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Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, February 25, 2000. Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Cynthia P. Coad, Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting started at 9:08 a.m. Present: Committee Chair Cynthia Coad (participated via videoteleconference), Committee Vice Chair Roy Wilson (participated via videoteleconference), and Committee Members Norma Glover (arrived at 9:20 a.m.), Ron Loveridge and Jon Mikels. Absent: Committee Member Mee Hae Lee. The attachment is an attendance roster.

ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1. AB2766 Subvention Fund Program Guidance Policy
   
   The biennial audit of the AB2766 Program for FYs 1995-96 and 1996-97 had been concluded in 1999 and out of a total of 49 findings of noncompliance one remained unresolved. This noncompliance finding was with the City of Duarte relating to expenditures for methanol fuel. At its January 2000 meeting, the Governing Board dismissed this finding due to absence of clear guidance from the ARB and AQMD regarding the use of AB2766 funds for alternative fuel purchases.
   
   Staff has identified five areas that require establishment of clear guidance on the use of AB2766 Subvention Funds. Draft policy recommendations on these areas have been prepared and are presented to the Committee for review. These recommendations are:
   
   

   - Training: funds to be used for training of mechanics on the basic safety requirements & operation/maintenance of clean-fuel vehicles.
   
   - Infrastructure: funds to be used for projects that include development and improvement of fueling stations and transit facilities.
   
   - Total vehicle cost vs. cost differential: funds to be used to cover the cost differential in the purchase of clean-fuel vehicles. This is more cost effective than using the funds to cover the total vehicle cost.
   
   - Light-duty vehicles: ARB has always supported use of the AB2766 funds for the purchase of heavy-duty vehicles, but its policy on light-duty vehicles is fairly unclear. Jurisdictions should be encouraged to purchase clean-fuel vehicles (using the AB2766 funds for the cost differential) in every category, including light-duty.
   
   - Fuel: jurisdictions are encouraged to use the funds to cover only the cost differential for the purchase of alternative fuels.
   

   
   Staff advised the Committee that they are seeking the Committee’s support on these recommendations. Upon receiving the Committee’s support, staff will conduct meetings with local governments to get their input, and then come back to the Committee next month for approval. Upon approval from the Committee, staff will start updating the AB 2766 Subvention Fund Program Resource Guide and will present the final document to the Committee in May or June.
   
   Greg Adams of the L.A. County Sanitation District addressed the Committee. He asked staff if AQMD is lobbying the ARB to encourage the use of the AB 2766 funds to cover only the cost differential in the purchase of clean-fuel vehicles. Staff answered that ARB has always taken this position, and that staff continues to support this limit so as to stretch limited dollars to help more local governments.
   
   Committee Member Jon Mikels suggested that the following three areas be "bundled" into one package: infrastructure, cost differential of vehicle purchase and cost differential of fuel purchase. This will facilitate the cities in showing cost effective emission reductions for their expenditure of AB 2766 funds.
   
   Committee Chair Cynthia Coad moved to support these recommendations. Committee Member Jon Mikels recommended the modification of combining the three areas of Infrastructure, Vehicle Purchase, and Fuel Cost Differential into one package for presentation to the ARB for the purpose of emission reduction credits. Committee Member Ron Loveridge seconded this modification. The motion was carried unanimously.

INFORMATION ITEMS

2. Status Report on Fleet Rule Development
   
   Staff advised that since reporting to the Committee last month, they have conducted various meetings and a third public workshop. Based on the discussion at last month’s meeting and public comments received, staff are proposing to remove Proposed Rule 1190 and in its place provide a suite of rules that will affect various vehicle types. These new proposed rules are:
   
   

   - PR 1191 – Clean On-Road Light and Medium-Duty Public Fleet Vehicles
   - PR 1192 – Clean On-Road Transit Buses
   - PR 1193 – Clean On-Road Clean On-Road Residential and Commercial
   

   Refuse Collection Vehicles
   

   - PR 1194 – Commercial Airport Ground Access
   - PR 1195 – Clean On-Road School Buses
   - PR 1196 – Clean On-Road Heavy-Duty Public Fleet Vehicles
   

   
   In addition, amendments to the following two rules have been proposed:
   
   

   - PAR 1186 – Street Sweeping Vehicles
   - PAR 431.2 – Sulfur Content of Liquid Fuels
   

   Staff noted that amendment to PAR 431.2 proposes lowering the sulfur content in diesel fuels. This proposal is to facilitate the introduction of after-treatment devices for PM reductions. This is an important aspect. Many school districts in the SCAB buy used school buses, and the more feasible approach for school districts is for them to look at retrofitting existing school buses with the after-treatment devices.
   
   Staff also reported on the other key changes and the proposed rule adoption schedule for these new proposed rules and rule amendments.
   
   A brief presentation was given on PR 1191. This rule deals with light- and medium-duty vehicles. It proposes the purchase of cleanest vehicles in these classes, and is expected to have little to no financial impacts or additional infrastructure requirements. This rule will become effective January 1, 2001, with no mandated schedule for new purchases or replacement. Exemptions to this rule cover emergency and rescue vehicles, and existing contracts for purchase of new vehicles.
   
   Committee Member Norma Glover asked a question regarding emergency vehicles. During storm runoffs at ocean communities, back-up vehicles are used for waste-collection services to meet a mandated response-time of 20 minutes to prevent wastes flowing into the bays. Are these considered emergency vehicles? Staff will look into this issue.
   
   A brief presentation was given on PR 1192. This rule deals with heavy-duty transit and urban buses. The recommendations under this rule are very similar to ARB’s proposed Alternative-Fuel path, so there will be no diesel-fuel bus purchases under the proposed rule. This rule will become effective upon its adoption and there is no mandated schedule for purchases or replacement. Exemptions to this rule cover buses used for: paratransit services, school transportation services, buses used for testing or evaluation, long-distance buses equipped for out-of-district service, as well as heavy-duty transit vehicles used solely for transporting passengers for which no alternative-fuel engine is available commercially.
   
   Staff also reported on current efforts which include developing three companion documents on funding mechanisms, infrastructure needs, and training and outreach; and also the completion of CEQA and socioeconomic assessments of these two rules. These will be completed within the next few weeks. Staff expects to present PR 1191 and PR 1192 to the Governing Board for consideration at its April 2000 meeting. (NOTE: Schedule subsequently revised; see current rule schedule.)
   
   Committee Member Norma Glover commented that staff should look at the possibility of appointing one person as a trouble shooter for these rules at least for the next five years.
   
   Greg Adams addressed the Committee and made the following comments:
   
   

   - There is a tremendous cost savings in allowing retrofit kits (including CARB-certified kits) to be used for installation on used vehicles. This would make the rule much more cost effective vs. purchase of new CNG vehicles.
   
   - There are a lot more emergency services that local governments perform than those listed in the rules. The AQMD should be encouraged to expand the emergency provision to a certain percentage of the vehicles that deal with the protection of public health, e.g. waste water treatment. For example, it would be reasonable to allow 20% of these fleets to incorporate dual-fuel capability, i.e. vehicles with CNG engines but have diesel back-up.

3. Air Toxics Control Plan
   
   A presentation on the draft Air Toxics Control Plan was given at last month’s meeting and at this month’s meeting highlights on the proposed modifications and changes are provided. The draft plan elements cover the following areas: existing toxic levels and toxic inventory, ongoing programs, proposed strategies, projected toxic reductions through implementation of this proposed plan and implementation of the plan. Staff prepared a toxicity-weighted emissions inventory which is fairly similar to the outcome of the MATES II ambient measurements, with the majority of the toxics coming from mobile sources; the stationary sources contributing only a small portion. Currently the basinwide toxic exposure is around 1400 in a million. With full implementation of the AQMP, the basinwide risk level would be lowered down to about 1000 in a million. The air toxics levels are expected to be reduced by approximately 28% by 2010 if the AQMD implements only the existing AQMP. Additional control strategies identified in the draft plan include several early action measures, such as the 1190 series rules and Rule 461 on gas stations; and stationary source measures relating to Rule 1402. Staff has done modeling analyses to illustrate what the basinwide toxic level will be with the implementation of all the proposed strategies. It is estimated that the risk level will be lowered down to less than 700 in a million.
   
   Based on comments received from the various public meetings and inter-agency meetings, in the next revision of the draft plan, staff proposes going to the Governing Board at its March 2000 meeting seeking its approval of the draft plan as a planning document only.
   
   Based on comments received, there are two additional new strategies to the draft plan: strategy on the aerospace industry and mobile credit strategy. Also, staff is adding a section in the draft plan to identify the data gaps for further technical enhancements needed for future revisions. Future technical enhancements will cover: ambient monitoring, emissions inventory and modeling analysis. Further additions to the draft plan include: environmental and economic discussion and implementation assumptions and schedule.
   
   Additional public meetings and inter-agency discussions will be conducted and it is expected that the final draft plan will be available by March 1, 2000, and will be presented to the Governing Board at its March 2000 meeting.
   
   
4. Status of Mobile Source Credit Programs
   
   This item was deferred to the next meeting.
   
   
5. Rule 2202 Activity Report
   
   Rule 2202 Summary Status Report submitted, no comments.
   
   
6. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives
   
   Item #4 – CEQA Commenting:
   a. CEQA Document Commenting Update: Written report submitted, no comments.
   b. CEQA Handbook Revision: No meeting in February.
   
   
7. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives
   
   Item #7 – Cleanup Incentives for Diesel: Written report submitted, no comments.
   
   
8. Other Business
   
   Committee Chair Cynthia Coad had comments on the following two issues:
   
   

   - City of Placentia. The City of Placentia, which has 11 railroad crossings, has been trying to get recess rail, because they have been assured that they will have 8 to 9 additional freight trains going through their city. They feel the addition of any railhaul of waste on that route will have a negative effect. Perhaps there are support monies that we need to look at. It would be vital for the City of Placentia, even without the trash haul factor.
   
   - Landfills keeping the fees that waste companies pay. The fees are one key component of the Orange County’s efforts in recovering from the bankruptcy.
   

   
   Committee Chair Cynthia Coad commented that these are two big issues that need to be considered in any kind of recommendations.
   
   
9. Public Comment
   
   None

The meeting adjourned at 10:35 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE

FEBRUARY 25, 2000

ATTENDANCE ROSTER

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