South Coast Air Quality Management District

Execute Contracts for Analyses of Exhaust from Diesel- and CNG-Fueled Vehicles

SYNOPSIS: 

These contracts will provide for chemical analyses of the exhaust of CNG-fueled transit buses, and for Ames bioassay screening tests for potential genotoxicity of exhaust extracts from diesel- and CNG-fueled transit buses. The proposed contracts will add these analyses to an existing study of exhaust from diesel-fueled vehicles. The cost of the proposed contracts is not to exceed $167,000. Funds are available in the Clean Fuels Fund.

COMMITTEE: 

Administrative, January 12, 2001, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with West Virginia University to collect exhaust samples from CNG-fueled buses, for an amount not to exceed $50,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund;
   
   
2. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the Desert Research Institute to conduct chemical analyses of exhaust samples from CNG buses, for an amount not to exceed $65,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund; and
   
   
3. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the University of California, Davis to conduct Ames bioassays on samples from diesel- and CNG-fueled bus exhaust, for an amount not to exceed $52,000 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 Coast AQMD Governing Board adopted a series of fleet rules to reduce public exposure to both criteria and toxic pollutants. These include: Rule 1191 – Clean On-Road Light- and Medium-Duty Public Fleet Vehicles, Rule 1192 – Clean On-Road Transit Buses, Rule 1193 – Clean On-Road Residential and Commercial Refuse Collection Vehicles, Rule 1186.1 – Less Polluting Sweepers, Rule 1194 – Commercial Airport Ground Access, and Rule 1196 – Clean On-Road Heavy-Duty Public Fleet Vehicles. These rules require public fleets with 15 or more vehicles to acquire less polluting or alternative fuel vehicles when procuring or leasing vehicles for operation in the AQMD.

An important issue that arose during the development of these rules was a request to allow for purchase of conventionally fueled vehicles if they can be demonstrated to achieve equivalent air quality benefits. The Governing Board, in the adoption resolution, directed the Executive Officer to provide amendments to the fleet rules "to allow an exemption for the purchase of a conventionally fueled vehicle ... which achieves a reduction in toxic risk equivalent to the level which would be achieved, on average, by currently available alternative fueled engines certified by CARB ...."

As part of this adoption resolution for Rules 1191, 1192, 1193, 1194, 1196 and 1186.1, the Governing Board established an approach that would allow for use of such vehicles as are equivalent to alternative fueled vehicles. This approach considers the equivalency of emissions of particulate and nitrogen oxides, and toxic risk. The Board directed staff to develop procedures for calculating the equivalent toxic risk of exhaust emissions from vehicles using conventional fuel and alternate fuels. Equivalent toxic risk is to be calculated based upon unit risk factors (URF) as approved by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), and in consultation with CARB and OEHHA.

Proposal

The proposed project is an addition to a study sponsored by the 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. The diesel fuels include CARB diesel, low-sulfur diesel (ECD-1 from BP-ARCO), and low-sulfur diesel with a particulate trap exhaust treatment.under a separate AQMD contract to West Virginia University. The proposed project provides for collection and chemical analyses of exhausts from two CNG-fueled transit buses and for the conduct of Ames bioassays of exhaust extracts from CNG- and diesel-fueled buses. The Ames bioassay tests for the potential of chemicals to cause mutations to genetic material. Results from this project will provide qualitative data characterizing toxic pollutants from conventional and alternative fueled heavy-duty vehicles. This information will provide input in formulating staff recommendations on the equivalence of emissions from heavy-duty vehicles.

Specifically, the proposal is for approval of three contracts: 1) West Virginia University for $50,000 to collect exhaust samples from CNG-fueled buses; 2) Desert Research Institute for $65,000 to conduct detailed chemical analyses of the exhaust samples from CNG-fueled buses: and 3) U.C. Davis for $52,000 to conduct Ames bioassays for potential genotoxicity of CNG and diesel exhausts. The analyses will include both particulate and volatile exhaust components.

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 is for an addition to a project funded by NREL ($112,000), DOE ($150,000), BP ($23,000) and CARB ($237,000) 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 from the exhaust of two CNG-fueled transit buses, and for bioassays of particulate and volatile emissions from transit buses fueled by CNG, CARB diesel, low-sulfur diesel, and low-sulfur diesel with a particulate trap exhaust treatment.

Resource Impacts

Total AQMD cost for this proposal will not exceed $167,000.

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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