South Coast Air Quality Management District

Issue Program Announcement for Diesel Particulate Trap Retrofit Projects for Local and Regional Public Fleets; and Execute Contract with City of Los Angeles to Generate Emissions Credits Under State Emissions Mitigation Program

SYNOPSIS:

CARB has allocated an additional $3.1 million for particulate trap retrofit projects for local and regional public fleets within the South Coast Air Basin as part of the State Emissions Mitigation Program. Of this amount, $750,000 will be awarded to the City of Los Angeles for particulate trap retrofit projects. Staff recommends issuance of a program announcement for diesel particulate trap retrofit projects totaling $2.35 million; execution of a contract with City of Los Angeles for $750,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, June 28, 2002, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Approve issuance of Program Announcement #PA2003-04 to retrofit local and regional public fleets with particulate traps in the South Coast Air Basin, in an amount not to exceed $2.35 million from the State Emissions Mitigation Fund.
   
   
2. Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with City of Los Angeles upon receipt of funding from CARB to retrofit heavy-duty diesel fleet vehicles with particulate traps, in an amount not to exceed $750,000 from the State Emissions Mitigation Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The Governor has established a statewide program to mitigate excess emissions from peaker power generation units, which are needed to alleviate the power crisis in California. Upon implementation of this program, CARB solicited project proposals and requested that the AQMD administer the NOx and PM emission reduction projects that qualify under the CARB guidelines and are conducted in the South Coast Air Basin. In response to this request, the Board, at its July 20, 2001 meeting, approved the establishment of the State Emissions Mitigation Fund to recognize grant funds from the CARB. An additional $3.1 million has recently been allocated by CARB for retrofitting local and regional public fleets with particulate trap devices. Of these additional funds, CARB has agreed that $750,000 will be passed through to the City of Los Angeles for retrofitting approximately 125 on-road, heavy-duty vehicles, including a variety of Class 7 and 8 vehicles, such as truck tractors, vans, and street sweepers. CARB precludes all program funds from being used to retrofit refuse haulers or transit buses.

The City of Los Angeles has taken significant action to reduce air pollutant emissions from the City’s vehicles. In June 2000, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a clean fuel policy that established the framework for the City’s efforts in implementing alternative fuel programs and emission control technologies, and to provide support for air quality regulations affecting the City’s fleet.

This year, the Los Angeles City Council approved funds in the amount of $2.6 million to retrofit approximately 500 vehicles in the City’s refuse collection fleet with particulate traps. The City’s refuse collection fleet consists of over 650 vehicles. The City of Los Angeles is planning to purchase approximately 120 new, dual fuel vehicles to replace the older diesel vehicles, and retrofit the remaining vehicles in the refuse collection fleet with particulate traps, which will reduce PM emissions by at least 85%.

In the South Coast Air Basin, approximately $12.6 million has already been allocated for PM retrofit projects. Table 1 provides a summary of the major PM projects in this area. The AQMD staff proposes that the funds already allocated for PM retrofit projects, as outlined in Table 1, be considered as local match funds required by the State Emissions Mitigation Program.

Proposal

This proposal involves the issuance of Program Announcement #PA2003-04 providing $2.35 million in funding to retrofit local and regional public fleets with particulate trap devices, and the execution of a contract with the City of Los Angeles for $750,000 for particulate trap retrofit projects. The program announcement will solicit proposals from local and regional public agencies for particulate trap retrofit projects within the South Coast Air Basin. CARB has established minimum criteria for particulate trap retrofit projects funded under the State Emissions Mitigation Program. In order to qualify for funding under this program, projects shall meet the following minimum criteria:
 

1)	Only local and regional public fleets within the AQMD boundaries qualify for funding. State and federal agencies are not eligible for funding,
2)	Refuse haulers and transit buses do not qualify for funds,
3)	Particulate traps shall be installed and fully operational by no later than March 31, 2003, and
4)	AQMD shall ensure that a minimum match fund requirement of 1: 1 is met by the Contractor or the AQMD.

Under this proposal, $750,000 in pass through funds will be allocated to the City of Los Angeles for particulate trap retrofit projects. The City of Los Angeles will retrofit approximately 125 on-road, heavy-duty vehicles, including a variety of Class 7 and 8 vehicles, such as truck tractors, vans, and street sweepers, with particulate traps. The funds will not be used to retrofit refuse haulers or transit buses.

Upon evaluation of proposals, the AQMD staff will report back to the Board, and will seek the Board’s approval to award contracts for these projects.

Benefits to AQMD

The successful implementation of this program will result in mitigation of excess particulate matter emissions produced by peaking power plants, which must operate to accommodate peak electrical loads. Some of these projects will also produce concurrent toxic compounds emissions reductions (e.g. lowered diesel exhaust particulate), which is an additional benefit. Finally, administration of this program at the local level will provide greater certainty and confidence for achieving the emission reductions since the AQMD has acquired experience and expertise in identifying emission sources and available control or prevention technologies.

Resource Impacts

Total cost of the proposed program shall not exceed $3.1 million, comprised of $2.35 million for Program Announcement #PA2003-04, and $750,000 for the City of Los Angeles as pass through funding to retrofit vehicles with particulate traps. The $3.1 million expected from CARB will be placed in the State Emissions Mitigation Fund.

Attachment

PM Retrofit Program Announcement #PA2003-04

Table 1
Summary of PM Retrofit Projects in the South Coast Air Basin