BOARD MEETING DATE: April 2, 2004
AGENDA NO. 16
Report of Advisory Group Accomplishments in 2003 and Approve Goals & Objectives for 2004
SYNOPSIS:
This item is to present the Board with the accomplishment sin 2003 and to recommend approval of Goals & Objectives for the coming year for the following Advisory Groups: Air Quality Management Plan, Ethnic Community, Home Rule, Local Government & Small Business Assistance and Scientific, Technical & Modeling Peer Review.
COMMITTEE:
Administrative, March 12, 2004, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive the report of accomplishments in 2003 and approve the Goals & Objectives for 2004.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
The Board has previously established several Advisory Groups to review issues and provide input to the Board. These Advisory Groups (AG) are the Air Quality Management Plan AG, Ethnic Community AG, Home Rule AG, Local Government & Small Business Assistance AG and Scientific, Technical & Modeling Peer Review AG.
Set forth in Attachments A-E are the accomplishments of each group in calendar year 2003 and a summary of each group’s Goals & Objectives for 2004.
Proposal
Receive the report of accomplishments in calendar year 2003 and approve the proposed Goals & Objectives for 2004.
Fiscal Impacts
None
Attachments
Attachment A – AQMP Advisory
Group
Attachment B – Ethnic Community Advisory Group
Attachment C – Home Rule Advisory Group
Attachment D – Local Government & Small Business Assistance Advisory Group
Attachment E – Scientific, Technical & Modeling Peer Review Advisory Group
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Attachment A
Air Quality Management Plan Advisory Group (AQMP AG)
|
Advisory Group Accomplishments in 2003 |
|
| 1) | Reviewed and provided comments on 2003 AQMP control measures proposed by
AQMD, CARB, and SCAG and provided suggestions for additional control
measures. There was general consensus that mobile sources must be
responsible for their fair share of reductions including the importance of
addressing vehicle congestion and older (higher emitting) vehicles. It was
suggested that that the solution to the "black box" emissions is greater use
of existing technologies/strategies that have historically been difficult to
implement due to political or economic considerations. Also, discussed
methodology for addressing transportation conformity budgets and considered
potential implications |
| 2) | Reviewed and provided comments on the SIP commitments of the three
agencies; generally agreed that specific agency SIP commitments are
necessary for addressing the "black box" reductions |
| 3) | Established a Technical Subcommittee that assisted in identification
of a number of new control strategies for achieving the 2003 AQMP
long-term "black box" reductions. These strategies1
were subsequently incorporated into the 2003 AQMP for conducting
feasibility studies and further evaluation. |
| 1 (a) Control of port-specific emissions (cold ironing, electrification of diesel cranes, yard tractor fleet rule, diesel truck retrofits, low sulfur diesel for ships), (b) “Emission bubbles” at ports and airports; (c) Demand-side strategies such as higher registration costs for older vehicles, higher use fees for high emitting recreational boats/vehicles, and higher price for high VOC consumer products, (d) Education programs and labeling of products (e.g., vehicles, con-sumer products, etc.) with emissions data; (e) Stricter smog-check programs (including annual testing for higher emitting vehicles); (f) Remote sensing (to identify higher emitting vehicles); (g) Removing disincentives on industry to promote implementation of voluntary pollution control opportunities; (h) Expanding fleet rules to private fleets; (i) Allowing larger stationary sources to take advantage of reductions from other sources | |
|
Advisory Group Goals & Objectives in 2004 |
|
| A. | Review and provide comments on the implementation of 2003 AQMP
control measures proposed by AQMD, CARB, and SCAG and the respective SIP
commitments and assist in identification and development of new control
strategies for achieving the 2003 AQMP long-term "black box" reductions. |
| B. | Support the preparation of the next revision of the AQMP by
reviewing and providing comments on (a) studies relevant to advancing
overall scientific and technical knowledge; (b) emissions inventory
development and modeling approaches; (c) the development of new and
revised control measures, including on-road and off-road mobile sources;
(d) socioeconomic data and evaluations. |
| C. | Review and provide comments on development of a comprehensive
attainment strategy to address the new 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 ambient
air quality standards. |
| D. |
Review and comment on SCAG's Regional Transportation Plan component of the
AQMP. |
| E. |
E. Foster coordinated approaches toward overall attainment strategies. |
| F. |
Assist in resolving key technical issues. |
Attachment B
Ethnic Community Advisory Group (ECAG)
|
Advisory Group Accomplishments in 2003 |
|
| 1) | Environmental Justice Training Workshops were organized under a U.S.
EPA grant to inform impacted communities about air quality and
environmental justice issues. AQMD hosted six, 4-hour workshops
throughout AQMD’s four counties. These drew 228 attendees representing
150 organizations. The events were highly successful and attended by
locals elected officials, general public, community groups, and
environmental groups. ECAG members Paul Avila, Harold Martinez,
Anastacio Medina, Tom Chang, Rose Montoya-Lona, Tod Short, Stan Lee, and
Fernando Del Rio attended the EJ Training Workshops. |
| 2) | Small Business Breakfast Meetings - In March and April 2003, AQMD
hosted five Small Business Update Breakfast Meetings to provide the
business community with information on AQMD programs and services. Each
meeting was chaired by Governing Board members and co-hosted by area
Chambers of Commerce and other organizations. The meetings drew an
average of 40 attendees per location. ECAG members distributed meeting
information to local ethnic chambers of commerce and assisted in
securing media coverage from Korean, Chinese and Spanish-language media.
ECAG members Paul Choe, Paul Avila, Harold Martinez and Tod Short
attended the Small Business Breakfast Meetings and helped with outreach
efforts. |
| 3) | Ethnic Outreach Contractors. On an ongoing basis, ECAG members
provide feedback on activities being organized by the contractors to
provide outreach to ethnic communities as part of the Board’s approved
program. ECAG received a preview of the bilingual (English/Spanish)
public service announcement (PSA) that was produced by Oralia Michel
Marketing and Public Relations. The PSA introduced the public to the
AQMD and asked them to join the Clean Air Congress. It included two
health risk scenarios. ECAG members provided feedback to Ms. Michel on
both the content and the Spanish translation. |
| 4) | Community Events. ECAG members helped to publicize a series of five
workshops on Cumulative Impacts, as well as some of the monthly Town
Hall Meetings and EJ Work Plan Public Consultation Meetings held during
2003. ECAG members Tod Short, Rose Montoya-Lona and Anastacio Medina
attended the meetings and participated in discussion forums. ECAG members helped publicize the Precautionary Principles Conference held at AQMD on August 21, 2003. This conference brought together experts from environmental organizations, industry groups, government agencies and universities to report on the latest scientific research findings, case studies, regulatory issues and political atmosphere regarding the Precautionary Principle. The general emphasis was on air quality and/or Southern California relevant topics. ECAG members Anastacio Medina and Stan Lee attended the conference. ECAG members assisted with informing area organizations about the
California Air Resources Board (CARB) Hearing on the 2003 AQMP, held at
AQMD headquarters on October 23, 2003. The Hearing was attended by about
400 people and served to encourage CARB’s Board to adopt additional
improved mobile source control requirements for greater emission
reductions. ECAG member Anastacio Medina attended the Hearing.
|
| 5) | Other ECAG Activities during 2003. Commented on proposed enhancements to the Environmental Justice work program for 2003-04 with additional recommendations; received overviews and provided comments on the following important AQMD programs and proposals: Model Air Quality Element, Localized Significance Thresholds, Cumulative Impacts Reduction Strategies, Clean Fuels Fleet Implementation, Carl Moyer Incentive Funding Program, and 2003 AQMP and its Socio-Economic Analysis. Attended various AQMD Workshops, Town Hall meetings, and Community Fairs; became better informed on health and compliance issues by receiving staff briefings on: Power Plant Emission Control Technologies, Transportation Corridor Health Studies, Mira Loma Sub-regional Analysis. Participated in the following AQMD committees to assist staff: Negotiated Rulemaking on Rule 1469 (Chrome Plating), Rule 1421—Dry Cleaning Rule; and Dry Cleaning Grant program. Worked to propose realignment of ECAG membership to reflect regional diversity within the AQMD jurisdiction in addition to ethnicity. |
|
Advisory Group Goals & Objectives in 2004 |
|
| 1. | Comment on the on-going Enhanced Outreach Task Orders and identify
opportunities and strategies for increasing outreach to ethnic
communities. |
| 2. | Comment on planned MATES III monitoring and outreach strategies to
ensure that ethnic communities are aware of the study and become
familiar with AQMD’s strategies to reduce exposure to toxic air
pollutants. |
| 3. | Comment on rule development for Rule 1401.1 - New Source Review of
Toxic Air Contaminants for Sources Located Near Sensitive Receptors
(EJ), which is expected to be brought to the Governing Board in July
2004 and for Rule 1402.1 - Control of Toxic Air Contaminants from
Existing Sources Located Near Sensitive Receptors (EJ), which is
expected to be brought to the Governing Board in September 2004. |
| 4. | Comment on the implementation of the 2003-04 Environmental Justice
Work Plan and provide guidance on the development of the Draft 2004-05
Environmental Justice Work Plan. |
| 5. | Provide advice to AQMD on strategies for increasing ethnic community participation in AQMD contracting and procurement programs. |
Attachment C
Home Rule Advisory Group (HRAG)
|
Advisory Group Accomplishments in 2003 |
|
| 1) | SIP Control Measure - This subcommittee was formed late in 2003 at
the request of HRAG Chairman Wilson. Its primary purpose was to assist
District staff in an effort to gain an additional near-term emissions
reduction commitment from ARB in the 2003 Air Quality Management Plan.
The subcommittee was the vehicle used to bring together the
environmental community, the business community and local government to
call for the additional reductions. The overall effort, lead by District
staff, was very successful, resulting in ARB committing to an additional
93 tons per day of emissions reductions from sources under its control. |
| 2) |
NSR Issues - The NSR Subcommittee held ten meetings and accomplished the following:
|
| 2) | Credit Trading Programs and Compliance Flexibility - Completing the
vast majority of its work in 2002, the subcommittee was relatively quiet
during 2003. It focused its attention on working with District staff to
resolve implementation issues with the mobile source credit generation
rules. It also worked with EPA to gain final approval of the one rule
outstanding in the original package of credit generation rules. The
subcommittee plans to become more active during 2004 as it works with
the agencies’ staffs and other stakeholders on new or expanded rules to
generate offsets for use under New Source Review. |
| 3) |
Small Business Considerations - This charter of the subcommittee is to identify and address duplicative, conflicting and/or unusually burdensome requirements, and other compelling issues that are unique to the small businesses that are under AQMD’s jurisdiction. Members of the subcommittee – concerned about the presence of some particularly burdensome control measures in the proposed Environmental Justice Cumulative Impacts Program – engaged in extensive discussions with the Executive Officer, members of the staff, Governing Board members, and several COGs, in an effort to avert or avoid regulations that would be harmful to small businesses and the communities in which they reside. While the program was ultimately adopted, certain measures
were modified or removed. Among these were: removing toxic air
contaminants from Reg. 11 rules; removing any reference to O-BACT from
the program document; agreeing to adopt a two-tier approach when
addressing citizen’s complaints about harmful pollutants, which are
alleged to emanate from some auto body shops. Staff will collect and
analyze data prior to proceeding into rulemaking. Staff also tried to
allay concerns by the subcommittee that the program, once implemented,
would result in "red lining" of certain communities. The subcommittee
will continue to monitor the program as it evolves in 2004. |
| 4) | Environmental Justice (Curt Coleman) - Monitored Cal/EPA Environmental Justice Advisory Committee Work on drafting EJ principles for the Cal/EPA Interagency Working Group and updated HRAG on developments. Worked with ARB EJ Stakeholders Group to seek consistency between ARB EJ program and SCAQMD EJ program; provided monthly updates on work ARB was doing regarding EJ issues. Monitored ongoing EJ activities at Federal, State, and SCAQMD levels for potential inconsistencies or jurisdictional issues. |
|
Advisory Group Goals & Objectives in 2004 |
|
| A. |
Provide Assistance to Help Coordinate and Facilitate Strategies Necessary to Fulfill the SIP Commitment. Subcommittee Name: SIP Control Measures Subcommittee. The recently approved AQMP commits the Air Resources Board to achieve as a short-term measure an additional 120 tons per day of emission reductions from sources under its jurisdiction. All stakeholders recognize that ARB faces significant challenges to identify, develop, and successfully implement new strategies to meet this emission reduction target. At the same time, the AQMP requires AQMD to continue to aggressively gain additional emission reductions. Even if both agencies are successful in achieving these reductions, AQMD will continue to face a shortfall of emission reductions (the so-called "Black Box") it needs to achieve the 2010 attainment deadline as set in the federal Clean Air Act It is a goal of the Home Rule Advisory Group to work with the environmental community and the staffs of the SCAQMD, ARB and EPA to help coordinate and facilitate the strategies necessary to fulfill these emission reduction measures. The Group is uniquely qualified to provide a forum to better understand the mobile source measures undertaken by ARB and to work through many of the issues that will develop as it becomes increasingly difficult to achieve additional emission reductions. Continue to Seek Improvements to New Source
Review - The Home Rule Advisory Group believes that there are
opportunities to streamline and improve the New Source Review (NSR)
process that are essential to balancing clean air goals and economic
vitality. There have been many developments in NSR, including the
finalization of five new NSR rules by the USEPA. These changes have been
controversial causing several states, and the SCAQMD, to sue USEPA.
Additionally the California Legislature passed significant new
requirements that must be met before any changes to NSR programs can be
adopted by local air districts. However, despite the controversy, all
states are still required by USEPA to either revise their NSR program to
conform to the new changes, or to prove their programs are at least as
stringent, by January 2006. The Home Rule Advisory Group will continue
to work with the three agencies as this debate continues, to determine
if there are ways that the SCAQMD NSR program can improve the ability of
facilities to modernize, and still comply with the traditional themes of
the SCAQMD NSR program: (1) no net increase in emissions, (2) use of the
cleanest control technology appropriate to the application, and (3) full
offset of any emission increases. |
| B. | Emission Credit Trading Program Development and Enhancement - The
Home Rule Advisory Group will continue to seek ways to enhance the
viability and use of emission credits as a means to further air quality
objectives, advance new technologies, provide compliance flexibility,
and to assure a healthy supply of credits for sustained economic growth.
It will pursue recommendations and help to develop rulemaking deemed
appropriate to increase the generation and overall availability of
credits. For 2004, work in this area will be limited, but will focus on
the development of new rules to generate emission credits for use as
offsets under New Source Review, expand existing rules to allow credits
to be used for additional pollutants and for NSR and to continue to work
with agency staffs as implementation issues arise, including a review of
the sunset provisions with the existing credit rules. |
| C. | Small Business Considerations - The Home Rule Advisory Group
resolves to actively seek small business input in the review and
undertaking of all programs and in making recommendations to the
Stationary Source Committee such that a balanced view of large and small
business can be presented to and considered by that Committee. In
addition, the Group will seek to identify and address duplicative,
conflicting and/or unusually burdensome requirements, and other
compelling issues that are unique to small businesses in this District. |
| D. | Strategic Outreach - The Home Rule Advisory Group will seek to
dialogue and partner with AQMD staff, air regulatory agencies and other
entities in non-attainment areas to find and/or develop synergies to
increase flexibility under EPA policies and guidance documents. The
Group will seek to promote more equal treatment among the EPA regions,
increase federal and state funding for local programs, streamline
administrative procedures and make other recommendations to EPA and
other federal agencies or states on a united front. The Group will also
monitor progress and suggest strategies as appropriate to assure that
the appropriate regulatory agencies carry their fair share of the AQMP
emissions burden, in a timely manner, in support of and consistent with
the activities of the SIP Control Measure Subcommittee. |
| E. | Environmental Justice - The Home Rule Advisory Group will continue to monitor and report on the development and implementation of Environmental Justice programs by federal, state, and local agencies for consistency with federal law, state law, and SCAQMD polices. The Group will review proposed procedures for the analysis of the cumulative impact of air pollution sources on communities, and will consider options to resolve issues raised by both the communities and project proponents in a timely manner. The HRAG will also investigate ways to promote a programmatic approach to resolving environmental impact inequities, as preferable to a case by case approach. The HRAG will also seek ways to resolve environmental impact inequities prospectively, rather than after the fact. |
Attachment D
Local Government & Small
Business Assistance Advisory Group (LGSBA AG)
|
Advisory Group Accomplishments in 2003 |
|
| 1. | Commented on 2002-03 Environmental Justice (EJ) Work Plan and
provided input regarding implementation of key items: California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) localized significance thresholds,
Model Air Quality Element (MAQE), Electronic posting of all validated
Notices to Comply and Notices of Violation |
| 2. | Commented on Draft 2003-04 EJ Workplan and provided comments
regarding White Paper on Environmental Justice Initiatives/Cumulative
Impact Reduction Strategy. |
| 3. | Commented on AQMD’s 3-year research plan that outlines short- and
long-term research needs, budget needs, and current technology research. |
| 4. | Commented on the Proposed 2003 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP)
that sets forth a "roadmap" for the AQMD to comply with federal and
state health standards. |
| 5. | Commented on the development of socioeconomic reporting procedures
involving the translation of visibility, health, traffic congestion,
materials, and agricultural improvements into cost benefits. |
| 6. | Commented on progress on proposed enhancements to permit and
compliance assistance outreach programs. Discussed outreach
partnerships, community outreach, events, mailings, media outreach, and
internet based enhancements. |
| 7. | Commented on AQMD’s financial grant program for dry cleaners. |
| 8. | Provided feedback on the technology assessment for Rule 1136 – Wood
Products Coating. |
| 9. | Commented on rule development for Rule 1426 - Metal Finishing and Rule 1469 - Chrome Plating, including CEQA and socio-economic analysis. |
|
Advisory Group Goals & Objectives in 2004 |
|
| A. | Provide advice on small business assistance program enhancements,
including review of Small Business Advocate concept. |
| B. | Comment on the implementation of the 2003-04 EJ Work Plan: |
| C. | Provide guidance on the development of the Draft 2004-05 EJ Work
Plan, starting around May 2004. |
| D. | Comment on progress of implementation of AB 2766 requirements,
regarding vehicle registration surcharge funds that are distributed to
local governments for mobile source emission reduction projects. |
| E. | Comment on Draft Model Air Quality Element (MAQE). In 2003, LGSBA
reviewed MAQE information provided by AQMD staff and requested a
follow-up briefing. |
| F. | Monitor and review the electronic posting of all validated Notices
to Comply and Notices of Violation. Access to this information is
currently at http://www.aqmd.gov/nov/. |
| G. | Comment on AQMP Measure BCM-08: PM10 Emission Reductions from
Aggregate Operations, which is expected to be brought to the Governing
Board in June 2004. |
| H. | Comment on rule development for Rule 1401.1 - New Source Review of
Toxic Air Contaminants for Sources Located Near Sensitive Receptors
(EJ), which is expected to be brought to the Governing Board in July
2004. |
| I. | Comment on rule development for Rule 1402.1 - Control of Toxic Air
Contaminants from Existing Sources Located Near Sensitive Receptors
(EJ), which is expected to be brought to the Governing Board in
September 2004. |
| J. | Comment on rule development for Rule 1138.1 - Control of Emissions
from Underfired Charbroiler Restaurant Operations (PRC-03, Phase II),
which is expected to be brought to the Governing Board in October 2004. |
| K. | Comment on Dry Cleaner Incentive Grant program implementation. |
| L. | Review progress of CARB SIP implementation regarding AQMD: Monitor
EPA and ARB’s off-road emission reduction efforts, including SCAG’s
activities. |
| M. | Monitor implementation of AQMD fleet rules. |
| N. | Monitor legislation affecting AQMD. |
| O. | Seek report from EPA on SIP implementation. |
Attachment E
Scientific, Technical &
Modeling Peer Review Advisory Group (STMPR AG)
|
Advisory Group Accomplishments in 2003 |
|
| 1) | Reviewed and commented on modeling approaches |
| 2) | Provided specific recommendations on the selection, application and
responsiveness of several chemical mechanisms proposed for use in the
AQMP modeling analysis |
| 3) | Provided comments to the modeling platform selection process that
was further enhanced by the peer advisory groups |
| 4) | Provided thoughtful debate on the use of performance criteria in
determining the acceptability of the modeling output for the ozone
carrying capacity calculation |
| 5) | Provided suggestions for the emissions inventory development, in
particular vehicular emissions |
| 6) | Provided suggestions for future improved model performance, stress
tests of models and use of additional modeling episodes |
| 7) | Provided suggestions for future modeling improvements such as
locations of monitoring sites and possible future sensitivity and
related analyses |
| 8) | Suggested performing sensitivity model runs to get a sense of the
magnitude of reductions necessary to achieve state standards |
| 9) | Suggested that the AQMD and applicable stakeholders prepare a
long-term technical analysis plan |
| 10) | Assisted in refining the socioeconomic assessment for the 2003 AQMP |
|
Advisory Group Goals & Objectives in 2004 |
|
| A. | Air Quality Modeling
|
| B. | Socioeconomic Assessment
|
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