South Coast Air Quality Management District

Transfer Funds from Executive Officer Mitigation Account and Authorize Establishment of Five-Year Inspector Enhancement Program for the Marine Vessel Credit Generation Rule and Port Area Air Quality Program Enforcement

SYNOPSIS: 

Staff proposes transfer of $800,000 from Executive Officer Mitigation Account to the General Fund to support a five-year enforcement enhancement in the port area communities. Two Air Quality Inspector III positions are proposed to enforce Rule 1631 - the Pilot Credit Generation Program for Marine Vessels, and other mitigation account and/or power plant emission related activities.

COMMITTEE: 

Stationary Source, October 25, 2002 and Administrative, November 8, 2002, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Transfer $800,000 from the Air Quality Investment Fund (#27), Executive Officer Mitigation Account to the General Fund and establish the Enhanced Port Compliance Power Plant Emissions Mitigation Designation;
   

2. Appropriate $133,700 from the General Fund Designation for Enhanced Port Compliance and Power Plant Emissions Mitigation to the FY 2002-2003 Budget in Engineering and Compliance as detailed in Attachment A; and
   

3. Approve two Air Quality Inspector III positions dedicated to enhanced enforcement in the port area and/or other Power Plant Emissions Mitigation activities for five years (terminating December 31, 2007).
   

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are areas of heavy shipping-related, industrial activity with high projected growth. Several new programs have been created to lessen the emissions impacts of the ports on their surrounding communities. Two such programs are Rule 1631, the Pilot Credit Generation Program for Marine Vessels and a recently enacted State program authored by Assemblymember Alan Lowenthal, to reduce idling diesel truck emissions at ports.

These two programs entail new enforcement activity to help ensure the targeted emissions reductions are achieved.

Proposal

Two new Air Quality Inspector III positions are being requested. The positions would be focused on inspecting and auditing marine vessels in the Rule 1631 pilot credit generation program. Specific tasks include on-board inspections of the vessels' engine information, and geo-positioning equipment. The inspector would also audit service and work location records, quarterly fuel consumption and emissions test reports as well as projected and actual credit generation activity levels. These oversight activities will help ensure the credit generation program produces real, quantified, and enforceable emissions reductions.

In addition to these primary responsibilities, the two inspectors would assist current compliance staff in other activities related to power plant emission mitigation and compliance. These include construction equipment emission reduction programs funded with power plant mitigation fees or other such activities.

The total cost of this enforcement enhancement for the five-year period is estimated to be $800,000 as shown in Attachment A. These costs would be funded by a transfer from the Executive Officer Mitigation Fund, Fund 27. For the remainder of this fiscal year, an appropriation from the General Fund to the Engineering and Compliance budget is required.

Attachment

Attachment A - Personnel and Equipment Summary

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