BOARD MEETING DATE: May 7, 2004
AGENDA NO. 27

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, April 23, 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), Committee Members Jan Perry (via videoconference), William Craycraft, and Jim Silva. Absent: Committee Member Ron Loveridge.

ACTION ITEMS:

 

1)

Execute Contract to Co-Fund Ultrafine Particulate Matter Health Effects Study. Staff presented the recommendation to co-fund with CARB an addition to a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences funded study on the effects of ultrafine particulates on a group of adults aged 65 and older with coronary heart disease. The study Principal Investigator is Dr. Ralph Delfino at the U.C. Irvine Department of Medicine. The AQMD funding is not to exceed $501,814 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The Committee approved the staff recommendation.

2)

Execute Contract for Wildfire Emissions Health Effects Study. Ms. Carney requested Supervisor Wilson to chair this item due to a potential conflict. A bidder for the contract is the University of La Verne, and Ms. Carney stated on the record that the University of Loma Linda is a source of income for her. Staff presented the recommendation to approve a contract with U.C. Irvine with Dr. Ralph Delfino as principal investigator. The study proposes to assess daily variations in hospital admissions and mortality with daily levels of pollutants and estimated exposures to wildfire related emissions in Southern California. The Committee discussed the study approach and the potential uses of the results. The Committee approved the staff proposal with Ms. Carney abstaining, and requested additional information on the proposed study approach. Staff was instructed to provide additional information to the Committee.

INFORMATION ITEMS:
 

3)	Status Report on Fleet Rule Implementation Staff reported the status of implementing AQMD Rules 1191 (Light & Medium Duty Public Fleets), 1192 (Transit Buses), 1193 (Refuse Collection Vehicles), 1194 (Commercial Airport Ground Access), 1195 (School Buses), 1196 (Heavy- Duty Public Fleet Vehicles) and 1186.1 (Less-Polluting Sweepers), commonly referred to as the AQMD’s Clean Fleet Rules. For each of the rules, staff described enforcement statistics to date, number of alternative fueled vehicles deployed, and ongoing implementation issues by rule. Overall, continued challenges and issues include: 1) future uncertainty pending Supreme Court decision; 2) engine platform availability – leading to exemption requests; 3) vehicle cost premiums; 4) refueling infrastructure expansion; 5) performance issues – specific applications; 6) need for continued outreach to affected fleets. Supervisor Wilson requested that a listing of commercially available LEV or cleaner cars be distributed to local cities and municipalities reminding them of compliance details for Rule 1191. Staff committed to follow-up on this request prior to the next update of the LEV or cleaner listing. Supervisor Silva requested continued technical support for Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) from AQMD staff in dealing with LNG fueling and vehicle uses. Staff affirmed that guidance was available by request, for any local government fleet operation
4)	Report on Proposed Amended Rule 1186.1 – Less Polluting Sweepers and Rule 1196 – Clean On-Road Heavy-Duty Public Fleet Vehicles This matter was continued to the May 28, 2004 meeting of the committee.
5)	Report on U.S. EPA’s Final Rule on 8-Hour Ozone Standard Zorik Pirveysian, Planning and Rules Manager, summarized U.S. EPA’s final rule on the new 8-hour ozone standard, which was issued on April 15, 2004. The South Coast Air Basin is currently classified as an "Extreme" nonattainment area with respect to the 1-hour ozone standard with a 2010 attainment date. The 2003 AQMP showed that significant reductions are needed to demonstrate attainment with the existing 1-hour ozone standard (0.12 ppm), and that the new 8-hour ozone standard (0.08 ppm) would be exceeded by 35% in 2010 despite the full implementation of the 2003 AQMP. A draft of U.S. EPA’s implementation rule on the new 8-hour ozone standard was released in June 2003. AQMD’s main concerns on the draft rule included: (1) opposition to revocation of 1-hour standard; (2) potential for backsliding (relaxation and delay of 1-hour ozone SIP measures); (3) 8-hour ozone classification based on expeditious attainment; and (4) applicability of 182(e)(5) measures. Phase1 of the final rule includes classifications of non-attainment areas and requirements relative to the revocation of the 1-hour ozone standard and the transition to the 8-hour standard. Under the U.S. EPA’s rule, the South Coast Air Basin is designated as the only "Severe-17" area, with an attainment date of June 2021, and the Coachella Valley is designated as "Serious" with an attainment date of June 2013. There are no "extreme" non-attainment areas under the U.S. EPA's implementation rule. The 8-hour ozone SIPs for these areas are due in 2007. Under the new 8-hour rule, the 1-hour ozone standard will be revoked in June 2005, removing 1-hour ozone standard obligations including attainment, conformity, NSR, penalties and sanctions. However, the obligation to meet the ROP targets for the 1-hour ozone standard will remain. Relative to anti-backsliding, the new 8-hour ozone rule requires that mandatory control measures (e.g., RACT, enhanced I/M, ROP) in the SIP for the 1-hour standard remain in place until the 8-hour standard is achieved. However, staff has serious concerns over the provision for discretionary control measures (i.e., AQMP measures) which could be revised or removed if they do not interfere with attainment or progress toward the 8-hour ozone standard. Staff will continue to work with U.S. EPA to further clarify this issue. Phase 2 of the 8-hour ozone standard rule is expected to be issued by U.S. EPA in August 2004. This phase of the rule will address basic plan requirements such as RFP, RACT/RACM, attainment demonstration and maintenance plans, modeling requirements, and 8-hour NSR. The implications for the AQMD of the new 8-hour ozone standard include issues related to: U.S. EPA’s approval of the 2003 AQMP (i.e., 1-hour ozone SIP), continuation of the 2003 SIP obligations/reductions, NSR impacts (e.g. major source threshold of 25 TPY vs. 10 TPY, offset ratio), and allowance for 182(e)(5) measures in the 2007 SIP. Dr. Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer, reiterated the major concerns relative to U.S. EPA’s final rule held by staff and supported by the Committee members. These include the revocation of the 1-hour standard and the corresponding 2010 attainment date considering that the 1-hour ozone standard is also a health-based standard; the potential for delay or relaxation of discretionary measures (particularly in relation to sources under federal and state jurisdictions); in the event that U.S. EPA does not approve the 2003 AQMP, the less stringent 1997/99 SIP will be the approved and operable SIP; and AQMD's lack of ability for incorporating the 182(e)(5) measures (i.e., long-term measures) into the 8-hour ozone SIP because of the new designation, such measures only being allowed for "extreme" areas.
6)	Quarterly Status Report on Mobile & Area Source Credits for RECLAIM Written report submitted, no comments.
7)	Rule 2202 Activity Report Written report submitted, no comments.
8)	Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives - CEQA Document Commenting Update Written report submitted, no comments.
9)	Other Business None.
10)	Public Comment None.

The meeting adjourned at 10:37a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE

April 23 2004


ATTENDANCE ROSTER
 

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