BOARD MEETING DATE: March 1, 2002
AGENDA NO. 38

Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

Below is a summary of key issues addressed at the MSRC’s January 24, 2002 meeting. The next MSRC meeting is a joint retreat with its Technical Advisory Committee to begin development of the FY 2002-03 Work Program. The retreat will be offsite at the Country Suites Inn on Thursday, February 28, 2002, at 12:30 p.m.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Norma J. Glover
AQMD Representative on MSRC

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the August 23, 2001 meeting were unanimously approved, as submitted. The minutes are attached for your information (Attachment 1).

MSRC's CNG School Bus Funding Still Available

AQMD staff reported to the MSRC that the Governor's budget currently excludes funding for the Carl Moyer and Lower-Emission School Bus Programs, although a number of initiatives could result in funding for these programs. It was pointed out, however, that the MSRC's CNG School Bus Buydown Program has nearly $2 million still available for school districts. The Program offers $50,000 per qualifying CNG school bus, and the school districts have the flexibility to spend the money on the CNG buses and/or alternative fuels infrastructure. The program commenced January 1, 2002 and ends on December 31, 2002, or until such time that all MSRC incentive funds have been allocated. For more information the RFQ #Q2002-01 can be viewed and/or downloaded from both the MSRC's web site (http://www.msrc-cleanair.org) and the AQMD's web site (http://www.aqmd.gov).

Approval of Awards under the Diesel Particulate Trap Retrofit Program as Part of the FY 2001-02 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program

In July 2001, as part of the FY 2001-02 AB 2766 Discretionary Fund Work Program, the Board approved release of a Program Announcement for a $1 million Diesel Particulate Trap Retrofit Program. The program began October 1, 2001 and applications could be submitted until September 30, 2002, or until such time as all available program funds have been expended. Proposals totaling $1,615,000 were received within the first three weeks of the program, and funds were available on a first-come, first-serve basis. At its January 24, 2002 meeting, the MSRC considered recommendations from its Technical Advisory Committee on the applications received under the Program Announcement.

The MSRC discussed in length the concerns raised late last year regarding the increase in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) when using traps. CARB issued a letter to the MSRC reiterating both his support and commitment to trap technologies, reassuring the MSRC that it is working with manufacturers to reconfigure the traps such that they won't have the speciation change between NO and NO2, that the traps effectively reduce toxic air contaminants, and from a toxicity perspective that they continue to have a benefit that overwhelms any slight increase in ozone formation. CARB also stated that it is premature to assess the results since it is difficult to understand the chemistry occurring within the traps.

At the conclusion of its meeting, the MSRC approved three awards totaling $994,500, as follows: 1) a contract in the amount of $493,000 to City of Los Angeles for 58 vehicle traps; 2) a contract in the amount of $93,500 to Pro Express for 11 vehicle traps; and 3) a contract in the amount of $408,000 to Long Beach Transit for 48 vehicle traps. The traps may be used only with low-sulfur fuels.

The AQMD Governing Board will consider these awards on March 1, 2002, under the consent calendar, as part of the FY 2001-02 Work Program.

Approval to Administer CARB-Funded Project with Stater Bros

The CARB, through its call for projects to purchase emissions reductions to offset peaker plant emissions, asked the MSRC to administer an additional project. Stater Bros. had applied under the MSRC's heavy-duty on-/off-road RFP under the FY 2001-02 Work Program, but had not received funding because of fiscal constraints. The CARB believes the project is worthwhile and meets its criteria under the call for projects. The Stater Bros. project, Proposal #P2001-08-04, would provide $472,065 for the purchase of 15 Class A LNG tractors. The monies would be provided to the MSRC as pass-through funds. At its January 24, 2002 meeting, the MSRC unanimously agreed to recognize the CARB revenue, execute an agreement with Stater Bros, and administer the project on behalf of the CARB. The 15 LNG heavy-duty vehicles will reduce approximately 737 tons of NOx annually.

Report on Results and Achievements of Electric-Assist Bicycle Incentive Program

As part of the FY 2000-01 Work Program, the MSRC released an RFQ for a Regional Electric-Assist Bicycle Incentive Program, which provided $100,000 for buydowns up to $250 on the purchase of qualified electric bicycles. Four qualified proposers were awarded contracts: Total EV, ZapWorld.com, EV Global, and Giant Bicycle. To date 152 electric bicycles have sold under the program. Of the $100,000 target funding, only $38,000 has been expended. The results were disappointing, primarily because of the bankruptcy of Total EV shortly after the launch of the program and ZapWorld.com's failure to participate in the program due to staff changes and other mishaps. The program currently ends March 31, 2002; it appears unlikely that the MSRC will extend the program. The consensus was that monies would be better spent on traditional bicycles.

Final Reports Received and Approved

The MSRC unanimously received and approved seven final reports, as follows:

1. Riverside Transit Agency Contract #99004, which provided $105,000 toward the purchase of three CNG buses;
   
    
2. Omnitrans Contract #00006, which provided $800,000 towards the purchase of 21 CNG transit buses;
   
    
3. Riverside Transit Agency Contract #00007, which provided $592,710 towards the purchase of 15 CNG buses;
   
    
4. Bike Stations, Inc. Contract #00025, which provided $39,222 towards an Electric Station Bike Program;
   
    
5. City of Moreno Valley Contract #00026, which provided $13,000 towards establishment of Class III bicycle routes;
   
    
6. Los Angeles World Airports Contract #99009, which provided $770,000 towards the purchase of 22 LNG shuttles; and
   
    
7. County of Riverside Contract #00019, which provided $52,631 towards a Rideshare Files Project.

All final reports are filed in the AQMD's Library.

Contract Modification Requests

The MSRC took the following actions on requested contract modifications:

1. Cancellation of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Contract #00032, which was to provide $160,872 for development of a Transportation Optimization Trip Efficiency Program, and return of $126,692 to the AB 2766 Discretionary Fund for reprogramming;
   
    
2. Eighteen-month contractual term extension through April 30, 2004, on Los Angeles County Sanitation District Contract #01021, which provides $1,703,000 towards the purchased and/or repower of heavy-duty vehicles and refueling infrastructure;
   
    
3. Six-month contractual term extension through July 31, 2002, on Southern California Association of Governments Contract #00021, which provides $68,794 for development of a ridestar automated survey; and
   
    
4. Three-month contractual term extension through May 21, 2002, on Metallic Power, Inc. Contract #96013, which provides $189,000 to develop a metal-air battery.

The MSRC also received and filed a letter from CATTRAC declining its FY 2001-02 award in the amount of $137,352 to repower three off-road vehicles.

Contract Administrator Report

The MSRC's AB 2766 Contract Administrator provided a written status report on all open contracts from FY 1995-96 through the present. This Contract Administrator Report is attached for your information (Attachment 2).

Attachments

Attachment 1 - Approved August 23, 2001 MSRC Minutes
Attachment 2 - Contract Administrator Report

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