South Coast Air Quality Management District

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Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

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

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

S. Roy Wilson, Vice Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting started at 9:00 a.m. Present: Committee Vice Chair Roy Wilson, Committee Member Norma Glover and Committee Member Ron Loveridge. Absent: Committee Chair Cynthia Coad, Committee Member Jane Carney, and Committee Member Jon Mikels. The attachment is an attendance roster.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

1. Rule 1610 – Old Vehicle Scrapping
   
   Staff reported that the objective of the proposed amendments is to amend the existing regulations to be consistent with ARB’s Voluntary Accelerated Light-Duty Vehicle Retirement Enterprises (VAVR) regulations. The proposed amendments include: Prohibition of resale/reuse of vehicle parts for generation of MSERCs; Extension of eligibility of vehicles to 1982 and later models; increasing Smog Check requirement from 30 to 60 days; Rejection of vehicles failing Smog Check inspection within 61 to 90 days of their next required Smog Check; Requirement of scrapper to retain a copy of functional/eligibility checklist; addition to advertising requirements; and addition/modification of definitions. Staff also reported on issues arising at the Public Workshop conducted in July. These include life of mobile source reduction credits; concerns over the BAR program; and vehicle eligibility criteria. Staff is currently evaluating the eligibility criteria, but has agreed that the life of the credits should remain at 5 years. A public consultation meeting is scheduled for September 7, 2000, which BAR and the CARB will be attending. This rule is currently scheduled for the Board’s consideration at the October, 2000 Board meeting.
   
   
2. Procedures for Calculating Toxic Risk Reduction from Vehicle Emissions
   
   Staff reported that at the Board Hearing of PR 1192 in June, 2000, the Board directed staff to develop a procedure to calculate toxic risk reduction of vehicle exhaust and to report back to the Board in September, 2000. The proposed procedure uses the following risk factors and test protocol: available unit risk factors (URF) approved by OEHHA; URF for diesel exhaust (both untreated and treated), URFs that are available for individual chemicals in CNG exhaust; and also test protocol approved by CARB for determining emission rates. The rationale behind this procedure is: there is no CNG exhaust potency factor; no revised OEHHA URF for treated diesel exhaust; it is consistent with procedures assessing cancer risks under air toxics regulations; and it uses available information on cancer potency. Other methods evaluated include: Chemical Speciation; Lapin Proposal; and Mass Emissions Equivalence. Staff also reported on comments received from the public consultation meetings. Recommended actions include: implement staff interim procedure; conduct side-by-side speciation study; develop toxicity data; and with improved data, update procedure as appropriate.
   
   Interest was expressed on how the vehicle exhaust was captured for testing. In response to this, staff proposed to make arrangements for Committee Members to visit CARB’s mobile source laboratories in El Monte.
   
   
3. Status Report on Fleet Rule Development
   
   Status reports on PR1194 and PR 1196 were provided to the Committee.
   
   PR 1194
   PR 1194 was adopted at the August 18, 2000 Board meeting. However, there are two outstanding issues relative to taxicabs. These are: definition of a "fleet," and economic impact of the rule on drivers. Proposed amendments to address these issues will be presented to the Board for its consideration at the October Board meeting. Staff reported that it is recommended that the term "fleet" be used to define a group of vehicles that "operate as a unit." The primary expense to an individual taxicab driver is due to purchase costs. Various financial incentive packages are being developed to offset some of the costs. Potential exemption provisions are also being examined. Staff is also contemplating various means to assist taxicab drivers in obtaining financial assistance.
   
   PR 1196
   Staff reported that the proposed rule is taking a similar approach as Rule 1186.1 – Less-Polluting Sweepers. Staff also reported on the following: implementation schedule; technical infeasibility certification; proposed exemptions; other proposals under evaluation. This rule is currently scheduled for the Board’s consideration at the October, 2000 Board meeting.
   
   
4. Status Report on PAR 431.2 – Sulfur Content of Liquid Fuels
   
   A brief overview of the rulemaking effort was provided to the Committee. Staff reported on the concerns of the different parties and staff’s proposals to address these concerns. These concerns include: Refiners and Importers -lead time (4-year lead time on average), and compliance costs; Distributors - product availability and product segregation; Retailers – competitiveness; and End Users - increased fuel costs and competitiveness. To address these concerns, staff has put forward a revised proposal. Main features of the revised proposal include: a 2-phase approach: Phase I – voluntary compliance by refiners / importers prior to June 2004; Phase II – mandatory compliance after June 2004; compliance demonstration through batch testing; and the alternative compliance option of mitigation fee program which will be a voluntary program. Staff also provided reports on impact analysis; comparison of costs between heavy-duty trucks and stationary IC engines; cost impacts on average truck stop operators; proposed adoption resolutions; and also the State of Texas’ proposed diesel fuel requirements. Staff will continue to conduct working group meetings, and also a public consultation meeting in September. This rule is currently scheduled for the Board’s consideration at the September, 2000 Board meeting.
   
   There was a brief discussion on truck stop operators’ concerns over cost impacts and specifically their competitiveness with other truck stop operators over the border. Committee Member Norma Glover asked if staff can petition the U.S. EPA regarding fuel prices beyond state borders. Staff will look into this issue.
   
   
5. Transportation Conformity Update
   
   Charles Keynejad from SCAG provided an update on the potential transportation conformity lapse due to the SIP shortfalls. He reported that to remedy the SIP shortfalls, a process has been put in place by CARB in coordination with SCAG and AQMD. The approaches to address conformity have been reviewed with the U.S. EPA, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). On August 18, 2000 the CARB released a set of revised control factors for use in the 2000 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) in SCAB. The new control factors credit the State full commitment in the applicable 1997 Ozone SIP (as amended in 1999) for emission reductions from on-road mobile sources. On August 28, 2000 SCAG will release a Supplemental Document to address the conformity findings for the regional emissions generated by the SCAB portion of the 2000 RTIP, using the new control factors. The Draft Supplemental Document will be processed for a 30-day public review and comment, a public hearing and Regional Council action. After the Regional Council action the final Document will be submitted to the federal agencies for final action. These revised control factors should be sufficient to remedy the SIP shortfall problem.
   
   
6. Rule 2202 Activity Report
   
   Rule 2202 Summary Status Report submitted, no comments.
   
   
7. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives
   
   Item #4 – CEQA Commenting:
   a. CEQA Document Commenting Update: Written report submitted, no comments.
   
   
8. Other Business
   
   None.
   
   
9. Public Comment
   
   None.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE

AUGUST 25, 2000

ATTENDANCE ROSTER

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