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

Approve Update to the Three-Year Advanced Air Pollution Research Plan

SYNOPSIS:

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.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, October 24, 2003, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve the Advanced Air Pollution Research Plan for Fiscal Years 2003-04, 2004-05,
and 2005-06.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

In February 2002, the Board approved a workplan for eight Strategic Alliance Initiatives. Strategic Alliance Initiative No. 5 – Strategic Alliance for Advanced Air Pollution Research, called for the development of an agency-wide coordinated research plan that will provide technical support to the AQMD’s air programs. In addition to agency-wide coordination, staff would work with other air agencies, academia, other research organizations, and affected stakeholders on coordinated research efforts. To conduct the coordinated research, an "Advanced Air Pollution Research Plan" for fiscal years 2002 through 2005 was approved by the Board in June 2002. The plan would be updated on an annual basis to reflect current research activities and funding resources and would constitute a rolling three-year plan, similar to the three-year budget forecast.

The Research Plan outlines 83 technical research projects in eight general research elements. A list of the research projects is provided in Table 1. Twenty-six extramural and 12 in-house projects were proposed to be initiated during Fiscal Year (FY) 2002-03. All 38 projects have been approved by the Board or initiated during FY 2002-03. In addition, five projects slated to be initiated in the second and third years were initiated in FY 2002-03. Table 2 provides a summary of the projects to be initiated this fiscal year and the status of each of the projects.

The update reports on the progress in implementing the 3-year Research Plan along with a discussion of a revised schedule to implement projects over the next three years through FY 2005-06.

Proposal

Staff has prepared an update to the Advanced Air Pollution Research Plan for Fiscal Years 2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06 in fulfillment of Strategic Alliance Initiative No. 5. The proposed update to the Research Plan is provided in the Attachment. A brief discussion of each of the elements and the progress in initiated projects slated for FY 2002-03 is provided in the following sections.

Table 3 summarizes the proposed research projects over the next three fiscal years. Due to budgetary constraints, many of the research projects proposed to be initiated during FY 2003-04 have been moved to subsequent years. Research projects that are not subject to the current budgetary constraints such as the Clean Fuels Program and projects that the Governing Board initiated such as the Asthma and Outdoor Air Pollution Consortium, Brain Tumor and Air Pollution Foundation Research, and MATES-III, are proposed for FY 2003-04. The list may be periodically amended as priorities shift or as funding becomes available over the upcoming months. In addition, individual projects proposed in the Research Plan that have external funding will proceed through the Board’s normal contract approval process.

(A) Health Impacts Research

There are several key health impact research efforts. Many of these research efforts, such as CARB’s Children’s Health Study, a ten-year epidemiological study monitoring the health of school-age children living in various parts of Southern California, are long-term in nature. Studies of chronic health impacts of air pollution typically rely on long-term medical data and are not oriented to meet the more immediate planning needs of air regulatory programs. However, there are some focused, shorter-term health impact research projects that could be conducted to complement longer-term studies. Based on review of current health impacts research programs and discussions with leading experts in the field of environmental health, two potential research projects were proposed to be initiated in the first fiscal year (FY 2002-03) to examine the health effects of ultrafine particulates (Project A-1) and the health impacts of toxic emissions (Project A-2). The projects would be conducted in collaboration with CARB, OEHHA, and other research organizations.

CARB is currently reviewing a proposal to study the health effects of ultrafine particulates (Project A-1). The updated Research Plan calls for the project to be initiated during FY 2003-04. Relative to Project A-2, the original scope for this project was to conduct technical and health-related studies at one or more local communities. At this time, staff is moving forward with a localized study of the Alameda Corridor and initiated several smaller studies related to the Alameda Corridor.

The proposed Research Plan contains two new projects as part of the Chairman’s Initiative to address asthma health effects and the relationship between air pollution and brain cancer. Project A-3, Asthma and Outdoor Air Pollution Consortium Studies will focus on research related to further understanding of the relationship between outdoor air pollution and asthma health effects. Project A-4, Brain Tumor and Air Pollution Foundation Studies will focus on research in the relationship between outdoor air pollution and brain tumor incidents. Specific research projects will be identified and brought to the Board for consideration.

(B) Air Toxic Exposure Studies

The objectives of the studies proposed under this element include updating the current knowledge of ambient air toxic levels in the South Coast Air Basin and Coachella Valley, updating air toxic emissions inventories, and enhancing air toxic modeling capabilities. In addition, enhancements in laboratory analysis and ambient sampling techniques outlined under the Laboratory Analysis/Source Testing element of the Research Plan will complement the proposed air toxic exposure studies.

The major focus of this element is to conduct a follow-up to AQMD’s Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study II (MATES-II) published in March 2000. The MATES-III program will provide the latest information regarding air toxic levels in the Basin, with initiation proposed for early 2004. However, initial meetings to coordinate the field measurement program will begin in the fall of 2003. In addition to MATES-III, the Research Plan calls for two studies to: (1) further evaluate hexavalent chromium levels in communities near chrome plating operations (Project B-2, initiated in FY 2002-03) and (2) determine the atmospheric fate of specific toxic air contaminants (Project B-3, to be conducted in FY 2005-06).

Staff initiated Project B-2 in late 2002 and conducted a series of ambient sampling for hexavalent chromium near several facilities where hexavalent chromium is used. To date, except at one location, staff has not seen any unusual levels of hexavalent chromium. Staff is continuing its monitoring at the one location with elevated levels of hexavalent chromium to determine the source of the toxic contaminant. To monitor trends in hexavalent chromium in the Basin, staff proposes to conduct additional ambient sampling every two to three years. As such, Project B-2 is slated to be conducted in FY 2005-06. Due to budgetary constraints, Project B-3, Determine the Atmospheric Fate of Specific Toxic Air Contaminants, is postponed until FY 2005-06.

(C) Air Quality Management Planning Enhancements

The development of air quality management plans is based on the best available technical data. This includes information regarding current ambient pollutant levels, updated emissions inventories, enhanced photochemical and fine particulate computer modeling, control measure evaluations, and enhanced socioeconomic impact analysis. Under this element of the Research Plan, projects are proposed in two categories: emissions inventory updates and computer simulation model enhancements.

Seven projects are proposed to enhance and update the emissions inventories used for AQMP development, including updates on heavy-duty truck idling emissions, locomotive emissions, stationary and portable diesel internal combustion engine emissions, paved road PM emission factors, ammonia emission factors, and further quantification of fugitive VOC emissions from major refineries. Of these seven projects, five (C-1, C-3, C-4, C-5, and C-6) were initially proposed to begin in FY 2003-04; however, due to budgetary constraints, these are postponed until FY 2004-05. Project C-2, Quantify Fugitive VOC Emissions from Major Refineries through Field Measurements, was initiated this year as planned. Project C-3, which calls for the examination of potential non-reported emissions from various source categories through the annual emissions reporting process, was kept in FY 2004-05 for implementation.. CARB staff indicated that several of the proposed projects could be conducted in collaboration with emission enhancement activities being conducted statewide.

As part of the 2003 AQMP Revision, staff initiated Project C-12, Evaluate and Update Photolysis Rate Modules and Project C-13, Comparison of Chemical Mechanisms Used in Photochemical Computer Model. The two projects are on-going as part of the AQMP revision process. Staff will be carrying the efforts on the projects through to the next AQMP revision. Staff is recommending that the PM Modeling Enhancements (Project C-10) be initiated in this fiscal year.

(D) Technology Advancement Research

Coordinated research to advance technology for both mobile sources and stationary sources of air pollution is presented in this element of the Research Plan. Such coordinated efforts will pool resources from local, state, and federal agencies as well as academia and private organizations. This research is intended to advance the state of knowledge and develop new technologies for greater air quality benefits for the residents of Southern California. Such advances in science and technology should also benefit all urban areas suffering from the ill effects of poor air quality, on a national and international basis. Under this research element, 13 research areas are proposed in four broad categories:

• Natural Gas Engine Technology
• Hydrogen Infrastructure & Fuel Cell Vehicles
• Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology
• Stationary Fuel Cell Power Generation

All of the proposed projects in this element of the research plan are identified in the 2003 Technology Advancement Update Report approved by the Board in March 2003. In addition to mobile source projects, research studies of advanced control technologies for stationary sources are proposed.

Of the 13 research topics identified last year, eight projects were awarded by the Board and the remaining five research topics are being evaluated for potential future funding. The projects are discussed as part of the 2002 Annual Technology Advancement Office Clean Fuel Program Report approved by the Board in March 2003.

(E) Technical Support for Rule Development/Implementation

As part of new rule development and implementation, periodic technology assessments are conducted to determine rule effectiveness; future technology forcing emissions limits can be met; and control technologies are commercially available or feasible to meet future rule compliance limits. Twenty-two research projects were proposed under this element that would provide assessments of source categories covered under Rule 1171 including electrical apparatus and electronic components, adhesives, and printing ink applications; Rule 1168 adhesive formulations for shoe repair; architectural coatings covered under Rule 1113; wet-cleaning conversions under Rule 1421; nonatomizing applications of gel coat materials; and rubber and plastics manufacturing operations. In addition, the Research Plan calls for studies of reactivity-based approaches; a Coachella Valley PM and upper air study; further assessments of approaches to reduce dairy manure emissions; and a post-rule socioeconomic impact assessment.

Nine projects under this element were slated to begin in FY 2002-03. Eight of these projects (Projects E-1, E-2, E-13, E-14, E-15, E-20, E-21, and E-22) have been initiated or are in progress. Funding from U.S. EPA has been made available to conduct Project E-21 – Coachella Valley PM and Upper Air Study. An RFP has been drafted for Project E-19 (the ninth project slated to be initiated in FY 2002-03). However, due to budget constraints staff is re-evaluating the scope of the work to determine the necessary external funding needed to complete the project and will make a recommendation to initiate the project in FY 2005-06. In addition to the eight projects initiated in FY 2002-03, two projects initially slated for out years were initiated in FY 2002-03, Project E-8 (Reactivity-Based Approaches) and Project E-12 (Wet Cleaning). Project E-8 was originally slated for FY 2004-05; staff believed there was a need to begin reactivity assessment of several solvent and coating compounds earlier. The Board approved this project in April 2003. Project E-12 was originally slated for FY 2004-05, but with the availability of AES settlement funding and the energy savings and emissions benefits associated with wet cleaning, the Board approved this project in September 2002.

(F) Enhancements to Current Enforcement/Compliance Monitoring Tools/ Instruments Research

This element focuses on identifying, evaluating, and implementing modern technology advances to enhance field compliance inspection efforts and the analysis of compliance data. The effort would both improve in-field enforcement capabilities as well as provide data access in a manner that promotes more meaningful analysis of emissions and compliance activity impacts on the communities served by the AQMD.

Environmental Justice Initiative No. 8 – Field Inspection Technology was directed at implementing modern technology advances to enhance field enforcement efforts. The initiative focused on refining laboratory testing and analysis technologies and improving field compliance determinations through the use of portable monitoring equipment. In addition, a consultant was contracted to conduct a state-of-the-science technology review to assess existing AQMD capabilities and recommend enhancements. A number of recommendations from the December 1998 report were implemented over the last several years, including acquisition of expanded inspector field sampling equipment and a new gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer for the AQMD Laboratory.

The technology review also recommended the initiation of projects to further enhance field inspection technology. Two projects were specifically suggested. The first, development of the ambient air sampling capability of "artificial nose" technology has been further researched and documented (Project F-1). The second, expanding the use of occupational air sampling/air monitoring devices by refining their sensitivity to ambient air levels, is included in this research plan. A third project is proposed to enhance the AQMD’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) capabilities. All of the proposed projects under this element are in progress and are conducted with in-house resources.

(G) Enhancements to AQMD Laboratory/Source Testing Analysis/Procedures

The Ambient Monitoring, Source Testing, and Laboratory Analysis sections of the AQMD provide technical support in measuring and monitoring ambient air pollutants. The AQMD relies on U.S. EPA Reference Test Methods to conduct analysis of ambient and source test samples. At times, new test methods are developed to address specific sampling or measurement needs. The AQMD has had several methods approved by the U.S. EPA, and other groups conducting ambient measurements are using these methods. As ambient pollutant levels decrease, there is a need to develop or enhance current sampling/laboratory analysis methods to detect lower concentration levels. As such, this element of the Research Plan contains proposals for 20 research activities to develop or enhance test methods and measurement techniques. Most of the proposed projects will be conducted in-house but may require the acquisition of newer laboratory or field instruments.

Six projects slated to start in FY 2002-03 are either currently in progress or completed. This includes Projects G-2, G-3, G-4, G-14, G-15, and G-16. In addition, three projects (G-1, G-6, and G-18) slated for FY 2003-04 were initiated in FY 2002-03.

(H) Special Topics

This element of the Research Plan is provided to include projects that cover multiple research elements or do not fall under a specific element provided above. Three projects are proposed: (1) evaluation and characterization of engine exhaust ultrafine particle and toxic pollutant emissions; (2) ambient nitrogen species measurement enhancements; and (3) technical enhancement program to develop the PM_2.5 SIP. On the national level, research studies are underway to quantify engine exhaust particulates and toxic pollutant emissions. Staff proposes continuing to follow these studies and propose additional studies as necessary. As part of the proposed MATES-III, staff is evaluating the resources needed to enhance particulate measurements. This would complement the technical enhancement program to develop future PM_2.5 SIPs.

Table 1 shows the original Research Plan approved by the Governing Board in June 2003, and Table 2 provides a summary of the projects that are completed or have been initiated. Table 3 details the updated Research Plan for FY 2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06, and Table 4 summarizes the costs by element. As seen in Table 3, the majority of the proposed projects relate to preparation of the AQMP revision, the Technology Advancement research program (approved by the Board in March 2003), and technical assessment of future rule limits. While the primary focus of the research effort is on technical research, there is an important element related to health impacts of air pollution. Many of the health impacts studies require coordination with other research entities. Due to the time required to conduct the health studies and the intensive resource requirements, all of the proposed health-related projects would be cost-shared with other research organizations.

In addition, cost summaries by major sources are provided in Table 5. The cost summaries show that significant funding is proposed to address mobile sources.

Fiscal Impact

The revised Research Plan, which shifts research projects to later years and reduces other efforts by conducting projects in-house, reflects Staff’s evaluation of the anticipated funding and the current budget environment. With the exception of the MATES-III and technical enhancement programs, funding for the proposed projects has been identified for FY 2003-04 based on the Board-approved AQMD Budget for FY 2003-04. In addition, as previously noted, the Board approved the 2003 Technology Advancement Update Report in March 2003. Sufficient funds are available in the Clean Fuels Program to cover the proposed budget for the Technology Advancement Research and Technical Support for Rule Development/ Implementation elements of the Research Plan. In addition, about one-third of the proposed budget would be conducted initially in-house as part of the augmented staff workload. To the extent that extramural resources will be needed to complete such efforts, staff will identify the need for such resources as part of the annual update to the Research Plan.

For several proposed research projects, the total costs to conduct the projects are beyond AQMD allocated funding resources. To this extent, staff will identify research partnerships to cost-share the research projects. In addition, staff will seek additional grant funding to conduct some of the research projects. For example, the U.S. EPA has committed funding support for the Coachella Valley PM and Upper Air Study during FY 2002-03.

Table 6 summarizes the proposed Research Plan budget compared to the currently identified funding by fiscal year. Staff will continue to evaluate funding options and seek cofunding opportunities to cover the unidentified funding, or shortfall, required to complete the projects. Specific funding of projects will be identified as part of the annual fiscal budget development and will be reflected in the annual update to the Research Plan.

Table 1. Cost Estimates and Timeframe to Conduct Proposed Projects as
Approved by the Governing Board in June 2002

(A) Health Impacts Research

(B) Air Toxic Exposure Studies

(C) Air Quality Management Planning Enhancements

Table 1. (Continued)

(C) Air Quality Management Planning Enhancements (Continued)

(D) Technology Advancement Research

Table 1. (Continued)

(E) Technical Support for Rule Development/Implementation

Table 1. (Continued)

(E) Technical Support for Rule Development/Implementation (Continued)

(F) Enhancements to Current Enforcement/Compliance Monitoring Tools

(G) Enhancements to AQMD Laboratory/Source Testing Analysis Procedures

Table 1. (Continued)

(G) Enhancements to AQMD Laboratory/Source Testing Analysis Procedures (Continued)

Table 1. (Concluded)

(H) Special Topics

Table 2. Status of Research Projects Proposed for FY 2002-2003

(A) Health Impacts Research

(B) Air Toxic Exposure Studies

(C) Air Quality Management Planning Enhancements

(D) Technology Advancement Research

Table 2. (Continued)

(D) Technology Advancement Research (Continued)

(E) Technical Support for Rule Development/Implementation

Table 2. (Continued)

(E) Technical Support for Rule Development/Implementation

(F) Enhancements to Current Enforcement/Compliance Monitoring Tools

(G) Enhancements to AQMD Laboratory/Source Testing Analysis Procedures

Table 2. Concluded.

(G) Enhancements to AQMD Laboratory/Source Testing Analysis Procedures

(H) Special Topics

Table 3. Cost Estimates and Timeframe to Conduct Proposed Projects
for the FY 2003 – 2006 Research Plan

(A) Health Impacts Research

(B) Air Toxic Exposure Studies

(C) Air Quality Management Planning Enhancements

Table 3. (Continued)

(D) Technology Advancement Research

(E) Technical Support for Rule Development/Implementation

Table 3. (Continued)

(E) Technical Support for Rule Development/Implementation

(F) Enhancements to Current Enforcement/Compliance Monitoring Tools

(G) Enhancements to AQMD Laboratory/Source Testing Analysis Procedures

Table 3. Concluded.

(G) Enhancements to AQMD Laboratory/Source Testing Analysis Procedures

(H) Special Topics

Table 4. Summary of Proposed Project Costs by Research Element

Table 5. Summary of Proposed Project Costs By Major Sources

Table 6. Summary Cost Comparison by Fiscal Year

Attachment

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