BOARD MEETING DATE: August 1, 2003
AGENDA NO. 33

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on July 25, 2003. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agendas for the August and September Board meetings and a written report on a completed project. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on August 22, 2003 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Leonard Paulitz, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Vice Chair Roy Wilson participated by video-teleconference. Committee Chair Leonard Paulitz, and Committee Members William Craycraft and Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta were in attendance at District headquarters.

AUGUST BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Execute Contracts for Projects under CARB Emission Reduction Credit Bank Program - In May 2001, AQMD and CARB entered into an agreement to implement the CARB Emission Reduction Credit Bank program to offset NOx and PM10 emissions from new or expanding peaking powerplants. In exchange for emission reduction credits, AQMD collected $257,950 from Wildflower Energy LP and $417,600 from Alliance Colton, LLC, for funding emission reduction projects in the vicinity of these facilities. Staff proposes to fund CNG refueling infrastructure projects and the purchase of an alternatively fueled heavy-duty vehicle for a total of $675,550.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
2. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Optimization and Demonstration of Oxidation Catalysts to Further Reduce Exhaust Emissions from CNG-Fueled Heavy-Duty Engines - Recent studies have shown that oxidation catalysts (OXCAT) could further reduce non-methane hydrocarbon emissions (including toxic hydrocarbon emissions such as formaldehyde) from CNG heavy-duty engines by at least 85 percent. The OXCAT technology can also reduce CO and PM emissions from heavy-duty CNG engines. The emission-reduction potential of OXCAT, however, has not been fully realized because the majority of current CNG-fueled vehicles (in particular, transit buses) in the Basin either are not equipped with OXCATs or the OXCAT technology has not been fully optimized to reduce exhaust emissions. The proposed project is to optimize and demonstrate the OXCAT technology to further reduce exhaust emissions in existing CNG-fueled engines used in transit bus applications. The total project cost is $400,000, with the AQMD share not to exceed $365,000.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
3. Execute Contract to Cost Share Demonstration of Technologies to Reduce PM Emissions From Airport Ground Support Equipment in South Coast Basin - Airport ground support equipment (GSE) contribute significantly to airport NOx, PM, and toxics emissions. On December 6, 2002, the Board approved issuance of an RFP to solicit proposals for developing and demonstrating control technologies for GSE to reduce particulate matter emissions at airports. Staff proposes to award a contract to Engine Control Systems, Ltd. for an amount not to exceed $778,552. The contract funding for this demonstration program will be equally cost shared by the Air Transport Association.
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
4. Issue RFP to Solicit Projects for FY 2002-03 Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program Funding - The State’s FY 2002-03 Bbudget contains $19.5 million to continue the Carl Moyer Program. The AQMD expects to receive $8,148,088 of this funding. Returned Moyer Program funds from previous years’ awards totaling $4,196,732 and $1,100 in rollover funds from last year, will also be available. Staff recommends the release of an RFP for $12.3 million to provide incentives for low emission on- and off-road vehicles and equipment. Staff also recommends the award of $19,774 allocated by CARB to an interdistrict project.
   Moved (Wilson), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.

SEPTEMBER BOARD AGENDA ITEM

5. Execute Contract for Carl Moyer Program Inter-District Marine Vessel Project and Amend Contract to Substitute Marine Vessel Project - In June 2003, CARB awarded $182,000 for a marine vessel engine repowering project with OceanAir Environmental under the Carl Moyer Program Inter-District Project. Staff proposes to execute a contract with OceanAir for the specified marine vessel project that operates in the AQMD and San Diego APCD waters. Second, in August 2002, the Board approved an engine repowering project with Seaboard Marine for marine vessel Cee Ray. In June 2003, Seaboard informed AQMD that the project should be for marine vessel Sea Ray and not Cee Ray. Seaboard states that this error occurred inadvertently due to a typographical error in their application. Staff proposes to amend the existing contract with Seaboard to include Sea Ray and delete Cee Ray.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.

WRITTEN REPORT ON COMPLETED PROJECT

6. Integrated Hydrogen Demonstration Facility Design Study
   A written-only report on this completed project was received without comment.

Other Business - There was no other business.

Public Comment Period - John Billheimer, of Enviro Realty, suggested a semantic distinction be made between gas and gasoline, indicating gasoline should refer to the fuel gasoline, and gas should refer to gaseous fuels such as CNG. He also questioned if methane emissions are being tracked, and Dr. Liu indicated they were being tracked, with the majority of such emissions emanating from stationary sources.

The meeting was adjourned.

Attachment

A - Attendance

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