South Coast Air Quality Management District

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

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

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

S. Roy Wilson, ChairMember
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting started at 9:20 a.m. Present: Committee Chair Roy Wilson (arrived at 9:35 a.m.), Committee Vice Chair Jon Mikels, Committee Members Jane Carney, Norma Glover (arrived at 10:20 a.m.), and Ron Loveridge (arrived at 10:10 a.m.), and Board Member Leonard Paulitz (arrived at 10:05 a.m.). Absent: Committee Member Jim Silva. The attachment is an attendance roster.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

1. Status Report on Draft 2001 RTP

Ms. Huasha Liu of SCAG gave a brief overview of the draft 2001 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Major issues covered in the 2001 RTP included High Speed Rail (Maglev), L.A. County MTA Long Range Transportation Plan, finance, and aviation issues. There was a brief discussion on whether funding would be available for Maglev, and SCAG’s alternatives if funding were not available. With regard to regional aviation issues, Ms. Liu reported that in the past year four aviation scenario alternatives were evaluated but none was selected by SCAG’s Transportation and Communication Committee (TCC) for inclusion in the 2001 RTP. As a result, SCAG staff conducted further studies, as well as evaluation of additional scenarios, including a decentralized airport system. The conclusion was that the decentralized scenario contributes the most benefit to the region. Ms. Liu mentioned that one scenario will be included in the final 2001 RTP which is expected to be approved at the TCC meeting next month. The 2001 RTP is expected to be adopted on May 3.

Staff provided a report on the Diesel Emission Control Retrofit Users Conference held on February 6-7, 2001. The Conference consisted of five Sessions: 1) Regulatory and diesel engine industry perspective; 2) Technology; 3) Low-sulfur diesel fuel; 4) Regional diesel retrofit air quality issues; and 5) Current programs and experiences.

Session (1) comprised of the following: CARB’s presentation on the California diesel retrofit program; EPA’s presentation on EPA’s voluntary diesel retrofit program; and discussion on the diesel industry’s perspective. Session (2) comprised of presentations on technology by several corporations. Session (3) comprised of the following: discussions on low-sulfur diesel fuels issues, i.e., timing, availability, and scope; as well as local distribution and supply issues. Session (4) comprised of AQMD’s presentation on AQMD’s retrofit demonstration program. There was a demonstration fleet of 39 buses for the retrofit program. Session (5) comprised of presentation by the California Trucking Association, and presentations on off-road construction, transit bus, and delivery truck applications.

Staff provided a summary on the additional studies that the AQMD is participating in: CARB Study and EC-Diesel Study.

Under the CARB Study, tests are being conducted on diesel- and CNG-buses. Samples for toxics analyses will be collected in February - May. CARB will set up a GC/MS (gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer) instrument on site for gaseous analyses, and will transport particulate samples to their El Monte office for the laboratory analyses. CARB also has requested co-funding from the AQMD for an amount of $16K to transport and set up the instrument for the gaseous toxics analyses at the testing facility. CARB will provide an on-site analyst.

The EC-Diesel Study is managed through NREL/DOE/CARB/BP, and will measure toxics in the exhaust of diesel fueled heavy duty vehicles. The AQMD addition includes analyses of toxics in CNG-bus exhaust, and conducting Ames bioassays on exhaust samples from CNG- and diesel-fueled buses. Three universities are participating in the study. The West Virginia University will conduct dynamometer runs and collect samples for toxics analysis. Their transportable lab has been moved to Riverside. The criteria pollutants study is underway, and toxics sampling will start in April, either in Riverside or Orange County. The Desert Research Institute will conduct chemical analyses of the exhaust. On-site collection of samples will start in April, with lab analyses scheduled for May – June. U.C. Davis will conduct Ames bioassays. Samples will be shipped to U.C. Davis for analysis which is scheduled for May – July. This effort is coordinated with the CARB Study.

With regard to the additional project of retrofitting a CNG-bus with a particulate trap, staff is working with Johnson Matthey on this project. Johnson Matthey is currently conducting a technical feasibility assessment.

Staff also reported on the current activities. Additional working group and public consultation meetings will be held. Staff will report back to the Board when the study data become available. Data are expected in late summer. In the meantime staff will continue to provide updates to the Committee.

An update on the development of PR 1195 was provided. Staff reported on the following: 1) Rule language revisions: further clarification of definitions which included consideration of cleaner diesel buses as the first provision in the exemptions. 2) Draft rule proposals: implementation of rule proposed to start 60 days from rule adoption; requirements for new school bus and used school bus purchases. 3) Proposed rule exemptions: for public school bus fleets, if funding is not available to offset differential cost of purchasing rule compliant buses (consider "cleaner diesel" first); prior to July 1, 2003, if there is no alternative-fuel station within 5 miles of vehicle storage yard; and 10 percent of remaining school bus fleet may remain non-rule compliant for field trip purposes. 4) Funding mechanisms: for school bus purchase (Lower-Emission School Bus Program; MSRC; Carl Moyer Program, and Adopt-A-School Bus Foundation), and for Infrastructure Development (funding provided by CEC and AQMD). 5) Major outstanding issues: request from school districts for AQMD to consider cost for fueling infrastructure and maintenance facility upgrades; request from the environmentalist groups to remove the 60-day implementation start date; and request from private school transportation contractors for alternative treatments. 6) Comparative cost between CNG and clean diesel paths, and 7) School Bus Program standards for NOx emissions from school buses.

During the course of the presentation, there were discussions on: difference between the cost of current diesel buses versus the cost of alternatives proposed in the draft rule; availability of funding issues; and also one provision in the proposed exemptions which provides that if funding is not available for the purchase of a cleaner fuel bus, then the fleet operator is required to purchase a new diesel bus retrofitted with a particulate trap. With regard to this exemption provision, Sharon Rubalcava, representing several private school transportation providers, commented that the private school transportation contractors have an alternative proposal for the AQMD. The proposal is that the private contractors will be allowed to buy new diesel buses with particulate traps in lieu of buying CNG-buses. In return the private contractors will apply for funds to retrofit 10% of the school fleets with the particulate trap per year.

Committee Member Jane Carney requested that at the next Committee meeting sufficient time be allowed for public comments on this item. In response, Committee Chair Roy Wilson asked for a short agenda for the next meeting.

Rule 2202 Summary Status Report submitted, no comments.

Item #4 – CEQA Commenting:

1. CEQA Document Commenting Update: Written reports submitted, no comments.

7. Other Business

None.

None.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE


FEBRUARY 23, 2001


ATTENDANCE ROSTER

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