South Coast Air Quality Management District

Execute Contracts for Retrofit of CNG Transit Bus with Particulate Trap, and Analyses of Exhaust from Retrofitted Bus

SYNOPSIS: 

These contracts will provide for fabrication and installation of a particulate trap on a CNG-fueled transit bus, and for chemical analyses and Ames bioassay screening tests of exhaust from particulate trap equipped CNG bus. This is an addition to the study of exhausts of diesel- and CNG-fueled transit buses approved by the Board on January 19, 2001. The cost of the proposed contracts is not to exceed $101,000. Funds are available in the Clean Fuels Fund.

COMMITTEE: 

Administrative, February 9, 2001, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Authorize the Executive Officer to execute a contract with a vendor to retrofit a CNG transit bus with a particulate trap, for an amount not to exceed $20,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund;
   
   
2. Authorize the Executive Officer to execute a contract with West Virginia University to collect exhaust samples from a CNG-fueled bus retrofitted with a particulate trap for an amount not to exceed $25,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund;
   
   
3. Authorize the Executive Officer to execute a contract with the Desert Research Institute to conduct chemical analyses of exhaust samples from a CNG-fueled bus retrofitted with a particulate trap for an amount not to exceed $40,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund; and
   
   
4. Authorize the Executive Officer to execute a contract with the University of California, Davis to conduct Ames bioassays on exhaust samples from a CNG-fueled bus retrofitted with a particulate trap for an amount not to exceed $16,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Air quality and health impacts of diesel exhaust have led the AQMD and others to focus attention on reducing diesel exhaust emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. The Board adopted a series of fleet rules to reduce public exposure to both criteria and toxic pollutants. As part of the adoption resolution for these rules, the Board directed staff to develop procedures for calculating the equivalent toxic risk of exhaust emissions from vehicles using conventional fuel and alternate fuel. As part of the effort to compare toxic exhaust emissions from diesel and CNG buses, the Board approved a project to study the emissions of diesel- and CNG-fueled transit buses at its January 19, 2001 meeting. During the discussion of the project, Supervisor Mikels asked if the CNG buses would be equipped with a particulate trap. Since a diesel bus with a trap was to be tested, a CNG bus with a trap would give a comparison of different fuels with the same exhaust treatment technology.

Proposal

The proposed project adds a CNG-fueled bus retrofitted with a particulate trap to the study approved by the Board on January 19, 2001. The proposed project provides for the retrofit of CNG-fueled transit bus with a trap for particulate control, and for collection, chemical analyses, and Ames bioassays of exhaust extracts from this bus. The analyses are an addition to a study sponsored by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Department of Energy (DOE), BP, and CARB to assess the emissions of toxic pollutants from diesel-fueled heavy-duty vehicles.

Results from this project will provide data characterizing emissions of toxic pollutants from a CNG-fueled heavy-duty vehicle with a particulate trap.

Specifically, the proposal is for approval of four contracts: 1) A particulate trap vendor for $20,000 to retrofit a CNG-fueled transit bus with a particulate trap; 2) West Virginia University for $25,000 to collect exhaust samples; 3) Desert Research Institute for $40,000 to conduct detailed chemical analyses of the exhaust samples; and 4) U.C. Davis for $16,000 to conduct Ames bioassays for potential genotoxicity of exhausts.

Benefits to AQMD

The AQMD’s Clean Fuels Program has been active in facilitating the implementation of advanced technologies and clean fuels in the transportation sector within its Technology Advancement Office. The proposed project is included in the March 2000 Update of the Technology Advancement Plan category 2000E1-1, "Comparative Emissions Evaluations of Heavy-duty Alternative and Conventional Fuel Engines." The AQMD has adopted several fleet rules to reduce public exposure to toxic air contaminants from heavy-duty diesel-fueled vehicles. Information from this project will help refine the public health benefits of reducing these emissions.

Sole Source Justification

Section VIII.B.2. of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. This request for a sole source award is made under provision B.2.d.: Other circumstances exist which in the determination of the Executive Officer require such waiver in the best interest of the AQMD. Specifically, these circumstances are B.2.d.(1): Projects involving cost sharing by multiple sponsors.

This request for exhaust analyses is for an addition to a project funded by NREL ($112,000), DOE ($150,000), BP ($23,000) and CARB ($237,000) and SCAQMD ($167,000) that is evaluating the emissions of toxic pollutants from diesel-fueled heavy-duty vehicles. The NREL/CARB/DOE/BP project measures emissions from vehicles fueled with CARB diesel, with low-sulfur diesel (EC-1 Diesel), and low-sulfur diesel with particulate trap exhaust treatment. The vehicles include school buses, grocery trucks, and transit buses. The proposed AQMD contracts are for analyses of toxics and for bioassays of particulate and volatile emissions from the exhaust of a CNG-fueled transit bus retrofitted with a particulate trap.

Resource Impacts

Total AQMD cost for this proposal will not exceed $101,000.

Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund, established as a special revenue fund resulting from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code Sections 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code Section 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels, including the development of the necessary advanced enabling technologies. Funds collected from motor vehicles are restricted, by statute, to be used for projects and program activities related to mobile sources that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.

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