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Issue RFP to Assess, Develop and Demonstrate Low-VOC Cleaning Systems

SYNOPSIS:

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 reduction could take place. The AQMD funding for this project shall not exceed $150,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, April 28, 2000, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve issuance of RFP#9900-23 to assess, develop and demonstrate low-VOC cleaning systems to determine the feasibility of year 2005 VOC limits in Rule 1171, in an amount not to exceed $150,000 from the Advanced Technology Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Solvent cleaning operations are one of the major sources of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in the Basin. These operations constitute removal of contaminants such as dirt, soil, grease, uncured coatings, adhesives, and inks. Rule 1171 – Solvent Cleaning Operations, was originally adopted on August 2, 1991, primarily to regulate VOC emissions from solvent cleaning operations during the production, repair, maintenance, or servicing of parts, products, tools, machinery, equipment, or general work areas. Since its original adoption, Rule 1171 has become a key component of AQMD’s ozone reduction strategy and has been amended several times for additional VOC emission reductions.

Rule 1171 was amended on October 8, 1999 to achieve additional VOC emission reductions required by the AQMP (CM#97ADV-CLNG) to meet state and federal requirements. In this amendment, the additional emission reductions will be achieved in two steps by lowering the VOC limits on December 1, 2001 and July 1, 2005. The technology-forcing VOC limits effective July 1, 2005 are substantially lower than the VOC content of many of the solvents used today. However, staff is confident that a six-year lead time is sufficient enough for the broad development of compliant materials that are both effective and safe. The development of compliant materials may be achieved by the use of aqueous or semi-aqueous technologies, exempt compound substitution, or the development of new cleaning materials or technologies.

The October 8, 1999 amendment also requires the Executive Officer to complete a Technology Assessment by July 1, 2004, of the available low-VOC technologies for several cleaning operations to evaluate the feasibility of the year 2005 VOC limits. Rule 1171 requires the technology assessment for the cleaning of electrical apparatus and electronic components; and the cleaning of application equipment for coatings, adhesives, screen printing inks, ultraviolet inks, and specialty flexographic printing inks. After the assessments, the Executive Officer is required to report to the Governing Board as to the progress in technology development and whether the year 2005 limits are feasible or require amendment.

In addition to the cleaning operations cited above which require a technology assessment, Rule 1171 also applies to other cleaning operations that are currently either exempt from the Rule 1171 VOC limits or have a substantially high VOC limits. These operations include cleaning of application equipment used for applying architectural and satellite/radiation effect coatings, and product cleaning of solar cells, laser hardware, scientific instruments, and high precision optics. If developed, low-VOC cleaning systems for these operations can also provide additional emission reductions.

Through this RFP, AQMD is soliciting proposals to assess, develop, and demonstrate low-VOC cleaning systems for cleaning operations cited above under the technology assessment requirement and which are currently exempt or have high VOC limits.

Proposal

The objective of the proposed project is to determine if the year 2005 limits for cleaning operations cited above are technologically feasible and cost-effective. This objective will be accomplished by the assessment, development, and demonstration of the existing and the newly developed low-VOC cleaning systems.

The project will involve collection of information on typical cleaning practices, including the solvents and cleaning methods, that are currently used for the cleaning operations subject of this study. For each cleaning operation, extensive research will be conducted to identify available cleaning systems that comply with the year 2005 limits. In the event that compliant systems are not available or effective for any cleaning operation, new solvents or methods will be identified and developed. Selected existing and newly developed low-VOC systems will then be tested at end-user facilities for their cleaning performance, and modified, if necessary to determine the lowest feasible VOC limits. The project will also include the comparison of cleaning performance, cost-effectiveness, environmental impacts, and health-related trade-offs for the high-VOC systems currently used and the newly developed low-VOC systems.

The conclusions and analysis of testing will be presented in a final report which will include a description of the testing program, the types of testing that were conducted, the optimal alternative in each case, and the cost comparison of using the high-VOC solvents and the low-VOC alternatives.

Outreach

In accordance with the AQMD’s consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the RFP and inviting bids will be published in the following publications:

1.	Antelope Valley Press	10.	La Opinion	19.	Precinct Reporter
2.	Black Voice News	11.	La Voz	20.	Rafu Shimpo
3.	Chinese Daily News	12.	Los Angeles Daily News	21.	Riverside Press Enterprise
4.	Eastern Group Publications	13.	Los Angeles Sentinel	22.	San Bernardino Sun
5.	El Chicano	14.	Los Angeles Times	23.	Santa Clarita Signal
6.	Excelsior, The	15.	M/W/DVBE Source	24.	State of California Contracts
7.	Inland Empire Hispanic News	16.	Orange County Register		Register
8.	Inland Valley Daily Bulletin	17.	Palm Springs Desert Sun
9.	Korea Central Daily	18.	Philippine News

Additionally, potential bidders will be notified utilizing the Los Angeles County MTA and Cal Trans Directories of Certified Minority, Women, Disadvantaged and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises; the Inland Area Opportunity Pages Ethnic/Women Business & Professional Directory; AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors; and AQMD Purchasing’s mailing list. Notice of the RFP will be mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations; and placed on the Internet at AQMD’s Web site [http://www.aqmd.gov, "Business and Job Opportunities" icon] and AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

Benefits to AQMD

The proposed project is included in the March 2000 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under Project 2000S3-1, "Development and Demonstration of Near-Zero or Zero-VOC Coating and Solvent Formulations." The major benefit of this project is to assist industry in developing low-VOC cleaning systems for cleaning operations discussed above. This will, in turn, result in significant VOC emission reductions due to product enhancement, certification, and commercialization of newly developed cleaning systems, with cost-effective and satisfactory performance characteristics for end-users. If successfully identified, developed and commercialized, the new cleaning systems will result in a potential emission reduction of 9 tons per day by the year 2005.

Resource Impacts

The total AQMD funding for the work contemplated under this RFP will not exceed $150,000. Sufficient funds are available from the Advanced Technology Fund. This fund was established as a special revenue fund for revenues received as a result of fines, penalties, and settlements from air pollution violations. These settlement payments by the violators are to be used by the AQMD to support the development and demonstration of advanced technologies, and the assessment of resulting emissions benefits.

Attachment

RFP #9900-23: Assess, Develop, and Demonstrate Low-VOC Cleaning Systems

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