BOARD MEETING DATE: August 6, 2004
AGENDA NO. 30

Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee

SYNOPSIS:

Below is a summary of key issues addressed at the MSRC’s June 24, 2004 meeting. The MSRC also met on Thursday, July 22, 2004. A summary will be provided in the September Board package. Since the MSRC canceled its August meeting, they will meet next on Thursday, September 23, 2004, at 1:30 p.m. in Room CC8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Michael D. Antonovich
AQMD Representative on MSRC

Minutes

Minutes from April 22, 2004 meeting were unanimously approved. They are attached for your information (Attachment 1).

FY 2004-05 Work Program in Concept

After exploring 30 categories, the MSRC’s Technical Advisory Committee presented eleven elements to the MSRC for inclusion in the FY 2004-05 Work Program in Concept. The MSRC adopted these elements and also directed its Technical Advisory Committee to develop a program aimed at high-emitting diesel buses used in law enforcement applications. Approximately $14.5 million will be available for FY 2004-05 including the prudent reserve. The elements of the FY 2004-05 Work Program in Concept, as adopted by the MSRC at its June 24, 2004 meeting, are as follows:

1. Local Government Match Program ($3 million): This would continue the popular program intended to match local governments’ AB 2766 City Subvention Funds. Purchases of alternative fuel vehicles, video-conferencing equipment and multi-jurisdictional signal synchronization projects will be eligible.
    
2. Pick-A-Day, Any Day ($1 million): This would be a follow-on to last year’s successful radio campaign, utilizing the same creative materials, but moving to three flights during peak hours to encourage listeners to rideshare and would include pre- and post-surveys.
    
3. Guaranteed Ride Home Program ($60,000): This too would be a follow-on to the existing successful program, geared at attracting additional employers and increasing employee participation, offering a guaranteed ride home for carpoolers through participating taxi companies.
    
4. On-Road Heavy-Duty Alternative Fuel Vehicles ($1 million): This program would provide co-funding for on-road heavy-duty alternative fuel vehicle purchases for engines certified at 1.8 grams/bhp-hr. It would also provide funding for alternative fueling stations up to 50% of costs not to exceed $150,000 MSRC co-funding with a minimum vehicle purchase as well as $10,000 for facility modifications and $5,000 for mechanic training. Funding will be awarded on a cost-effectiveness basis with projects of $13,600 tons per NOx reduced eligible.
    
5. Off-Road Heavy-Duty Vehicles ($2.75 million): This program would provide co-funding for off-road heavy-duty vehicles, allowing alternative fuel and diesel-to-diesel repowers utilizing Tier II engines. Infrastructure funding is also available with a minimum vehicle purchase. Funds will be awarded on a cost-effectiveness basis.
    
6. Advanced Fuel/Advanced Technology Transit Bus ($1 million): This program would provide co-funding for alternative fuel buses including articulated CNGs, hybrid-electric and gasoline-hybrid electric buses. A geographic minimum of $150,000 per county will be included, after which funds will be distributed on a cost-effectiveness basis.
    
7. CNG School Bus Incentives ($1 million): Incentives will be available for both public school districts and private providers wanting to purchase CNG school buses. The incentives will be available through the three previously qualified vendors—California Bus Sales, A-Z Bus Sales and Bus West.
    
8. Upgrade of Existing CNG/LNG Infrastructure ($1.25 million): This new program would provide funding up to $150,000 per station with a $250,000 cap per entity for station modifications which address safety issues, alternative refueling stations intending to expand fuel storage, increase fuel compression capability, add CNG capability at existing LNG only stations, modify the station to provide public accessibility, upgrade card readers, and/or add additional fuel dispensers.
    
9. On-Road Vehicle Replacement Program ($1.75 million): This program would be modeled after the Gateway Cities On-Road Diesel Truck Replacement Program but will be expanded beyond the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to include high-emitting diesel trucks throughout the South Coast region.
    
10. Diesel Particulate Matter Control Technologies ($1 million): This program would retrofit existing diesel vehicles with CARB-certified exhaust after-treatment devices. Funding up to $8,500 per unit will be available, potentially more for units that reduce both NOx and PM, but the low-sulfur fuel subsidy will be discontinued.
     
11. Diesel Vehicle Idling Reduction Program ($250,000): This new program would target heavy-duty diesel truck idling at truck stops and would provide incentives for several strategies still under investigation. It is intended as a jumpstart pilot program.
     
12. Law Enforcement Diesel Replacement Program: The specifics and funding target for this program are under development.

The MSRC considered the Conceptual FY 2004-05 Work Program again and several solicitations at its July 22, 2004 meeting. The solicitations will be presented to the AQMD Governing Board for approval at its August 6, 2004 meeting. A report on the July 22, 2004 MSRC meeting will be included in the September 3, 2004 AQMD Board agenda package.

Closed Session

The MSRC held a closed session at its June 24, 2004 meeting to discuss the contract with its Technical Advisor under Government Code Section 54957.1 – Public Employee Performance Evaluation. The outcome was development of conflict of interest language for incorporation into their Technical Advisor’s contract for the period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005.

Final Reports Received and Approved

The MSRC unanimously received and approved four final reports, as follows:

1)	City of Rialto, Contract #02030, which provided $24,000 towards a Rideshare to Rails Program;
2)	City of San Bernardino, Contract #02031, which provided $24,000 towards a Rideshare to Rails Program;
3)	Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Contract #01030, which provided $300,000 for an Employer Based Rideshare Incentive Program; and
4)	Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Contract #02006, which provided $2,658,175 towards the purchase of 233 CNG transit buses.

All final reports are filed in the AQMD's library and a two-page summary of each closed project can be viewed in the electronic library on the MSRC's Web site at http://www.msrc-cleanair.org.

Contract Modification Request

The MSRC considered only one modification request. They unanimously approved a one-year extension for County of Riverside, Contract #MS03023, which provides $62,396 to pave roads under the MSRC’s Coachella Valley PM10 Reduction Program.

Contract Administrator Report

The MSRC's AB 2766 Contract Administrator provided a written status report on all open contracts from FY 1999-00 through the present. This Contract Administrator Report is attached for your information (Attachment 2).

Attachments

1 –Approved April 22, 2004 Minutes
2 –Contract Administrator Report

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