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Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, April 28, 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 9:05 a.m. Present: Committee Chair Cynthia Coad (participated via videoteleconference), Committee Vice Chair Roy Wilson (participated via videoteleconference), Committee Members Norma Glover, Ron Loveridge (arrived at 9:17 a.m.), and Jon Mikels (arrived at 9:07 a.m.), and Board Member Jane Carney (arrived at 9:17 a.m.). The attachment is an attendance roster.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

1. Status Report on Fleet Rule Development
   
   Staff reported on the rule adoption schedule: Proposed Rules (PR) 1191 – 1193 are scheduled to go to the Board in June; PR 1194 is scheduled for July; and PR 1195 and PR 1196 are tentatively scheduled for August. The two related rule amendments - PAR 1186.1 and PAR 431.2 are scheduled for July.
   
   A status report on PR 1191 – PR 1193 was provided. On-going discussions and meetings are being conducted with all interested parties. Based on comments received from the Councils of Governments (COGs) further amendments will be made to PR 1191 relative to alternative-fuel vehicle crediting. Staff reported that extensive outreach efforts had been made with all COGs and support had been received from nearly all.
   
   A discussion of the rule development efforts took place and comments were made by several of the Committee Members. Committee Chair Cynthia Coad raised the question whether the current rule language would eliminate research and development efforts on hybrid fuel/electric technology or clean diesel, and requested that written explanation be provided to clarify this point. Committee Member Jon Mikels mentioned that he had received from transit operators in San Bernardino County a long list of problems associated with engines, engine parts, fueling operations and fueling stations relative to natural gas use, and asked that these be reviewed. He raised concern about the rule adoption schedule and also requested more in-depth information regarding the fleet rules, including the data on estimated emission reductions per year to be achieved by each rule.
   
   Based on comments made by the Committee Members, staff advised the Committee that a tour of the Sunline Transit facility in Coachella Valley will be arranged for all the Board Members. In addition, a Special Study Session on the fleet rules will also be scheduled.
   
   Committee Member Ron Loveridge inquired about the role of the Committee – whether the Committee can or cannot vote to recommend approval of a rule. The District Counsel advised that the Committee has the ability to provide input into staff’s proposal, and request alternative proposals. The Committee can make recommendation as to whether a rule is ready to be presented to the Board, but cannot take a position for or against a rule prior to the hearing of all the public testimonies presented at the final Board meeting. Committee Member Ron Loveridge requested that this matter be presented to the Administrative Committee for discussion and the results of that discussion be reported back to this Committee.
   
   
2. Status Report on 1999 SIP Implementation
   
   Staff provided background information on the SIP/Settlement agreement. Staff reported that in the 1999 SIP amendment, as part of the settlement agreement, AQMD committed to adopt 6 control measures, with specific tonnage reductions and certain adoption and implementation schedules. Looking at the Year 2000 commitment of an emission reduction of 10 tons per day (TPD), the AQMD has already achieved 9 TPD of emission reductions (89% of commitment). The AQMD is also ahead of the implementation schedule – for the 6 rules that have been adopted to date, the implementation date is currently set at 2000, instead of the originally estimated timeframe of Year 2002 – Year 2008. Cumulatively, the total commitment in the entire settlement agreement is an emission reduction of 48.1 TPD. To date, the AQMD has achieved 35.9 TPD (75% of commitment), including Phase II of Rule 1171 that is subject to technical review in Year 2004.
   
   Staff also gave an overview of the ozone attainment issues. The CARB just released a draft report after their evaluation of the existing smog-check program. The report showed that, due to higher NOx cut points and levels of vehicle exemptions set by the program, it is estimated that there will be a 19 tons per day of VOC reduction shortfall by Year 2010. As a result, there could be an ozone attainment demonstration problem and transportation conformity issues as well. Additional mobile source measures may be needed to make up the shortfall. Committee Members Normal Glover and Jon Mikels expressed the view that CARB needs to be responsible for their share of emission reductions. Future activities include on-going three-agency discussions and possibly SIP revisions in the next few months.
   
   
3. CO Nonattainment Issues
   
   An overview of the CO nonattainment issues was provided. Basically the Basin is designated a "serious" nonattainment area for CO. The expected attainment date is Year 2000. Due to the fact that year-to-date 4 days have recorded CO concentrations exceeding the 8-hour standard, the Basin will not be able to meet the 2000 attainment date. The South Central L.A. area is the only area exceeding the 8-hour CO standard. This has been the case for some time and there have been studies to investigate the cause. Background information on this situation was also provided, as well as current staff efforts toward solution. Staff also reported on the Clean Air Act requirements and potential CO control concepts that are being discussed with the CARB. Since the majority of CO emissions are from mobile sources, Committee Members again expressed the desire that CARB needs to develop necessary strategies for attainment demonstration.
   
   
4. Rule 2202 Activity Report
   
   Rule 2202 Summary Status Report submitted, no comments.
   
   
5. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives

Item #4 – CEQA Commenting:

1. CEQA Document Commenting Update: Written report submitted, no comments.

6. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives
   
   Item #7 – Cleanup Incentives for Diesel: Written report submitted, no comments.
   
   
7. Other Business
   
   Committee Chair Cynthia Coad informed the Committee that she attended the Town Hall meeting conducted at Rio Vista Elementary School. One of the chief complaints she heard was against Taormina, a waste hauler operator. People complained about strong unpleasant odors coming from Taormina’s transfer stations. These include sites where trash dumpsters are located; for example, sites outside grocery stores and restaurants. This could be an air quality issue because of the odors. Committee Chair Coad indicated that it would be advisable for county and health care agencies to require all food establishments (grocery stores and restaurants, etc.) to use waterproof bio-degradable bags for their food-product garbage. This would help reduce the problem of unpleasant odors and leakage of fluid at the trash dumpster locations. She is working with the health care agencies in those areas. Another issue that Committee Chair Cynthia Coad brought up was the subject of heavy cement-work in California, e.g. cementing of riverbeds, run-ways, etc. She noted it may be time to start looking at decementing California and replacing cement-work with vegetation as an alternative means of flood prevention and other related urban problems. She is seeking ideas from other Board Members and asked staff to provide existing research on this matter.
   
   
8. Public Comment
   
   None

The meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE

ATTENDANCE ROSTER

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