BOARD MEETING DATE: June 4, 2004
AGENDA NO. 31

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, May 27, 2004.
Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Jane Carney, Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting started at 9:05 a.m. Present: Committee Chair Jane Carney, Vice Chair Roy Wilson (via videoconference), and Committee Members Jan Perry (via videoconference), William Craycraft, and Jim Silva. Absent: Committee Member Ron Loveridge.

INFORMATION ITEMS:
 

1)	Report on Proposed Amended Rule 1186.1 – Less Polluting Sweepers; and Rule 1196 – Clean On-Road Heavy-Duty Public Fleet Vehicles Staff presented two focused rule amendments on Rule 1186.1 and Rule 1196. Both rules include sunset provisions for exemptions or Technical Infeasible Certificate Requests (TICRs) for not having alternative fueling infrastructure located within five miles of where the vehicles are domiciled. The sunset provision expires either June 30 or July 1 for both rules. Staff does not believe that the alternative fueling infrastructure network is adequate at this time to allow the sunset provision to expire and is recommending that the provision be extended for one year. Staff is also recommending for Rule 1186.1, to extend the sunset provision for lack of model availability for street sweepers, as there continues to be street sweepers for certain applications where an alternative fuel platform is unavailable. Staff has conducted public workshops on the focused amendments and has received overall support of the extension of the sunset provision for one year. Staff also received one additional comment from LADWP during the public workshop to address the need for a more flexible definition of emergency vehicles. Staff is working with LADWP on the validity of their request, reviewing the data submitted by LADWP. Councilwomen Perry questioned whether the request from LADWP was attributed to remote outposts that are in the desert areas like Las Vegas, with little or no alternative fuel infrastructure. Staff responded affirmatively and indicated that AQMD staff was reviewing LADWP’s submitted data documenting the need for a blanket type of exemption for certain heavy duty vehicles. Chairperson Carney asked about the frequency of requests for technical infeasibility certificates. Staff responded that relative to Rule 1196, due to the vast number of heavy duty categories staff receives between 4 to 6 requests per month. To date just over 100 exemptions have been granted. Staff responded that with Rule 1186.1, we only received 4-5 exemption requests in total.
2)	Presentation on Status of AQMD Clean Air Choice Program Staff gave a progress report on the Clean Air Choice Program. It is a voluntary new car labeling program with an aim to educate new car buyers on the very cleanest cars available for purchase through the use of a very colorful electrostatic label that goes into the car’s rear window. Sam Atwood introduced the media office’s two outside consultants, Lawrence Cohen and Manuel Valencia. The District had a very successful media event at the Santa Monica Pier and every TV station in town, except one, and two radio stations covered the event. There are about 60 dealerships that participate voluntarily and the District resupplies them on a weekly basis with materials they need. The vehicle list was recently narrowed to more select vehicles that includes the super ultra low emission end cleaner vehicles. There has been some resistance from some of the dealers and one of the manufacturers. This is a free program and the District provides all of the materials. There was some discussion regarding the effort involved in placing the stickers on the rear windows. Sam Atwood said they would continue extending programs into Orange and San Bernardino counties. This is the third year of sponsoring the Santa Monica Pier Concert series. The District provides a lot of materials in the booths and clean air vehicles are on display. There are also public service announcements being developed, featuring two to three celebrities to raise public awareness. Board member Jane Carney suggested the use of the District’s web site for listing the clean vehicles and the names of the dealerships participating, as well as public service announcements. This would provide an incentive to dealerships to participate in the program. Sam Atwood indicated that they are listed on the District’s web site but perhaps it could be done in a more visible manner. Ms. Perry suggested that the District have information available at two coming events: the Central Avenue Jazz Festival in July that attracts about 20,000 people and the Bollero Festival in September in Exposition Park that attracts about 30,000 people. Board member Craycraft suggested the use of a portion of the money the District sets aside for bus buy-downs ($4 million) for alternative fuel vehicle purchase incentives. He suggested that the committee consider making a recommendation to the full Board to use a portion of that money to provide incentives for the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles and for the purchase of fueling stations. Board members Craycraft and Silva suggested the use of public service announcements on local TV programs on which city and county officials have free air time, which would be at no cost to the District.
3)	Status Report on CARB Fleet Rules Staff reported the status on CARB adopted and proposed fleets rules. Staff presented the primary differences between CARB’s fleet rules and the AQMD fleet rules. Staff emphasized that the focus of CARB rules has primarily been on the control of diesel particulate controls for existing fleets. The AQMD fleet rules have focused upon new additions and replacement of vehicles in a fleet, requiring the introduction of the cleanest of vehicles. Staff pointed out that in the majority of instances the two sets of fleet rules really complement each other. CARB’s fleet rules focus on existing fleets, and the AQMD fleet rules focus on new additions to the fleet. Staff proceeded to identify and discuss the following adopted CARB rules: 1) solid waste collection vehicles; 2) transit fleet vehicles; and 3) school bus idling. Proposed CARB fleet rules identified by staff included: 1) public on/off road vehicles; 2) private on-road vehicles; 3) amendments to urban and non-urban transit bus; and 4) private off-road equipment. Staff described the approach and date of adoption or proposed date of adoption for each of the fleet rules. Ms. Carney asked about the impact of CARB rules and the U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding the fleet rules. Her inquiry focused upon private fleets and her understanding that only the ARB fleet rules would apply. Staff confirmed this understanding with Ms. Carney. Ms. Carney inquired whether private trash haulers now only have to comply with CARB’s fleet rules (requiring retrofit controls for existing diesel fleet) and whether they had to comply with such requirements irrespective of whether or not the AQMD fleet rules were in place. Staff confirmed this with Ms. Carney. Councilman Craycraft asked whether or not ARB’s School Bus Idling rule applies to other types of heavy duty vehicles idling at school bus stops. Councilman Craycraft also made an inquiry as to who enforces the State’s rule on school bus idling. Staff confirmed that this rule does apply to other types of commercial diesel vehicles idling at school bus sites. Staff informed Mr. Craycraft that there currently is a bill in the legislature which will codify this rule in the Health and Safety Code and thereby allow local air districts to enforce it. Councilman Craycraft requested that a briefing paper summarizing the requirements of the School Bus Idling rule be developed for distribution to local cities. Mr. Craycraft believes that local government is unaware of such a requirement in State law. Staff confirmed that they will prepare a document summarizing this rule’s requirements.
4)	Rule 2202 Activity Report Written report submitted. No comments.
5)	Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives – CEQA Document Comment Update Written report submitted. No comments.
6)	Other Business None.
7)	Public Comment None.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE
MAY 28, 2004

ATTENDANCE ROSTER

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