BOARD MEETING DATE: November 7, 2003
AGENDA NO. 22

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, October 24, 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, Vice Chair Jane Carney, and Committee Members Fred Aguiar, Ron Loveridge (arrived at 9:20 a.m.) and Jim Silva (arrived at 9:42 a.m.). Absent: Committee Member William Craycraft.

ACTION ITEM:
 

1)	Determine Next Committee Meeting Date Staff recommended November 21, 2003 as the date for the next Committee meeting which will cover the months of November and December. This date was approved by the Committee.

INFORMATION ITEMS:
 

2)	Report on the Coachella Valley Portion of the Transportation Conformity Emission Budgets for Ozone Precursors for the Southeast Desert Modified Air Quality Management Area Ozone Non-attainment Area Dr. Julia Lester, Program Supervisor, Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources, presented a brief report on the Transportation Conformity Emission Budgets for Ozone Precursors for the Southeast Desert Modified (SEDM) Air Quality Management Area Ozone Non-attainment Area (consisting of Antelope, Mojave, and Coachella Valleys). These SEDM ozone budgets are needed for the 2004 RTP conformity determination and require public hearing for EPA approval. Since the SEMD area is under multiple jurisdictions, an interagency (i.e., SCAG, CARB and relevant local air agencies) approach is necessary. The Coachella Valley (CV) portion is under AQMD jurisdiction (under the 2003 AQMP). Recommended action is for AQMD to adopt the CV budget portion, and Mojave and Antelope Valley AQMDs to adopt their portions of the SEDM budget. Subsequently the various budget portions will be combined into the SEDM budget and submitted to CARB which will in turn forward to U.S. EPA by February, 2004. The final 2004 RTP will be submitted to U.S. EPA for approval by April 2004. Staff has prepared the CV portion of the SEDM budget. Staff’s proposal indicates the following inventories: 4.6 tpd VOC and 12.3 tpd NOx for 2005; and 4.1 tpd VOC and 11.1 tpd NOx for 2007. Staff’s proposal will be presented to the Governing Board for its consideration at the November 7, 2003 meeting.
3)	Report on CARB’s Hearing on 2003 AQMP/SIP Dr. Laki Tisopulos, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources, provided a brief summary on CARB's public hearing on the adoption of the 2003 AQMP for the South Coast Air Basin as well as the CARB's proposed State and Federal strategy portion of the 2003 SIP. CARB unanimously adopted both of these items including the revisions made to the State and Federal Strategy, based on a motion put forth by Dr. Burke. Specifically, CARB moved up 97 tons of long-term "black box" reductions to short-term State commitments in addition to the 23 tons proposed by CARB staff (for a total of 120 tons). CARB has also committed to move an additional 66 tons of "black box" reductions to short-term commitments provided CARB obtains legislative authority and funding. CARB staff was also directed to: 1) return to the Board within one year with explicit agency allocations for the remainder of long-term reductions, 2) conduct annual technology summits, and 3) return to the Board every year (for the next three years) with explicit CARB commitments to achieve the long-term reductions. Committee Members acknowledged staff's efforts to put together a coalition composed of environmental groups, local governments, industry trade associations, small and large businesses, and private residents, which supported AQMD's position to strengthen CARB's proposed state and federal strategy through additional short-term state commitments. Dr. Barry Wallerstein also acknowledged the importance of the testimony provided by five AQMD Board Members and others in support of strengthening the CARB's proposal. There was a brief discussion on the two agencies working together to resolve different issues, especially with regard to legislative authority and funding sources. Committee Member Jane Carney commented that AQMD staff should take the lead on these joint efforts. She also suggested that a letter be sent to CARB’s Board, thanking them for their decision and offering exchange ideas on coordination. Dr. Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer, informed the Committee that AQMD staff is looking into having a retreat with CARB staff for internal discussions.
4)	Recent Air Pollution and Health Study Update Dr. Jean Ospital, Health Effects Officer, Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources, reported on a recent study on the ozone health effects in children with asthma. The researchers studied a cohort of children with asthma living in Connecticut and Massachusetts over a six-month period. In children with more severe asthma, there was an increased likelihood of wheeze and chest tightness at ozone levels below the current air quality standards. The results suggest that with low levels of ambient ozone, children with severe asthma are at increased risk for respiratory symptoms.
5)	Status Report on MATES III Dr. Jean Ospital, Health Effects Officer, Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources, presented a status report on the MATES III study. The objectives of the study are to assess current levels of air toxics, update the toxics emissions inventory and dispersion modeling from MATES II, and characterize the health risks from current air toxics levels. The schedule calls for ambient monitoring to start in the beginning of 2004.
6)	Proposed Amendments to Rule 2202 Dr. Elaine Chang, Deputy Executive Officer, Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources, presented this item as a follow-up to the August and September, 2003 presentations to the Mobile Source Committee on proposed amendments to Rule 2202. Rule 2202 is an emission reduction program applicable to employers with 250 or more employees, with the goal of reducing commute-related mobile source emissions. Staff had previously presented proposed amendments that would have required employers implementing the Employee Commute Reduction Program (ECRP) to meet their prescribed average vehicle ridership (AVR) target. This proposed amendment would have assisted the AQMD in meeting the Clean Air Act requirements without solely relying on substitute reductions. In response to concerns that this would have an adverse financial impact on ECRPs employers, staff is revising the proposal such that the current ECRP are maintained and enhanced. Employers are able to comply with Rule 2202 through an emission reduction strategy (ERS), the Air Quality Investment Program (AQIP) or by implementing an ECRP. Employers choosing the ERS or AQIP will satisfy the rule requirements. Employers choosing an ECRP will be required to achieve an AVR target requirement. If an employer does meet its worksite AVR then the rule requirements will have been satisfied. If an employer is unable to meet its worksite AVR then they may choose to implement an ECRP-Offset or meet the rule requirements by complying with qualifying criteria. The next steps include meeting with stakeholders to further discuss and evaluate staff's revised rule proposals and holding a consultation meeting. The Public Hearing on the amendments is scheduled for the January 2004 board meeting. Staff responded to several questions from Committee Members Fred Aguiar and Ron Loveridge to clarify the rule requirements and the steps an employer would need to take to comply with the proposed rule. Comments from a number of attendees supported changes made in response to past comments.
7)	Rule 2202 Activity Report Rule 2202 Summary Status Report submitted, no comments.
8)	Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives Item #4 – CEQA Commenting: a. CEQA Document Commenting Update: Written report submitted, no comments.
9)	Quarterly Status Report on Mobile and Area Source Credits for RECLAIM Written report submitted. Committee Member Jane Carney requested additional information on the RECLAIM AQIP Program.
10)	Other Business None.
11)	Public Comment None.

The meeting adjourned at 10:14 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE

OCTOBER 24, 2003

ATTENDANCE ROSTER
 

/ / /