South Coast Air Quality Management District
South Coast Air Quality Management District
BOARD MEETING DATE: July 21, 2000 AGENDA NO. 7
Execute Contract to Cosponsor Remote Sensing Measurements of On-Road Heavy-Duty Diesel Nitric Oxide (NO) and Particulate Matter Emissions
SYNOPSIS:
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) exhaust emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles contribute significantly to the Basin’s emissions inventory. Remote sensing technology can be used to measure nitric oxide (NO) in the exhaust plume to estimate NOx emissions in a short timeframe. The technology can also be used to measure opacity or absorption to estimate PM emissions. The AQMD will join in efforts with the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) to issue a RFP to evaluate remote sensing measurements of NO and PM exhaust emissions from different types of heavy-duty diesel vehicles. Staff recommends AQMD’s participation in this RFP with a co-funding of $100,000. CRC’s co-funding will be $300,000.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, May 26, 2000, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the Coordinating Research Council to cosponsor evaluation of remote sensing measurements of on-road heavy-duty diesel NO and PM emissions in an amount not to exceed $100,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Diesel vehicles dominate the heavy-duty vehicle classifications in the United States. Elevated NOx and PM emissions, and their related health effects, are concerns for diesel engine usage. Urban emission inventories for NOx and PM can be heavily influenced by both on-road and off-road diesel traffic. The emission models utilized by the EPA and CARB have not been extensively updated in recent years, and there remain questions as to how accurately the computer model inventories reflect real-world emissions from the in-use fleet in urban and rural environments.
Thus, it is important to have an assessment of the in-use emission factors for diesel NOx and PM, to improve the existing models, and to verify the accuracy of diesel NOx and PM contributions to the emissions inventory. Remote sensing devices are capable of looking at tens of thousands of vehicles in a short timeframe and can provide useful emissions information for the vehicle fleet.
Proposal
The main focus of this project will be in using remote sensing to measure NO and PM emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicle exhaust in the South Coast Air Basin. CRC with the participation of the AQMD will issue a request for proposal (RFP) to select a contractor to address the following tasks:
Other tasks to be addressed in subsequent stages of the project would include comparison of emissions measured by remote sensing to measurements on a dynamometer, and characterization of emission distributions for different types of heavy-duty fleet vehicles.
Benefits to AQMD
The proposed project is included in the March 2000 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Project 2000T-1, "Assessment of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination." The AQMP relies on the expedited implementation of advanced technologies in Southern California to achieve air quality standards.
The major benefit of this project would be the enhancement of detection capabilities for criteria pollutants emitted by thousands of heavy-duty diesel vehicles in a short timeframe. This will in turn provide useful information about the emissions contributions of the heavy-duty fleet, and will help state and local agencies expedite the implementation of alternative fuel technologies in their efforts to reduce diesel emissions.
Sole Source Justification
Section VIII.B.2 of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. This request for a sole source award is made under provision B.2.d.: Other circumstances exist which in the determination of the Executive Officer require such waiver in the best interest of the AQMD. Specifically, these circumstances are: B.2.d.(1) Project involving cost sharing by multiple sponsors.
CRC, an internationally recognized auto/oil research consortium, is the pre-eminent leader in the United States in the area of conducting mobile source emission studies. It was the leading group conducting the tunnel studies of 1987, 1995, and 1996, which were co-sponsored by the AQMD. CRC has led numerous other studies in the area of mobile source emissions with the participation of other major private and public entities. During the past ten years, CRC has conducted its on-road vehicle emissions workshop in San Diego and presented several papers in this field. The annual workshop, which is co-sponsored by the AQMD and other private and public entities, has become the most important forum for presenting the latest findings in the area of mobile source emissions.
CRC will select a contractor through a competitive solicitation for this project. The AQMD will be a full participant in this process and will join in the evaluation and selection of the most qualified contractor. CRC has committed $300,000 in funding over a two-year period for this project. This will leverage AQMD’s contribution at a ratio of 1:3.
Resource Impacts
Total cost for the proposed contract is approximately $400,000. AQMD’s contribution shall not exceed $100,000, with a co-funding of $300,000 from the CRC.
Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund, established as a special revenue fund resulting from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code Sections 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code Section 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels, including the development of the necessary advanced enabling technologies. Funds collected from motor vehicles are restricted, by statute, to be used for projects and program activities related to mobile sources that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.
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