South Coast Air Quality Management District
South Coast Air Quality Management District
BOARD MEETING DATE: July 20, 2001 AGENDA NO. 3
Execute Agreement to Become Member of Advanced Petroleum-Based Fuels - Diesel Emissions Control Program
SYNOPSIS:
The Advanced Petroleum-Based Fuels - Diesel Emissions Control Program (APBF-DEC) is an industry/government program to identify and evaluate low-sulfur diesel fuels, lubricants, diesel engines, and emissions control systems to meet projected emission standards for the 2001 to 2010 time period. Additionally, the APBF-DEC program will evaluate the properties of fuels and vehicle systems that could lead to even lower emissions beyond 2010. Participants include the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. EPA, as well as numerous industry associations. This action is to execute an agreement with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and provide $200,000 in funding to join the APBF-DEC program for Calendar Years 2001 and 2002.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, May 25, 2001, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
The APBF-DEC Program is an industry/government program to identify and evaluate the optimal combinations of low-sulfur diesel fuels, lubricants, diesel engines, and emissions control systems to meet projected emission standards for the 2001 to 2010 time period. Additionally, the program will evaluate the properties of fuels and vehicle systems that could lead to even lower emissions beyond 2010.
Sulfur content in diesel fuel is known to interfere with the functioning of most emissions control technologies and has been implicated as a possible factor in the formation of unhealthful ultrafine particulate matter (PM).
The four-year APBF-DEC program is expected to have a 50/50 government/industry cost-share and be funded at about $35 million, including $25 million in funding and $10 million in in-kind contributions. Participants include the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA), the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association (MECA), and the American Chemistry Council (ACC). CARB and the California Energy Commission (CEC) have also expressed interest in participating. Industry is providing significant in-kind resources, e.g., test engines, urea injection systems, and catalyst systems. The program is managed by DOE’s NREL and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Proposal
Staff proposes that the Board authorize the Chairman to execute an agreement with NREL and provide funding of $200,000. Additionally, staff proposes that the Board authorize the AQMD to join the APBF-DEC program via the amended Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) for Calendar Years 2001 and 2002.
Benefits to the District
Membership to the APBF-DEC Program will allow the AQMD to monitor progress of the results of this industry/government joint effort in assessing varied control technologies for potential future reductions in NOx and PM from use of petroleum-based fuels.
Resource Impacts
This project is included in the March 2001 Technology Advancement Plan Update under Proposed Project 2001CFM3-4, Development of Standards, Certifications, and Codes. Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Program 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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