue to establish connection were discontinued. Speaker-phone communication was established with the video-teleconference site at DWP. However, at 11:45, as no members of the public were in attendance, this communication was also discontinued.

Technology Advancement Feature Presentation

1. MTBE Phase-Out - Mike Scheible, Deputy Executive Officer of ARB, presented a history of California's Cleaner-Burning Gasoline Program and the Governor's decision on MTBE. Oxygenates have been used since the late 1970's, and MTBE has been the refiners’ primary choice. It was noted that emissions reductions were achieved through gasoline reformulation, but that future emissions reductions could be achieved without MTBE—that MTBE is helpful, but not essential.
   
   Based on a study by the University of California and public hearings, the Governor found MTBE presents a threat to ground, surface and drinking water; MTBE is highly soluble in water and transfers to ground water faster than other constituents in gasoline; MTBE in small amounts renders drinking water unusable; MTBE is a potential, but not proven, health problem; and MTBE is not essential to cleaner-burning gasoline. On March 26, 1999, the Governor issued Executive Order D-5-99 for the phase-out of MTBE from California gasoline.

May Board Agenda Items

2. Execute Contract to Cost-Share Development and Demonstration of Zero- and Low-VOC Resin Technology for Advanced Control Measure Development - Stains, waterproofing sealers, and clear wood finishes used as architectural coatings emit over 12 tons per day of VOC emissions. Based on results of a competitive solicitation, AVES has been selected to develop and demonstrate a zero-VOC resin technology that could be used to formulate these coatings. If successful, this project will help identify possible ways to further reduce VOC emissions in the Basin from this source category. Total project cost is $557,500. AQMD’s contribution shall not exceed $185,000. Less than a quorum was present; those Committee Members who were present communicated their concurrence.

3. Execute Agreement to Cost-Share the Determination of Non-Registration Rates of On-Road Vehicles - The vehicle emissions inventory is based upon the number of vehicles registered by the Department of Motor Vehicles. However, a 1989 study indicated that 8% of on-road vehicles are not registered for up to a month and 1% are not registered for two or more years. ARB issued a solicitation with California University Services to determine the non-registration rates of on-road vehicles. Through this competitive process, ARB selected UCR CE-CERT to conduct this project. Staff recommends executing an agreement with the ARB in an amount not to exceed $50,000 to cost-share this $200,000 project. Less than a quorum was present; those Committee Members who were present communicated their concurrence.

Updates

4. TAO Reauthorization Bills AB 38 and SB 98 - Lupe Valdez, Deputy Executive Officer of Public Affairs and Transportation Programs, indicated that SB 98 (Alarcón) passed with a two-thirds majority on the Senate side of the house. AB 38 (Washington) is going to the Assembly in the near future, but as yet no date has been set. Ms. Valdez distributed a list of Assembly members and stressed that 54 votes are needed for passage. Based on past voting records, 23 yes votes have been cast. However, she noted that 31 bipartisan votes are needed to have this measure passed, and asked Committee Members to call members of the Assembly and ask for support of AB 38.

5. Reports on Completed Technology Advancement Projects
   Mel Zeldin, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer of Science and Technology Advancement, presented a final report on a project to Measure Concentrations of Selected Air Pollutants Inside California Vehicles.

6. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives 2,7 and 10
   
   Committee Members received these monthly status reports previously and copies were available for the public at the meeting. These updates were not verbally presented. Copies of these reports are attached hereto as Attachments B, C and D.

7. Other Business - There was no other business.

8. Public Comment Period - Dr. Robert Zweig asked Mike Scheible of ARB to check into the health effects of ethanol, as Fairbanks, Alaska had found adverse health effects associated with this additive. John Billheimer noted his support of agenda item #2 as an important project.
   
   The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

Attachments

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

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Attachment A - Attendance

Attachment B

Environmental Justice Initiative No. 2 - MATES-II and Microscale Study

Status Report - April 1999

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

March/Early April Actions:

1. MATES-II:

• MATES-II sampling completed as of March 31, 1999
• Most laboratory analyses completed for samples collected through January 1999
• Initiated dispersion modeling input development and model testing

2. Microscale Study:

• Sampling completed at Montclair, Torrance, Costa Mesa, Boyle Heights, Corona, Norwalk, Anaheim, Van Nuys, Hawthorne, and Pacoima
• Sampling in progress at San Pedro, Riverside, and Rialto
• Final deployment in preparation phase (South El Monte)
• Emissions survey data entry about 98% completed
• Growth factors provided to contractor
• Microscale site visits (for emissions inventories) conducted at San Pedro,

Rialto, and El Monte

3. No ATSTRG meeting in March

Upcoming Items:

• Complete remainder of Microscale sampling program
• Continue to compile updated monthly summaries of completed laboratory analyses with input from ARB
• Continue to process completed emissions inventory surveys and compile data.
• Complete growth and emission control factor development
• Apply growth and control factors to the draft point source emissions inventory
• Begin initial dispersion model runs
• Next ATSTRG Meeting scheduled for April 21, 1999

Attachment C

Environmental Justice Initiative No. 7 - Cleanup Incentives for Diesel

Monthly Status Report

March - April 1999

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.

Support Funding Incentives

• The heavy-duty vehicle incentive program, known as the Carl Moyer Air Quality Incentive Program, is moving forward. The program funding of $25 million is in ARB's budget.
• The AQMD proposal for $11,273,020 was submitted to the ARB on April 1, 1999.
• AQMD staff has established a working group, comprised of key stakeholders, to review and provide input to the AQMD's Moyer Program. This on-going working group met April 15, 1999 to review implementation plans for the AQMD.
• AB 1571, authored by Villaraigosa and Senator Brulte, was introduced to continue the Moyer Program and put it into state law. It has been referred to the Assembly Transportation Committee.
• Bills to reauthorize and extend the AQMD Clean Fuels Program were introduced in both the State Senate and Assembly in December 1998.
• SB 98 (Alarcon) passed Senate Appropriations on April 12, 1999 (11 Ayes / 1 No).
• AB 38 (Washington) passed Assembly Transportation on March 22, 1999 (11 Ayes / 5 Noes) and Assembly Appropriations on April 14, 1999 (16 Ayes / 4 Noes).

Coordination with MSRC and Local Government

• The AQMD Governing Board approved the heavy-duty vehicle work program of approximately $10 million at its March 12, 1999 meeting. The RFP for transit buses and heavy-duty vehicles was released following the Board meeting and proposals are now being accepted.

Conduct Public Education and Outreach

• AQMD staff has scheduled several outreach events for potential bidders to review the Moyer Program RFP, released by the AQMD on April 9, 1999, as follows:
• April 27, 1999 San Bernardino Public Library, San Bernardino
• April 28, 1999 South Coast Air Quality Management District, Diamond Bar
• April 29, 1999 Sunline Transit Agency, Thousand Palms
• April 30, 1999 Orange County Transportation Authority, Orange
• May 4, 1999 Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro
• May 7, 1999 Southern California Association of Governments, Los Angeles

Attachment D

Environmental Justice Initiative #10
Public Comment, Rules 1401 and 1402
Status Report
April 1999

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 Sources, and consideration of adding additional compounds and non-carcinogenic impact prevention into Rule 1401 - New Source Review of Toxic Air Contaminants.

Status of Efforts:

• March Board Meeting
  - Board added nickel compounds
  - AQMD staff will monitor the progress on the soluble nickel carcinogenicity issue
  and if the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
  recommends a change to the risk value, to return to the Board within 120 days after Scientific Review Panel (SRP) approval with recommendations as appropriate

• Acute compounds – Rule 1401
  - finalized acute risk values by the SRP on February 10, 1999
  - affects 51 acute compounds
  - two compounds (hydrogen chloride and ethylene glycol ethyl ether) have a
  February 10, 1999 effective date
  - Proposed Rule 1401 changes to the remaining risk values and effective
  dates scheduled for August Board meeting

• Cumulative Impacts – Rule 1402
  - Working group meeting April 16, 1999
  - Coordinating with MATES II
  - General principles under discussion
  - Proposal outlines developed
  - Rule changes anticipated in summer/fall

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