BOARD MEETING DATE: March 7, 2003
AGENDA NO. 27

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, February 28, 2003. Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

S. Roy Wilson, Ed.D., Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting started at 9:05 a.m. Present: Committee Chair Roy Wilson, Committee Vice Chair Jane Carney, and Committee Members Fred Aguiar and Ron Loveridge (arrived at 9:15 a.m.). Absent: Committee Members William Craycraft and Jim Silva.

ACTION ITEM
 

1)

Rule 2202 – AQIP Proposal of Recommendations for 3rd Quarter of 2002 Staff’s presentation to the Committee for its consideration included: emission reduction targets; project selection process; summary of available funding; list of proposals received –13 proposals in total; and an analysis of the proposals. Staff recommends that 11 contracts be awarded as follows: To: C.W. Poss, Inc., in the amount of $689,594, for diesel repowering of 7 off-road diesel engines on 6 wheel-type scrapers; To: Nationwide Env. Services, in the amount of $300,000, for 5 CNG street sweepers to replace 5 diesel-powered street sweepers; To: Rentrac, Inc., in the amount of $291,416, for diesel repowering of engines on 2 wheel-type scrapers; To: Ryerson, Master & Asso., in the amount of $532,200, for diesel repowering of 12 engines on 6 scrapers; To: Scarborough Construction, in the amount of $161,194, for diesel repowering of 2 wheel-type scrapers; To: Scarborough Construction, in the amount of $372,985, for diesel repowering of 5 wheel-type scrapers; To: Specialty Env. Services, in the amount of $190,000, for repowering of 9 boats with 4-stroke engines; To: Specialty Env. Services, in the amount of $195,000, for repowering of 21 boats with 4-stroke engines; To: Specialty Env. Services, in the amount of $57,850, for repowering of 4 boats with 4-stroke engines; To: Vulcan Materials, in the amount of $188,000, for diesel repowering of 3 off-road diesel trucks; and To: Taxicab Services, in the amount of $769,100, for switching up to 50 vehicles to CNG-fueled vehicles. Committee Member Jane Carney moved to recommend approval of this item to the Governing Board and Committee Member Fred Aguiar seconded. The motion was passed unanimously.

INFORMATION ITEMS
 

2)	E.J. Subregional Analysis: Selection of 2003 Study Area A presentation was provided on the selection of the study area for 2003 for Environmental Justice subregional analysis. Selection criteria included: current and future PM10 and toxic exposures; concentration of sensitive receptors and residences; stakeholder input; concentration of localized emission sources; existing/ongoing studies; and timeliness of study findings. Areas considered are: Wilmington, Port areas, Alameda Corridor of Transportation Development (East L.A.), Commerce, and Rudidoux. Staff recommends that the Alameda Corridor of Transportation Development be the study area, and other ongoing studies in the area will be incorporated into the subregional analysis where feasible. Staff will seek stakeholder input for this recommendation and specific issues to be addressed by this study. Staff also noted that a White Paper will be prepared for the study and the study period is estimated to be about 9 to 12 months. Interim reports will be submitted to the Committee.
3)	Heavy-Duty Vehicle NOx Emissions: Emission Standards and Engine Developments Staff provided the Committee an overview of the current and future NOx exhaust emission standards. Staff indicated that seven engine manufacturers are required to meet the 2004 NOx emission standards beginning October 2002. Other engine manufacturers may produce engines meeting the current standard of 4 g/bhp-hr until January 1, 2004. Staff provided information regarding the emission certification levels of various diesel and natural gas engines certified before October 1, 2002 and engines certified after October 1, 2002. The information provided indicates that in general, natural gas engines are about twice as clean compared to their diesel counterparts with respect to NOx. Staff provided the Committee the NOx results of the CARB Transit Bus Study and the International Truck School Bus Study. Staff indicated that for the International Truck School Bus Study, three buses were tested: 1) a conventional diesel school bus, 2) a 2001 model International low-emitting diesel school bus (a demonstration vehicle), and 3) a 2000 model natural gas school bus in use from an Arizona school district fleet. Staff indicated that the natural gas school bus engine was certified at 4 g/bhp-hr NOx emissions level and that the engine may have been out of tune. Regardless, the certification is a federal certification. For natural gas school buses that have been awarded as part of the Statewide Lower-Emission School Bus Program and other school bus awards in the South Coast district, the natural gas engines were certified at the optional NOx emission standard of 2.5 g/bhp-hr. The results of the International School Bus Study indicate that the natural gas school bus had higher NOx emissions than the low-emitting diesel bus. This is contrary to results from other in-use emissions tests of buses. Under the CARB Transit Bus Study, the in-use emission levels from diesel-powered transit buses are about twice as high as the natural gas transit buses tested. Staff provided information relative to the need for significant NOx and PM reductions in order to meet the needs of the draft 2003 AQMP revision, future 8-hr ozone and fine particulate ambient air quality standards, and reductions beyond the AQMP to reduce air toxic exposure. Staff also presented the PM results from the two bus studies and preliminary estimates of weighted risk associated with the measured emissions. Staff informed the Committee on the operations of PM traps currently installed on 20 transit buses for the LACMTA and traps installed on school buses. The traps have been operating for a short period of time so far and the majority of the traps appear to be working properly. However, visual inspections of two LACMTA trap-equipped buses showed soot build-up on the tailpipe and one trap device was removed due to damage in the core element. The Committee took public comments from International Truck, John Deere Systems, Cummins-Westport, Coalition for Clean Air, and Natural Resources Defense Council. International Trucks provided some additional comments relative to their School Bus Study and information regarding future diesel engine technologies. In addition, International Truck asked several clarification questions. John Deere Systems relayed their commitment to develop cleaner natural gas engines and their plans to have natural gas engines certified in the near future. Cummins-Westport provided similar comments relative to their natural gas products. Coalition for Clean Air and Natural Resources Defense Council provided comments on the importance of the AQMD Clean Fleet Vehicle rules and the need to maintain those rules. Both Coalition for Clean Air and Natural Resources Defense Council expressed their concerns for the need for NOx reductions in order to meet the Draft 2003 AQMP revision proposals. In addition, given the fact that diesel engine technologies cannot yet demonstrate equivalency with alternative fueled engine technologies, there is no need to open the fleet rules for amendment. Committee members recommended that staff request the engine manufacturers to provide to staff their plan to meet the 2007 emission standards with diesel technology. Mayor Loveridge recommended to discuss with staff for an approach to present this issue to the full Board. Committee Chair Wilson participated via videoteleconferencing during the first part of the discussion; however, due to a break in the videoteleconferencing link, he was able to participate only by phone during the second part of the discussion and Committee Vice Chair Jane Carney chaired the meeting.
4)	Program Review for Pilot Credit Generation Rules Due to time limitations, the Committee recommended that it was sufficient for this item to be presented at the Stationary Source Committee meeting since this item is on both committees’ agendas.
5)	Operational Diesel Idling Emissions – Proposed Interim HRA Methodology and Mitigation Measures for CEQA Analysis Due to time limitations, this item was not presented. However, staff did note that the methodology is being used at this time for assessing idling emissions.
6)	Rule 2202 Activity Report Rule 2202 Summary Status Report submitted, no comments.
7)	Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives Item #4 – CEQA Commenting: a. CEQA Document Commenting Update: Written report submitted, no comments.
8)	Status Update on E.J. Enhancements Written report submitted, no comments.
9)	Other Business None.
10)	Public Comment None.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE

FEBRUARY 28, 2003

ATTENDANCE ROSTER
 

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