BOARD MEETING DATE: November 7, 2003
AGENDA NO. 24

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on October 24, 2003. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the November Board meeting, determination of date for combined November/December committee meeting, and two written reports on a completed projects. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on November 21, 2003 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Leonard Paulitz, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Committee Chair Leonard Paulitz and Committee Members William Craycraft and Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta participated at District headquarters. Committee Member, Roy Wilson attended but did not participate by video-teleconference due to Brown Act restrictions. William Burke and Fred Aguiar were absent.

NOVEMBER BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Execute Contract to Conduct Research Projects Under Asthma and Outdoor Air Quality Consortium - At the February 2003 meeting, the Board committed 10 percent of FY 2002-03 penalty revenue to fund the Asthma and Outdoor Air Quality Consortium. In August, the Board approved a workplan for the Consortium and authorized a contract with UCLA to manage the Consortium and solicit research proposals. The Consortium, through UCLA, has submitted several research proposals from universities in Southern California for review by staff. This action is to request the approval of a contract with UCLA to administer executing contracts for six research projects at a total cost not to exceed $588,636.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
2. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Development and Demonstration of 8.1-liter Natural Gas Engine in Medium-Duty Trucks - The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) issued an RFP in April 2002 to cosponsor the Phase II development of the Next Generation of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGNGV) in conjunction with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. NREL selected a proposed project from TeleflexGFI for support. The proposed contract with TeleflexGFI will develop and demonstrate an 8.1-liter natural-gas engine in a heavy-duty commercial chassis. Staff recommends cofunding this project with NREL for a total project cost of $2,191,829, with AQMD funding not to exceed $334,080 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
3. Issue Program Announcement for Projects Under the Rule 1121 Mitigation Fee Program - As of October 7, 2003, the AQMD has received $804,452 from water heater manufacturers as emission mitigation fees under Rule 1121. The AQMD will collect this mitigation fee until December 2004. Staff proposes to issue a Program Announcement for $804,452 to solicit stationary and mobile source NOx emission reduction projects.
   Committee member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta requested that renewables be added to the Program Announcement. With this addition, it was moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
4. Issue Program Announcement for Projects to Mitigate NOx and PM Emissions for AQMD’s State Emissions Mitigation Program - AQMD has received funding under the State Emissions Mitigation Program to mitigate emissions from peaker power generation units. Due to the technical difficulties associated with the installation of PM traps on City and County vehicles and due to other factors some of the projects have fallen through. Staff proposes to issue a Program Announcement to solicit projects to mitigate NOx and PM emissions lost from the incomplete projects. Approximately $2 million is available for these projects.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
5. Approve Update to the Three-Year Advanced Air Pollution Research Plan - In June 2002, the Board approved an Advanced Air Pollution Research Plan for FY 2002 to 2005 as part of the Strategic Alliance Initiative No. 5 – Strategic Alliance for Advanced Air Pollution Research. The initiative calls for an annual update to the three-year Plan to reflect progress in conducting proposed research activities, available resources, additional research projects, and revisions to the schedule for future research studies. As such, staff has prepared an update to the 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 update contains research study proposals that would be initiated in-house or through extramural contracts over the next three years. Upon Board approval, staff will proceed with the implementation of the research plan.
   Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Craycraft) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
6. Determine Next Committee Meeting Date
   Due to the upcoming holidays, it has been proposed that the next Technology Committee meeting be a combined November and December meeting, that will take place on November 21, 2003.
   Approved

WRITTEN REPORT ON COMPLETED PROJECTS

Written-only reports on the following completed projects were presented.

7. Heavy Duty Vehicle Chassis Dynamometer Testing for Emissions Inventory, Air Quality Modeling, Source Apportionment and Air Toxics Emissions Inventory
    
8. Assist Fleet Operators in Alternative Fuel Vehicle and Infrastructure Deployment

Other Business - There was no other business.

Public Comment Period - John Billheimer inquired whether the use of silane (SiH₄), as an exempt solvent, has been investigated as a potential unidentified source of PM₁₀ . Henry Hogo indicated staff would look into the health effects of this and get back to him with current information.

The meeting was adjourned.

Attachment A - Attendance

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