South Coast Air Quality Management District

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, March 23, 2001. Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Jon D. Mikels, Vice Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting started at 9:20 a.m. Present: Committee Chair Roy Wilson, Committee Vice Chair Jon Mikels, Committee Members Jane Carney, Norma Glover, and Ron Loveridge, and Board Member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta. Absent: Committee Member Jim Silva. Committee Chair Roy Wilson appointed Committee Vice Chair Jon Mikels as Chairman for this meeting, and Committee Vice Chair Jon Mikels appointed Board Member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta as an ad hoc committee member at this meeting. The attachment is an attendance roster.

Due to the attendance of a large number of interested parties, the meeting was moved to Conference Room GB.

ACTION ITEM:

1. Rule 2202 – AQIP
   Proposal of Recommendations for 4^th Quarter of 2000
   Staff’s presentation to the Committee for their proposal included: summary of available funding; proposals received – 8 proposals in total; emission reduction credits balance; emission reductions from the proposed projects and cost effectiveness of each proposal. Staff recommended that a contract be awarded to each of the following five companies:

Taormina Industries, in the amount of $124,615, for the purchase of 5 LNG refuse trucks;

OceanAir Environmental, in the amount of $689,629, for diesel tugboat repower;

Anaheim Transportation Network, in the amount of $205,000 for the running of 1 electric shuttle;

Department of CHP, in the amount of $63,940, for the deployment of 5 bikes; and

Pick Your Part Auto Wrecking, in the amount of $400,000, for old vehicle scrapping.

Committee Member Jane Carney moved to recommend approval of this item to the Governing Board and Committee Member Norma Glover seconded. The motion was passed unanimously.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

2. Summary of Mira Loma Study
   Staff provided some background information on the study. Staff reported that in the Fall 2000 the Mira Loma community expressed concerns about the potential for increased air pollution due to increasing commercial diesel truck traffic. Staff also noted that the Mira Loma site is part of CARB’s Children’s Health Study. A significant amount of data has been collected by CARB, but the particulate measurement techniques used by CARB are not consistent with AQMD’s federal reference methods, and the lab analytical techniques are different. Therefore, AQMD initiated an ambient particulate study in December 2000 and January 2001 to assess the existing conditions in Mira Loma. This study covered analyses of PM10 concentrations plus elemental carbon and organic carbon concentrations. Samples were also collected and analyzed from sites in Rubidoux and Ontario – representing two nearby communities, and Central Los Angeles – representing urban area, for comparisons.

Key findings of the study are:

1. Ambient PM10 concentrations at Mira Loma exceeded those observed at Rudiboux, traditionally the highest PM10 site in the South Coast Air Basin.
   
   
2. Elemental carbon concentrations in Mira Loma were less than levels measured in Los Angeles, but slightly higher than those observed in Ontario and Rubidoux. This suggests a contribution of elemental carbon particulate by local sources.
   
   
3. Organic carbon levels in Mira Loma were the highest among the sites in the study. Recent studies by others suggest that the most likely source of these particles is from re-entrained road dust.

Staff pointed out that due to the short length of the study, samples collected were limited and at this point the results are indicators only.

There was a brief discussion on the need to continue the monitoring and reduction of the PM10 levels. Committee Member Jane Carney asked if staff is preparing any plan to reduce PM10 levels in the area. Staff responded that as part of 2001 AQMP updates, comprehensive PM10 control strategies will be developed to meet the federal standards. The draft plan will be ready by early summer and will be brought before the Committee at the appropriate time.

3. Status Report on Fleet Rule 1195
   A status report on the development of PR 1195 was provided. Staff reported that: since the Committee meeting in February more meetings have been conducted with the stakeholders; CARB recently certified the International Trucking & Engine Company’s school bus engine at the 3.0 g/bhp-hr NOx level; and the new draft rule proposals were released on March 20, 2001. Staff then reported on NOx emissions from school buses; International "Green Diesel" engine certification; and CARB’s conditions for the certification. Issues addressed with the revised proposals include: 1) alternative-fuel infrastructure costs; 2) private school transportation provider concerns; 3) alternative-fuel engine/chassis availability or specific bus route application; 4) lead-time for needed vehicles; and 5) signed contract agreements prior to rule adoption. The revised draft rule implementation proposal is that implementation for school bus fleets of 15 – 50 buses may begin July 1, 2002 if 25% of existing fleet is retrofitted with approved control devices by March 1, 2002; or July 1, 2003 if additional 25% of existing fleet is retrofitted by January 1, 2003.
   
   Staff added 7 additional exemptions to the draft rule proposal covering issues such as: availability of external funding; retrofitting diesel school buses with control devices; contract agreements signed prior to rule adoption; alternative-fuel refueling station infrastructure; availability (commercially) of alternative-fuel engine/chassis/body configuration; and out-of-District field trips.
   
   Outstanding issues include: 1) infrastructure cost criteria is low; 2) number of buses for field trips; 3) 5-mile exemption for public fleets; 4) sunset date, and percentage of fleet to be retrofitted in exemption for private school transportation contractors; and 5) allowance for cleaner diesel when State offers funding.
   
   An additional School Bus Working Group meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 11, 2001; and the proposed rule is currently scheduled for the Board’s consideration on April 20, 2001.
   
   During the course of the presentation there were discussions by the Committee on: selection process for the statewide lower-emission school bus program; availability of funding; percent of school buses that will be affected; the number of exemptions proposed; additional costs to the school districts; and NOx emission benefits of CNG versus "Green Diesel" buses.
   
   Comments were received from the public. These covered issues such as: a fuel-neutral rule; alternative compliance options; NOx and PM emission benefits of CNG compared to "Green Diesel"; purchase of new diesel buses with particulate traps in lieu of buying CNG-buses; allowance of use of green diesel technology first; rising cost of CNG; availability of funding; simplification of the rule; and the safety issue of children traveling in school buses versus in private cars.
   
   
4. Status Report on "Procedures for Calculating Equivalent Toxic Risk Reduction from Vehicle Emissions"
   Staff provided a status report on the study of emissions from diesel and CNG buses. The study comprised of 3 parts: CARB study, EC-Diesel study – this will start in April, and CNG particulate trap retrofit. The CARB study started at the end of February. Testing on CNG-fuel transit bus is currently being conducted and should be done by the end of this week. The next testing is on diesel bus with a particulate trap, to be followed by testing on the baseline vehicle – diesel-fuel bus. With regard to the CNG particulate trap retrofit project, staff has conducted meetings with two vendors: Johnson Matthey and Engelhard. Johnson Matthey, one of the vendors, advises staff that traps currently used for diesels need to be modified for use with natural gas, and that the project is technically feasible, but development and testing require 6-12 months. The company is willing to work on the project, and suggests that AQMD consider using catalysts for gaseous toxics. Basic technical issues discussed include: exhaust and particulate composition; amount of methane in exhaust; back pressure tolerance; and space constraints. Staff reported that particulate emissions are already low with CNG, and the trap technology will help bring the down level even more. Johnson Matthey suggests that staff conduct some laboratory tests in order to: get information on exhaust characterization; develop trap formulations; test traps over duty cycles; and test durability. The company will provide an outline for the work plan. The proposed work plan is: develop particulate trap technology in 6-12 months and then test the trap and catalyst equipped CNG for toxics.
   
   In view of the length of time required for the development of the CNG particulate trap, Committee Member Jane Carney proposed that an interim report be provided to the Board on the procedure for calculating equivalent toxic risk reduction from vehicle emissions.
   
   
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 reports submitted, no comments.
   
   
7. Other Business
   None.
   
   
8. Public Comment
   None.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

Attachment
Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE
 
MARCH 23, 2001

ATTENDANCE ROSTER

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