BOARD MEETING DATE: October 1, 2004
AGENDA NO. 23

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, September 24, 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), Jim Silva and William Craycraft. Absent: Committee Member Ron Loveridge.

ACTION ITEM:
 

1)

Execute Contracts for AQIP Proposals Received During Fourth Quarter of 2003 and First Semi-Annual Period of 2004 Shashi Singheetham, Air Quality Specialist, gave a presentation on the Air Quality Investment Program (AQIP) under Rule 2202. Report elements included: emission reduction targets, project selection process, summary of available funding, proposals received and funding recommendations. The projects were graded in seven separate categories and ranked by score. Staff recommended the top five of the highest scoring proposals for approval.   The following five contracts were recommended:

a)	OceanAir Environmental (Project #1) - Clean air upgrade of two locomotive engines in an amount not to exceed $700,000.
b)	OceanAir Environmental (Project #2) - Clean air upgrade of tugboat "Brynn Foss" in an amount not to exceed $460,000.
c)	Sukut Equipment Inc. – Repower of five diesel powered scrapers in an amount not to exceed $446,450.
d)	OC & Quinn Shepherd Machinery - Repower of two diesel-powered scrapers in an amount not to exceed $261,904.
e)	AQMS, LLC – Scrap old vehicles under Rule 1610 in an amount not to exceed $598,955

INFORMATION ITEMS:
 

2)	Status Report on Rule 1194 – Commercial Airport Ground Access Dean Saito, Fleet Rules Implementation Manager, made a presentation regarding the status of Rule 1194, specifically addressing a previous request from the committee to address: a) impact assessment for a temporary suspension of Rule 1194, and b) an assessment of a $5,000 buydown of a gasoline (ULEV) Crown Victoria. Committee Chair Carney questioned the difference between the ULEV emission certifications and the gasoline and CNG Crown Victorias and was informed that there is a substantial difference between the ULEV certifications of a gasoline vehicle and a natural gas vehicle. The Committee was informed that the natural gas Crown Victoria just missed a SULEV level in the certification testing with CARB. Staff also provided a cost effective-ness analysis of a potential $5,000 buydown program for Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emitting Vehicles (ATPZEV), as well as the cost effectiveness of the current AQMD program to buydown a natural gas Crown Victoria to $10,000. The data indicates that it is not very cost-effective ($86,000/T) to provide incentives for the purchase of gasoline ULEV. Staff included a CO2 emissions analysis comparing the ATPZEV vehicles to SULEV, ULEV and LEV vehicles. Committee Member Craycraft brought up the issue of comparing vehicle sizes and market demand. There was a discussion regarding using Toyota Prius vehicles as taxicabs. Staff stated that recently three Toyota Prius vehicles have been entered in the taxicab fleet at the Burbank Airport, and the reviews by drivers and passengers have been very positive. To date, there has been no loss of fares due to limited luggage space. Staff noted that after 2004, Ford will no longer be producing natural gas Crown Victorias for taxicab fleets. Staff indicated that they are working with a company who is a third party converter to convert the 2005 MY gasoline Crown Victoria to a natural gas Crown Victoria achieving SULEV levels. AQMD is working with the company to achieve the on-board diagnostic (OBD II) requirements for 2005 MY vehicles. At present, there is no 2005 conversion kit available or certified for the Crown Victorias. The current gasoline Crown Victoria is currently certified as a ULEV vehicle beginning in 2003. Committee Chair Carney asked if there was a list available of all SULEV vehicles that are available as of the 2004 model year. Mr. Saito provided the list and copies were made available to those in attendance (see attachment). Chairman Carney stated this rule was created because of the accumulation of emissions along the overhang at the airports and that was one of the major reasons for this rule. There was some discussion regarding "airport days" and impact of CNG on those days. There were several representatives from local taxicab owners/operators. Many expressed their views regarding use of Ford Windstar and Ford Crown Victoria vehicles. They are faced with competition from the town car industry which is less regulated because it is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission. There was also discussion regarding the purchase of Windstars by some shareholders and how to comply with R1194 and have a choice of viable vehicles that are practical. Generally, they felt the choices available are not appropriate as taxicabs because of increased maintenance and collision repair costs associated with Windstars. There were also complaints regarding problems with natural gas Crown Victorias because of limited trunk space and mechanical repairs. It is difficult to find technicians able to repair the CNG Crown Victoria, in addition to the increased costs for repairs. They spoke in favor of suspension of the rule for two years. Staff was questioned as to their opinion regarding a temporary suspension of Rule 1194 requirements. Staff suggested that: a) with the likelihood of a third party conversion company making available a SULEV CNG Crown Victoria for the 2005 MR; b) there is an inventory of 2003/2004 ULEV CNG Crown Victorias presently available or could be made available; and c) as time proceeds, more and more compliant ULEV gasoline (2003 MY) Crown Victorias (used police vehicles) will become available to the taxicab industry, staff is not supportive of a suspension of Rule 1194 at this time. Committee Member Silva brought up a couple of questions for staff to address: a) regarding the use of 70,000 miles as a basis in their calculations; and b) whether a distinction should be made for owner-operator taxicab versus united or fleet operators. Staff responded they would be willing to use 60,000 miles in their calculations if that was the industry-wide figure. The Chair instructed staff to address at the November meeting a possible suspension of Rule 1194 for a two-year period as to owner-operator taxicabs only and also address possible incentives for owner-operator taxicab only for the purchase of new gasoline ULEV vehicles. The Chair indicated the Committee’s preference of having ULEV vehicles over LEV vehicles as these vehicles will be in use for the next five to six years.
3)	Status Report on Treatment of Emergency Vehicles for Rule 1196 Chairman Carney stated that Item 3 will be continued and that the LADWP has requested a continuance of Rule 1196 for 30 days.
4)	Update on Health Studies Staff presented a brief update on a recent Children's Health Study conducted by USC School of Medicine. Staff reported that in communities with higher levels of traffic-related pollutants, there was an increased percentage of children with clinically significant decrements in lung function compared to communities with low pollutant levels. Since the children were 18 years of age at the time of testing and at the end of their growth period, these reductions are likely permanent.
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 None.
8)	Public Comment None.

The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

Attachment

1. Attendance Roster
2. Model Year 2004 SULEV Passenger Cars

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 24, 2004

ATTENDANCE ROSTER
 

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