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Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Technology Committee met on April 28, 2000. Major items included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the May and June Board meetings and written-only presentations on monthly updates of Environmental Justice Initiatives 7 and 10. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on May 26, 2000 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Receive and file.

Hal Bernson, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Committee Vice Chair Leonard Paulitz and Committee member Norma Glover were in attendance at AQMD headquarters. Committee Chair Hal Bernson participated by video-teleconference.

May Board Agenda Item

1. Execute Contract to Provide Technical Support for the Evaluation and Implementation of Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Facilities - Due to increased interest in operating CNG vehicles, both from the Carl Moyer Program, and the proposed 1190 rule series, AQMD staff has received numerous requests for assistance in accumulating information necessary to specify equipment and estimate costs of establishing CNG fueling facilities. Staff proposes to execute a contract with Burnett and Burnette to provide technical support for the establishment of CNG fueling facilities. AQMD funding will not exceed $45,000. Moved (Paulitz), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.

June Board Agenda Items

2. Appropriate Funds from Clean Fuels Fund and Execute Lease and Purchase Agreements for Four New-Technology Vehicles for Alternative Fuel Vehicle Loan Program - The AQMD tests and demonstrates new-technology vehicles with available low-emission and clean-fuel technologies. As part of the Technology Advancement Alternative Fuel Vehicle Loan Program, vehicles are procured as new technologies become available. It is proposed that the AQMD lease for three years, one General Motors EV1 and one Toyota RAV4 EV both with nickel metal hydride batteries, and purchase two Toyota Priuses with hybrid-electric drivetrains with advanced batteries. Total cost to the AQMD for these four vehicles will not exceed $104,000. Moved (Paulitz), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
3. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Implementation of Advanced Technology Natural Gas Fueling Station in Banning - The City of Banning proposes a project to evaluate currently-available CNG fueling systems and use this information to provide a template for design and construction of new L/CNG fueling stations providing a lower cost alternative to conventional custom built stations. The recommendations will be used to construct a model L/CNG station in Banning. Total project cost is $725,000; total AQMD funding will not exceed $140,000. Moved (Paulitz), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
4. Execute Contracts to Cosponsor Demonstration of School Buses Retrofitted with Particulate Matter Reduction Technologies - Protecting children from exposure to diesel exhaust is a priority to the AQMD. Staff proposes a six-month school bus demonstration program with three local school districts to test and evaluate the performance behavior and particulate matter emissions reduction potential of newly developed retrofit technologies by Johnson Matthey and Engelhard. AQMD proposes to execute multiple contracts with the participants and will coordinate and manage the project. Total project cost is approximately $543,200. AQMD’s contribution shall not exceed $300,100. Co-funding will be provided by the ARB, $120,000; Johnson Matthey, $67,500; and Engelhard $55,600. ARCO will supply low-sulfur diesel fuel at the same price as regular diesel. Moved (Paulitz), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
5. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Demonstration and Evaluation of United States Postal Service Electric Mail Delivery Vehicles - The United States Postal Service (USPS) selected Ford Motor Company to provide 500 electric mail delivery vehicles for demonstration. These mail delivery vehicles are derived from the Ford Ranger EV pick-up truck. If this demonstration is successful, the USPS will order an additional 5500 such vehicles for postal operation. Southern California Edison (SCE) was selected by the USPS for testing and evaluation of the electric mail delivery vehicles and has submitted a proposal to the AQMD requesting funding for this activity. The testing would be conducted at the SCE EV Technical Center in Pomona. The total cost of the 500-vehicle demonstration is approximately $23.5 million. The cost share for the testing and evaluation activity shall not exceed $399,617. Moved (Paulitz), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
6. Execute Contract to Cost-Share Demonstration of Hydrogen Refueling Station at Sunline Transit - Hydrogen fuel cell bus technology has the potential to eliminate a range of criteria pollutant emissions. Sunline Transit, a progressive all-CNG bus property, will be the first transit agency in Southern California to operate hydrogen fuel cell buses. Hydrogen Burner Technology (HBT) has proposed to install a complete hydrogen generation and refueling station to provide the needed hydrogen at Sunline Transit facility. The total project cost is $915,000. The proposed AQMD cost-share is $300,000. Cost-sharing will be provided by ARB, HBT and Sunline. Moved (Paulitz), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
7. Issue RFP to Assess, Develop and Demonstrate Low-VOC
   Cleaning Systems - Rule 1171 – Solvent Cleaning Operations, requires an assessment of the available low-VOC technologies for several cleaning operations to evaluate the feasibility of the year 2005 VOC limits. Staff recommends that an RFP be issued to solicit proposals for the assessment, development and demonstration of effective low-VOC cleaning systems. If cleaning systems compliant with the year 2005 VOC limits are successfully developed and implemented, approximately 9 tons per day of VOC emission reductions could take place. The AQMD funding for this project shall not exceed $150,000. Moved (Paulitz), seconded (Glover) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   
8. Monthly Reports on Environmental Justice Initiatives 7 and 10
   Written-only monthly status reports were received and filed. Copies of these reports are attached hereto as Attachments B and C.
   
   
9. Other Business - There was no other business.
   
   
10. Public Comment Period - There was no public comment.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m.

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

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Attachment A - Attendance

Attachment B

Monthly Status Report
March 2000

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 AB 1571 Carl Moyer Advisory Board met at ARB El Monte on Tuesday, February 29, 2000. Several air districts, including the AQMD, presented information on NOx and PM emissions over the vehicle or equipment life for currently funded projects. The Board discussed a number of options for possible long-term funding of the Carl Moyer Program, in addition to seeking a one-time appropriation from the General Fund of $100 million. The next meeting is scheduled for March 15 in San Francisco.
  
  
• The marine portion of the AQMD's 1999-2000 Carl Moyer Program was approved by the Board in February. Proposals are due April 21, 2000.
  
  
• Staff continues to follow the Governor’s proposed 2000-01 budget item to provide funding for school bus replacement. Staff will analyze SB 1991 (Solis), Clean Alternative Fueled School Bus Program, which would provide the legislative vehicle for the Governor's $50 million school bus program.

Promote Technology Advancement

• A Request for Proposals has been released to support development of very low emission heavy duty, natural gas engines with a NO_x emission target of 0.5 g/bhp-hr. The $2.5 million RFP includes the financial support of the California Energy Commission and DOE. Proposals are due March 31, 2000.

Coordination with Transit Districts

• Staff continues to monitor the activities of the Basin’s transit districts in regards to new bus purchases.
  
  
• Staff is participating in a transit working group as part of the Rule 1190 process.

Conduct Public Education and Outreach

• Staff is providing input to the staff report for the 1190 series of fleet rules, and is participating in several industry-specific working groups to address concerns and determine the best ways to implement this series of rules.
  
  
• AQMD is cosponsoring a March 15, 2000 transit workshop, at the AQMD. This workshop will focus on available alternative fuel technologies for urban and shuttle buses, and will include discussions by local transit properties on their experiences with alternative fuel buses, information on U.S. implementation of alternative fuel transit buses, and a display of available transit and shuttle bus technologies.

Environmental Justice Initiative #10
Public Comment, Rules 1401 and 1402

Status Report
March 2000

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: Rule 1402

• Board meeting March 17
  – divergent viewpoints
  – staff proposal attempts to provide balance
  
  
• Key Changes Proposed
  – retains significant risk level at maximum individual cancer risk (MICR) of 100 in
     one million and Hazard Index (HI) of 5
  – adds an action risk level of 10 in one million, HI of 3 and cancer burden of 0.5
  – reduces the time for required reductions
  – establishes criteria for extensions
  – adds emissions inventory requirements for specific TACs and industries
  – adds additional progress reports and public notification requirements for facilities
     above the action risk level
  
  
• Technology-based Approach
  – sets forth a technology-based approach for specific industries with large numbers of
     facilities, smaller sources, where a technology-based source-specific rule approach
     is more appropriate
  – establishes a three-year timeframe to develop technology-based source-specific
     rules for specific industries
  
  
• Issues
  – need for amendment
  – risk thresholds
     cancer
     non cancer
  – extensions of time
  – inventory and notification requirements
  – future TAC changes
  
  
• Addressing comments
  – rule and draft staff report clarifications
  – Board resolution
     industry rules – process and approach
     implementation
     process for new chemicals or changes to risk values
     future rules and technology assessments
     periodic reports to the Board
  
  
• Public Input
  – seven meetings of working group
  – public workshop December 8, 1999
  – public consultation meeting January 26, 2000
  – public consultation meeting February 28, 2000
  – numerous Board and other committee briefings
  – Board meeting March 17

Status of Efforts: Rule 1401

• Proposing removal of limited cumulative analysis – covered by PAR 1402
  
  
• Future updates when state finalizes chronic risk values
  – 3 batches
  – first set just finalized

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