South Coast Air Quality Management District

BOARD MEETING DATE: June 7, 2002 AGENDA NO. 35

PROPOSAL:

Approve Advanced Air Pollution Research Plan for FYs 2002-03, 2003-04, and 2004-05

SYNOPSIS:

In February 2002, the Board approved a workplan for the Chairman’s Strategic Alliance Initiatives. As part of Initiative No. 5 – Strategic Alliance for Advanced Air Pollution Research, staff prepared a three-year plan that will provide direction for research studies and projects to support the development and enhancement of the AQMD’s air programs. This research plan contains research study proposals that would be initiated in-house or through extramural contracts over the next three fiscal years. Upon Board approval, staff will proceed with the implementation of the research plan.

COMMITTEE:

Mobile Source, Stationary Source, and Technology, May 24, 2002; Reviewed

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve the Advanced Air Pollution Research Plan for Fiscal Years 2002-03, 2003-04, and 2004-05.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

In February 2002, the Board approved a workplan for the Chairman’s Strategic Alliance Initiatives. Strategic Alliance Initiative No. 5 – Strategic Alliance for Advanced Air Pollution Research, calls for the development of an agency-wide coordinated research plan that will provide technical support to the AQMD’s air programs. In addition to agency-wide coordination, staff would work with other air agencies, academia, other research organizations, and affected stakeholders on coordinated research efforts. To conduct the coordinated research, an "Advanced Air Pollution Research Plan" for the next three fiscal years has been drafted for the Board’s approval. Upon the Board’s approval, staff will proceed with the implementation of the research plan. The plan would be updated on an annual basis to reflect current research activities and funding resources, and would constitute a rolling three-year plan, similar to the three-year budget forecast.

Proposal

Staff has prepared a draft Advanced Air Pollution Research Plan for Fiscal Years 2002-03, 2003-04, and 2004-05 to implement Strategic Alliance Initiative No. 5. The draft Research Plan is provided in the Attachment. The Research Plan proposes 83 technical research projects in eight general research elements. A brief discussion of each of the elements is provided in the following sections. A list of the proposed projects is provided in Table 1. The list may be periodic amended as priorities shift or as funding become available over the upcoming 12 months. In addition, individual projects proposed in the Research Plan that have external funding will proceed through the Board’s normal contract approval process.

(A) Health Impacts Research
There are several key health impact research efforts. Many of these research efforts, such as CARB’s Children’s Health Study, a ten-year epidemiological study monitoring the health of school-age children living in various parts of Southern California, are long-term in nature. Studies of chronic health impacts of air pollution typically rely on long-term medical data and are not oriented to meet the more immediate planning needs of air regulatory programs. However, there are some focused shorter-term health impact research projects that could be conducted that would complement longer-term studies. Based on review of current health impacts research programs and discussions with leading experts in the field of environmental health, two projects are proposed at this time to examine the health effects of ultrafine particulates and the health impacts of toxic emissions. The projects would be conducted in collaboration with CARB, OEHHA, and other research organizations.

(B) Air Toxic Exposure Studies
The objectives of the studies proposed under this element include updating the current knowledge of ambient air toxic levels in the South Coast Air Basin and Coachella Valley, updating air toxic emissions inventories, and enhancing air toxic modeling capabilities. In addition, enhancements in laboratory analysis and ambient sampling techniques outlined under the Laboratory Analysis/Source Testing element of the draft Research Plan will complement the proposed air toxic exposure studies.

The major focus of this element would be to conduct a follow-up to AQMD's Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study II (MATES-II) published in March 2000, comprising a MATES-III program that would provide the latest information regarding air toxic levels in the Basin. In addition to MATES-III, staff is proposing two studies to: 1) further evaluate hexavalent chromium levels in communities near chrome plating operations and 2) determine the atmospheric fate of specific toxic air contaminants.

(C) Air Quality Management Planning Enhancements
The development of air quality management plans is based on the best available technical data. This includes information regarding current ambient pollutant levels, updated emissions inventories, enhanced photochemical and fine particulate computer modeling, control measure evaluations, and enhanced socioeconomic impact analysis. Under this element of the Research Plan, projects are proposed in two categories: emissions inventory updates and computer simulation model enhancements.

Seven projects are proposed to enhance and update the emissions inventories used for AQMP development, including updates on heavy-duty truck idling emissions, locomotive emissions, stationary and portable diesel internal combustion engine emissions, paved road PM emission factors, and ammonia emission factors. Staff is proposing to examine potential non-reported emissions from various source categories through the annual emissions reporting process and examining methods to further quantify fugitive VOC emissions from major refineries through field measurements or other statistical approaches. CARB staff indicated that several of the proposed projects could be conducted in collaboration with emission enhancement activities being conducted statewide.

Relative to computer simulation model enhancements, staff will be working closely with CARB and U.S. EPA staff on ozone and PM model enhancements for use in future AQMP attainment demonstration efforts. The research projects proposed will provide the AQMD the capability to evaluate the new federal fine particulate ambient air quality standards and refine the current ozone models to handle the new federal 8-hour ozone standard.

(D) Technology Advancement Research
Coordinated research to advance technology for both mobile sources and stationary sources of air pollution are presented in this element of the Research Plan. Such coordinated efforts will pool resources from local, state, and federal agencies as well as academia and private organizations. This research is intended to advance the state of knowledge and develop new technologies for greater air quality benefits for the residents of Southern California. Such advances in science and technology should also benefit all urban areas suffering from the ill effects of poor air quality, on a national and international basis. Under this research element, 13 research projects are proposed in four broad categories:

Natural Gas Engine Technology
Hydrogen Infrastructure & Fuel Cell Vehicles
Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology
Stationary Fuel Cell Power Generation

All of the proposed projects in this element of the research plan are identified in the 2002 Technology Advancement Update Report approved by the Board in March 2002. In addition to mobile source projects, research studies of advanced control technologies for stationary sources are proposed.

(E) Technical Support for Rule Development/Implementation
As part of new rule development and implementation, periodic technology assessments are conducted to determine if rule effectiveness is met; future technology forcing emissions limits can be met; and control technologies are commercially available or feasible to meet future rule compliance limits. Twenty-two research projects are proposed under this element that would provide assessments of source categories covered under Rule 1171 including electrical apparatus and electronic components, adhesives, and printing ink applications; Rule 1168 adhesive formulations for shoe repair; architectural coatings covered under Rule 1113; wet-cleaning conversions under Rule 1421; nonatomizing applications of gel coat materials; and rubber and plastics manufacturing operations. In addition, staff is proposing studies of reactivity-based approaches; a Coachella Valley PM and upper air study; further assessments of approaches to reduce dairy manure emissions; and a post-rule socioeconomic impact assessment.

(F) Enhancements to Current Enforcement/Compliance Monitoring Tools/
Instruments Research
This element focuses on identifying, evaluating, and implementing modern technology advances to enhance field compliance inspection efforts and the analysis of compliance data. The effort would both improve in-field enforcement capabilities as well as provide data access in a manner that promotes more meaningful analysis of emissions and compliance activity impacts on the communities served by the AQMD.

Environmental Justice Initiative No. 8 – Field Inspection Technology was directed at implementing modern technology advances to enhance field enforcement efforts. The initiative focused on refining laboratory testing and analysis technologies and improving field compliance determinations through the use of portable monitoring equipment. In addition, a consultant was contracted to conduct a state-of-the-science technology review to assess existing AQMD capabilities and recommend enhancements. A number of recommendations from the December 1998 report were implemented over the last several years, including acquisition of expanded inspector field sampling equipment and a new gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer for the AQMD Laboratory.

The technology review also recommended the initiation of projects to further enhance field inspection technology. Two projects were specifically suggested. The first, development of the ambient air sampling capability of "artificial nose" technology has been further researched and reported on. The second, expanding the use of occupational air sampling/air monitoring devices by refining their sensitivity to ambient air levels is included in this research plan. This element of the Research Plan builds upon the foundation of these earlier efforts. A third project is proposed to enhance the AQMD's Geographic Information Systems (GIS) capabilities. All of the proposed projects under this element would be conducted with in-house resources.

(G) Enhancements to AQMD Laboratory/Source Testing Analysis/Procedures
The Ambient Monitoring, Source Testing, and Laboratory Analysis sections of the AQMD provide technical support in measuring and monitoring ambient air pollutants. The AQMD relies on U.S. EPA Reference Test Methods to conduct analysis of ambient and source test samples. At times, new test methods are developed to address specific sampling or measurement needs. The AQMD has had several methods approved by the U.S. EPA and other groups conducting ambient measurements are using these methods. As ambient pollutant levels are lowered, there is a need to develop or enhance current sampling/laboratory analysis methods to detect lower concentration levels. As such, this element of the Research Plan contains proposals for 20 research activities that would be pursued to develop or enhance test methods and measurement techniques. Most of the proposed projects would be conducted in-house, but may require the acquisition of newer laboratory or field instruments.

(H) Special Topics
This element of the Research Plan is provided to cover projects that cover multiple research elements or do not fall under a specific element provided above. Three projects are proposed: 1) evaluation and characterization of engine exhaust ultrafine particle and toxic pollutant emissions; 2) ambient nitrogen species measurement enhancements; and 3) technical enhancement program to develop the PM_2.5 SIP.

As seen in Table 1, the majority of the proposed projects relate to preparation of the AQMP revision, the Technology Advancement research program (recently approved by the Board), and technical assessment of future rule limits. Table 2 provides a summary of the projected cost to conduct the research studies. As shown in Table 2, the cost to implement the research plan is about $9 M to $11.1M per year. While the primary focus of the research effort is on technical research, there is an important element related to health impacts of air pollution. Many of the health impacts studies require coordination with other research entities. Due to the time require to conduct the health studies and the intensive resource requirements, all of the proposed health-related projects would be cost-shared with other research organizations.

In addition, cost summaries by major sources are provided in Table 3. The cost summaries show that significant funding would be devoted to addressing mobile sources.

Fiscal Impact

Funding for the proposed projects has been identified for FY 2002-03 based on the recent Board approved AQMD Budget for FY 2002-03. In addition, as previously noted, the Board approved the 2002 Technology Advancement Update Report in March 2002. Sufficient funds are available in the Clean Fuels Program to cover the proposed budget for the Technology Advancement Research and Technical Support for Rule Development/ Implementation elements of the Research Plan. In addition, about one-third of the proposed budget would be conducted initially in-house as part of the normal staff workload. To the extent that extramural resources will be needed to complete such efforts, staff will identify the need for such resources as part of the annual update to the Research Plan.

For several proposed research projects, the total costs to conduct the projects are beyond AQMD allocated funding resources. To this extent, staff will identify research partnerships to cost-share the research projects. In addition, staff will seek additional grant funding to conduct some of the research projects. For FY 2002-03, the U.S. EPA has committed funding support for the Coachella Valley PM and Upper Air Study.

Table 1. Cost Estimates and Timeframe to Conduct Proposed Projects

(A) Health Impacts Research

	Project	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
A-1	Ultrafine Particles (Nanoparticles) Health Effects	$250,000	$250,000	$250,000
A-2	Health Impacts of Toxics Emissions	$250,000
	Subtotal	$500,000	$250,000	$250,000

(B) Air Toxic Exposure Studies

	Project	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
B-1	MATES-III		$1,000,000
B-2	Conduct a Study to Further Evaluate Hexavalent Chromium Levels in Communities near Chrome Plating Operations	In-house
B-3	Determine the Atmospheric Fate of Specific Toxic Air Contaminants		In-house
	Subtotal		$1,000,000

(C) Air Quality Management Planning Enhancements

	Project	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
C-1	Stationary and Portable Diesel Internal Combustion Engine Emissions Inventory Update		$75,000
C-2	Quantify Fugitive VOC Emissions from Major Refineries Through Field Measurements		In-house
C-3	Comprehensive Study to Identify Potential Non-Reported Emission Source Categories			$75,000
C-4	Update Locomotives Emissions Inventory in the South Coast Air Basin		$75,000
C-5	Quantify Emissions from Heavy-Duty Truck Idling		$50,000
C-6	Paved Road PM Emission Factors		$25,000
C-7	Ammonia Emission Factors		$25,000
C-8	PM Model Comparison		$50,000
C-9	Grid-Based PM Source Apportionment Model Development			$75,000
C-10	Annual PM Modeling Enhancements	$20,000
C-11	VOC and PM Speciation Profiles Updates			200,000
C-12	Evaluate and Update Photolysis Rate Modules	In-house

Table 1. Continued.

(C) Air Quality Management Planning Enhancements (Continued)

	Project	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
C-13	Comparison of Chemical Mechanisms Used in Photochemical Computer Model	In-house
C-14	Development of High-Resolution Land Use Database		In-house
C-15	Real-Time Meteorological and Air Quality Modeling Capability		In-house
	Subtotal	$20,000	$300,000	$350,000

(D) Technology Advancement Research

	Project	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
D-1	Demonstrate Vehicles with Advanced CNG/LNG Engines	$500,000	$500,000	$500,000
D-2	Develop After-treatment Technologies for Gaseous Fueled Engines	$500,000	$500,000	$500,000
D-3	Demonstrate Natural Gas-Hydrogen Blend Fueled Vehicles	$300,000	$300,000	$300,000
D-4	Establish Initial Hydrogen Fueling Network	$500,000	$500,000	$500,000
D-5	Demonstrate Prototype Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000
D-6	Develop New and Improved On-Board Hydrogen Storage Technologies	$300,000	$300,000	$300,000
D-7	Research and Develop Flexible Hydrogen Fueling Station Concept	$500,000	$500,000	$500,000
D-8	Development of High-Density, Low-Weight, Energy Storage Systems	$100,000	$100,000	$100,000
D-9	Demonstration of Microturbine Hybrid Natural Gas Heavy-duty Vehicles	$200,000	$200,000	$200,000
D-10	Demonstration of Hybrid Natural Gas Locomotives	$1,000,000	$1,000,000	$1,000,000
D-11	Demonstration of Residential Fuel Cells	$1,500,000	$1,500,000	$1,500,000
D-12	Demonstration of Commercial and Large Scale Fuel Cells	$300,000	$300,000	$300,000
D-13	Development of Hybrid or Co-Generation Fuel Cells	$500,000	$500,000	$500,000
	Subtotal	$7,200,000	$7,200,000	$7,200,000

Table 1. Continued.

(E) Technical Support for Rule Development/Implementation

	Project	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
E-1	Rule 1171 Technology Assessment for Cleaning of Electrical Apparatus and Electronic Components, Coatings, Adhesives, Screen Printing Ink, Ultraviolet Ink, and Specialty Flexographic Printing Ink Application Equipment	$150,000
E-2	Rule 1171 Technology Assessment for Cleaning of Lithographic Printing Ink Application Equipment	$200,000
E-3	Technology Assessment of Alternatives to Open Burning within the Basin			$50,000
E-4	Alternative VOC Testing Methods		In-house
E-5	Polymer Research and Low-VOC Architectural Coatings		$250,000
E-6	Technology Assessments to Identify Low-VOC Lubricants		$100,000
E-7	New and Innovative Air Pollution Control Equipment			$100,000
E-8	Reactivity-based Approaches			$200,000
E-9	Application Techniques		$50,000
E-10	Rubber and Plastic Manufacturing Emissions			$150,000
E-11	Mold Release Agent		$100,000
E-12	Demonstration Project to Continue Promotion of Wet Cleaning Conversion and Training		$150,000
E-13	Development and Demonstration of Technologies to Reduce Risk from Methylene Chloride Used in Wood Product Stripping	$100,000
E-14	Technology Assessment to Evaluate the Availability and the Application Feasibility of Low-VOC Wood Coatings	$50,000
E-15	Technology Assessment of Nonatomizing Applications of Gel Coat Materials	$250,000
E-16	Technology Assessment of Future VOC Detection Devices			$250,000
E-17	Stationary and Portable Internal Combustion Engines			$250,000

Table 1. Continued.

(E) Technical Support for Rule Development/Implementation (Continued)

	Project	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
E-18	Cleaning Technology for Landfill and Sewage Digester Gas			$250,000
E-19	Quantify Emission Reduction Effectiveness of Expeditious Dairy Manure Removal	$50,000
E-20	Establish Emission Reduction Effectiveness and "Certification" of Manure Treatments	$50,000
E-21	Coachella Valley PM and Upper Air Study	$100,000
E-22	GIS-enhanced Aerial Photographs for Targeted Area Source Analysis	$40,000
E-23	Assessing Improved Composting Systems		In-house
E-24	Post-Rule Socioeconomic Impact Assessment		$50,000
	Subtotal	$990,000	$700,000	$1,250,000

(F) Enhancements to Current Enforcement/Compliance Monitoring Tools

	Project	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
F-1	Emissions Quantification to Determine Rule Compliance	In-house	In-house	In-house
F-2	Unknown Air Contaminant Identification and Quantification	In-house	In-house	In-house
F-3	Expanded GIS Coordinate Assignment	In-house
	Subtotal	In-house	In-house	In-house

(G) Enhancements to AQMD Laboratory/Source Testing Analysis Procedures

	Project	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
G-1	Develop Method to Reliably Generate Low ppb Level Gas Calibration Standards		$50,000
G-2	Develop Method to Measure Diesel Exhaust in Ambient Air	In-house
G-3	Enhance Low Level (ppb) Sulfur Compound Determinations	In-house
G-4	Development of Methods for Low Level (<50 g/L) VOC Detections	In-house
G-5	Enhance Capabilities to Conduct Thermogravimetric Analysis		In-house
G-6	Develop Method to Determine Ammonia (NH3) in Source Testing Applications		In-house

Table 1. Continued.

(G) Enhancements to AQMD Laboratory/Source Testing Analysis Procedures (Continued)

	Project	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
G-7	Develop Method to Measure VOCs From Sources That Fall Between Methods 25.1 and 25.3		In-house
G-8	Develop Method to Fully Characterize the Constituents of Ambient PM		In-house
G-9	Develop Source Test Method for Low NOx Levels (<20ppm)			In-house
G-10	Develop Sampling Capability for Dioxins, Furans, PAHs, and PCBs			$50,000
G-11	Develop Method to Determine Reduced Sulfur Compounds in Crude Oil, Residues, and Other Materials			In-house
G-12	Develop Method to Determine Vapor Pressure of Complex Samples			In-house
G-13	Develop Field Instrumentation for Amine Compounds and Volatile Organic Fatty Acids (VOFAS)			In-house
G-14	Develop Technical Requirements and Performance Standards for Ammonia Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems	In-house
G-15	Develop Technical Requirements, Procedures and Performance Specifications for the Continuous Measurement of Low Levels of NOx, CO, SO2	In-house
G-16	Develop Low-Cost Continuous Stack Flow Monitoring for Reference Method and CEMS for Low Flow and Harsh Environment Applications; Simplify Procedures for Determining and Mitigating Stratification	In-house
G-17	Develop Continuous or Semi-Continuous Instrumental Reference Method Comparable to AQMD Methods 25.1 and 25.3 to Measure Low Level Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) from Emission Sources		In-house
G-18	Develop Rapid Deployment Open-Path Remote Sensing Applications for Area Source and Community Exposure Monitoring, Point Source Identification		In-house
G-19	Develop Low-Cost Pollutant Sensor Technology for Small Emissions Sources			In-house
G-20	Develop Low-Cost Pollutant Sensor Technology for Small Emissions Sources		In-house
	Subtotal	In-house	$50,000	$50,000

Table 1. Concluded.

(H) Special Topics

	Project	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
H-1	Evaluation of Ultrafine Particles and Toxic Pollutant Emissions	$300,000
H-2	Enhance the Abilities to Measure Ambient Nitrogen Species		$100,000
H-3	Revisit PTEP & TEP-2000 Monitoring Programs for PM_2.5 SIP		$1,500,000
	Subtotal	$300,000	$1,600,000

Table 2. Summary of Project Costs by Research Element

	Research Element	FY 2002-2003	FY 2003-2004	FY 2004-2005
A	Health Impacts Research	$500,000	$250,000	$250,000
B	Air Toxics Exposure Studies		$1,000,000
C	Air Quality Management Planning Enhancements	$20,000	$300,000	$350,000
D	Technology Advancement Research	$7,200,000	$7,200,000	$7,200,000
E	Technical Support for Rule Development/ Implementation	$990,000	$700,000	$1,250,000
F	Enhancements to Current Enforcement/ Compliance Monitoring Tools	In-house	In-house	In-house
G	Enhancements to AQMD Laboratory/ Source Testing Analysis Procedures	In-house	$50,000	$50,000
H	Special Topics	$300,000	$1,600,000
	Total	$9,010,000	$11,100,000	$9,100,000

Table 3. Summary of Project Costs by Major Sources

	Mobile Sources	Stationary Sources	Area Sources
2002-03	$4,900,000 (D-1 to D-10)	$1,590,000 (B-1; B-2; D-12; D-13; E-1; E-2; E-13; E-14; E-15; E-22; F-1)	$1,600,000 (B-2; D-11; E-19; E-20: F-2; F-3)
2003-04	$5,025,000 (B-3; C-4; C-5; D-1 to D-10)	$1,425,000 (B-3; C-1; C-2; D-12; D-13; E-4: E-5; E-6; E-9; E-11 E-23; E-24)	$1,700,000 (C-6; C-7; D-11; E-12)
2004-05	$4,900,000 (D-1- to D-10)	$1,825,000 (C-3; D-12; D-13; E-7; E-8; E-10; E-18)	$2,000,000 (C-11; D-11; E-3; E-17;)
Total	$14,825,000	$4,840,000	$5,300,000

Attachment

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