BOARD MEETING DATE: November 5, 2004
AGENDA NO. 25

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, October 22, 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 Ronald Loveridge and William Craycraft. Absent: Committee Members Jan Perry and Jim Silva.

INFORMATION ITEM:
 

4)*

Health Studies Update Dr. Jean Ospital, Health Effects Officer, presented a brief summary of a report written by Dr. Thomas Mack and associates on "Cancers in the Urban Environment." The report covered the period 1972 thru 1998 and focused on geographical differences in cancer risk in Los Angeles County. The report consists of several maps depicting census tracts with unusually high rates of 72 specific types of cancer. Dr. Ospital also presented some background material on the leading causes of death in California and the major risk factors for cancer. The study was conducted in part to look at geographic differences in cancer, and its relations to environmental exposures or other contributing risk factors. Dr. Ospital concluded there are six types of cancers that showed unexplained geographic distribution that were nonrandom: oropharyngeal carcinoma, small cell carcinoma of the lung, adenoma of the lung, papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, squamous carcinoma of the bladder, and diffuse mixed B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Reasons for these patters are unknown, but the study raises questions on whether geographical differences in certain cancers are related to environmental exposures. Additional study is needed to provide such answers. Committee Member Carney asked Dr. Ospital who funded the study, to which he replied that funds were obtained from several agencies.

* Agenda Item Number.

ACTION ITEM:
 

1)*

Issue Program Announcement for Production of Electric Lawn Mowers for AQMD’s Lawn Mower Incentive Program Fred Minassian, Planning and Rules Manager, Technology Implementation, made a presentation regarding the Electric Lawnmower Exchange Program. Mr. Minassian opened the presentation by making an announcement for next year’s Lawnmower Exchange Program to select the best possible product. The purpose of the announcement was to identify all potential manufacturers, assure sufficient numbers of units are available, and to acquire the best possible unit at the lowest possible price. The mower exchanges generate considerable emission reductions. The proposed 2005 events will cover four counties (San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles) and offer approximately 3,000 to 4,000 units to the public. The amount of funding has not been determined. The 2004 Electric Lawnmower Exchange Program consisted of five events in four counties: (1) at the California Speedway in Fontana; (2) at Diamond Stadium in Lake Elsinore; (3) at Verizon Wireless Park in Irvine; (4) at Hollywood Park in Inglewood; and (5) at the Air Quality Management District in Diamond Bar. There were approximately 4,000 units exchanged at a cost to the District of $206 per unit, and the customer only had to pay $100 per unit. Committee Member Craycraft asked what type of responses has AQMD received from the public as a result of this program, to which staff answered that in general responses have been very positive. The Public Affairs Office has compiled all of the responses, and there were only two complaints about the product. One of the complaints was the wrong type of equipment usage. In the other instance, the product was exchanged. Committee Member Craycraft asked staff to compile a brief summary of the responses received from this program for the Board Members, and staff agreed to comply. The motion was made by Council Member Craycraft for staff to compile a brief summary of all responses. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Loveridge to have staff report back. Committee Member Carney asked staff if there was a way to verify that people participating have not previously purchased one of the low-priced subsidized lawnmowers. There was a brief discussion on this subject, and how to ensure that people’s names do not appear several times for purchase of the units. Staff responded there is a record of all purchasers and that information can be provided. The motion was approved by all present that staff would also provide a summary of all purchases made to ensure that people’s names do not appear several times.

* Agenda Item Number.

INFORMATION ITEMS:
 

2)*	Status Report on Rule 1194 – Commercial Airport Ground Access Dean Saito, Planning and Rules Manager, Fleet Rule Implementation, made a presentation in response to several inquiries on Rule 1194. This item is a continuation of the status report on Rule 1194 for commercial ground access. At the September 24, 2004, Mobile Source Committee Meeting, several issues were raised: (1) rule compliant vehicle availability; (2) exemption when no funding is available; (3) incentive funding for gasoline Crown Victorias not cost-effective; and (4) future product availability. First, Mr. Saito addressed rule-compliant vehicle availability. There are no longer 2004 natural gasoline-powered Crown Victorias available. There are several that are in the process of getting funded but, for the most part, there are no longer any natural gas Crown Victorias available. However, there are used ULEV vehicles available as compliant vehicles (i.e., the Ford Windstar) and there are a limited number of AT-PZEV vehicles. Staff has evaluated that a rule amendment is not necessary for the following reasons: (1) there is a limited number of compliant vehicles available; (2) Section (e)(3) in Rule 1194 allows for an exemption when there is no funding available in the program; (3) all the funding is currently committed, with a recent purchase by Orange County taxicab associations of 30 natural-gas taxicabs; and (4) staff anticipates future product availability in 2005 with the third-party converter of Crown Victorias to natural gas, and as the gasoline ULEVs become more available. Police cars that have been converted to natural gas should also become more available as used vehicles in the future. Due to the Supreme Court Decision, the AQMD is not enforcing Rule 1194 on the private owner taxicab operators. Mr. Saito went into further detail in discussing compliance with Rule 1194 and product availability in 2005. Staff is recommending that amendments to Rule 1194 are not necessary and staff will continue to monitor the availability of the natural gas Crown Victoria and report back to the Committee. Staff will also monitor the availability of the used gasoline ULEV Crown Victorias. Committee Member Carney asked where the original funding came from, to which Staff responded that funding came from the AQIP program. Future funding would come from AQIP and would come before the Mobile Source Committee for approval. Vehicle availability would determine when the measure would come before the Committee. There would be a request to add more funding at that time to the program. Committee Member Craycraft raised the concern of stakeholders regarding the availability of refueling stations. Mr. Craycraft requested staff to bring the Committee up-to-date on the status of a state requirement which requires existing public fueling stations to make alternate fuels available at those locations when a specific threshold of alternate fuel vehicles is deployed. Staff responded they would provide that information at a future meeting. Committee Member Carney asked staff to advise the Committee on potential loopholes where some vehicles are counted and others are not in complying with this state requirement. Committee Member Craycraft stated that this provision requires existing fueling stations to implement alternate fuel for citizens when vehicle population approaches a certain number. The Committee would like to know the status of how some vehicles are counted and some are not counted for that purpose.
3)*	Destination 2030: 2004 Regional Transportation Plan Naresh Amatya, Project Manager for the SCAG, made a presentation on SCAG’s 2004 Regional Transportation Plan. Mr. Amatya explained that SCAG is required to develop an updated Regional Transportation Plan for projects that would need funding. The regional population in Southern California is expected to increase by about 38% in the next 25 years. The population has doubled over the past 40 years, and the number of motor vehicles has more than quadrupled during that period. The loads handled by the Port of Long Beach have increased by about 100% and prediction for demand placed on rail construction is expected to increase to over 400% by the year 2030. The trend in vehicle air traffic passengers was less than 10 million in 1968 and now is over 85 million. That is nine times an increase over the last 40 years and the demand is expected to increase even more. Air carriers for cargo demand have also increased tremendously. The 2004 RTP is focusing on transportation system preservation and expansion, as well as transportation demand management. The plan covers the I-15, I-710 and East-West Corridor expansions. Technology is the key to management of the transportation systems and is essential for traffic flow. Mr. Amatya presented several slides which depicted the corridor systems, toll lanes, mixed flow, and freight rail system, including proposed grade separation projects. The presentation briefly covered the airport system expansion which has been revised due to the elimination of El Toro as an option. SCAG’s regional plan envisions expansion for increased use at several regional airports, including March airport and an airport in Palmdale. Mr. Amatya discussed funding issues confronting SCAG relative to implementation of the 2004 RTP. One of SCAG’s proposed public funding strategies is to maximize motor vehicle fuel tax/user fee revenue by five cents in 2010 and one cent more each year thereafter through 2015. This would result in an estimated revenue of $21.7 billion. People may obtain additional information regarding SCAG’s 2004 Regional Transportation Plan by visiting the website at: www.scag.ca.gov. Committee Member Loveridge questioned the validity of assumptions for high level usage at March airport. Committee Member Carney asked how corridor improvements would be implemented and how far along are the projects. Mr. Amatya stated that SCAG is a planning agency and does not have any authority to implement the plans but can assist in moving the projects to the next step in the approval process. SCAG continues to make sure the plans are technically and strategically feasible.
5)*	Rule 2202 Activity Report Written report submitted. No comments.
6)*	Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives – CEQA Document Commenting Update Written report submitted. No comments.
7)*	Other Business Dr. Elaine Chang, Deputy Executive Officer for PRAS, informed the Committee that Board Member Bea LaPisto-Kirtley made an inquiry regarding the Lawnmower Exchange Program. Her inquiry related to whether the Lawnmower Exchange Program could be expanded to cover other lawn and garden equipment such as leaf-blowers. Dr. Chang reported that staff is currently looking into the matter.
8)*	Public Comment None.

* Agenda Item Number.

The meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 22, 2004

ATTENDANCE ROSTER
 

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