BOARD MEETING DATE: July 9, 2004
AGENDA NO. 31

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on June 25, 2004. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the July Board meeting and one oral report on Federal DOE funding cuts. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on July, 23, 2004 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Roy Wilson, Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Chairman Roy Wilson participated by video-teleconference. Committee Vice Chair Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta and Committee members William Craycraft, and Dennis Yates were in attendance at District headquarters.

JULY BOARD AGENDA ITEMS

1. Execute Contract to Cosponsor Development and Demonstration of Natural Gas Hydraulic-Hybrid Refuse Collection Truck - Hybrid-electric passenger cars have been commercialized by Honda and Toyota which capture braking energy, store it electrically, and reuse it in propulsion with the use of electric motors. Hydraulic-hybrid systems are now under development which store braking energy as compressed gas and reuse this energy for propulsion through the use of special pumps in the drivetrain. Waste Management, Inc., in association with U.S. EPA, Parker Hannifin Corporation and Autocar LLC, is proposing the development and demonstration of a natural gas hydraulic-hybrid refuse collection truck. The total cost for this project is estimated to be $1,539,000. Staff is requesting Board approval to execute a contract to conduct this project at a cost not to exceed $250,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Wilson) abstained (Yates) and recommended for approval.
    
2. Transfer Funds from Clean Fuels Fund to FY 2004-05 General Fund Budget of Science & Technology Advancement - Since FY 1999-00, revenues from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program have been directed to the Clean Fuels Fund. Periodically, funds are transferred from the Clean Fuels Fund to the General Fund to support AQMD activities directly related to the Clean Fuels Program. This action is to transfer $450,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to supplement the FY 2004-05 General Fund Budget of Science & Technology Advancement, Services and Supplies Major Object, Professional and Special Services Account to support Clean Fuels Program activities.
   Moved (Yates), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta) and unanimously recommended for approval.
    
3. Report on Clean Cities Programs within AQMD Boundaries - At the July 11, 2003 Board meeting, staff was directed to report back twice a year on the activities of Clean Cities Coalitions in the South Coast District. This letter summarizes the current and recent activities of the local Clean Cities Coalitions. Also discussed is the interaction between the AQMD and the local Clean Cities Coalitions and potential future cooperative efforts.
   No committee action needed. Receive and file only.
    
4. Appropriate and Reallocate Funds for MATES-III and Issue RFP - To conduct the Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study (MATES-III), the Board allocated funds from the U.S. EPA PAMS Program and the Clean Fuels Program to the FY 2003-04 Science and Technology Advancement Budget. Expenditures were incurred in FY 2003-04 to acquire necessary fixed assets, laboratory supplies, and temporary services to start MATES-III. However, since MATES-III is scheduled to continue into FY 2004-05, funds still remain and need to be reallocated to complete MATES-III during FY 2004-05. In addition, at the February 2004 meeting, the Board allocated $243,000 from the Clean Fuels Program to Science and Technology Advancement FY 2003-04 Budget, Professional and Special Services Account, to conduct analyses of naphthalene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This action is to transfer $668,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to the FY 2004-05 Science & Technology Advancement Budget and issue an RFP for the analysis of naphthalene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
   Moved (Craycraft), seconded (Yates) and unanimously recommended for approval.
   
   Committee member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta suggested the need for more monitoring stations in the Inland Empire due to increasing unhealthful air quality.

ORAL REPORT

5. Report on Federal DOE Hydrogen Funding Cuts
   Dr. Matt Miyasato, S&TA Technology Demonstration Manager, reviewed DOE’s hydrogen funding cuts and the impact of these cuts on SCAQMD’s R&D projects.
   Committee member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta stressed the need to focus lobbying efforts on securing Federal funding for hydrogen projects and requested the creation of a District task force to be responsible for the effort. Committee Chairman Wilson directed staff to make arrangements for the Board Legislative Committee to discuss this request for the creation of such a task force.

Other Business - There was no other business.

Public Comment Period - In response to Agenda Item # 4, Mr. John Billheimer suggested that monitoring also include MEK, acetone, and ammonia. Mr. Henry Hogo, ADEO for S&A indicated that these species are monitored under our routine monitoring efforts.

The meeting was adjourned.

Attachment

A - Attendance

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