BOARD MEETING DATE: March 4, 2005
AGENDA NO. 24

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, February 25, 2005.
Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Jane Carney, Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting started at 9:00 a.m. Present: Committee Chair Jane Carney, Committee Vice Chair Roy Wilson and Board Assistant Jeff Catalano (via videoconference), and Committee Member Jim Silva. Absent: Committee Member Ronald Loveridge.

INFORMATION ITEMS:
 

1)	Guidance Document for Addressing Air Quality Issues in General Plans and Local Planning Carol Gomez, Transportation Programs Planning and Rules Manager, gave a brief presentation to the Committee. In 2002, the initial draft of a model air quality element was released, then revised and re-released in November 2004. Public consultation meetings were held November 2004 through January 2005. The Guidance Document addresses six topics: land use, transportation, stationary sources, reduction of fugitive dust, energy, and public education and citizen awareness. Each of these topics is addressed in a 3-tier format containing examples of goals, objectives, and policies/strategies. The document has been revised to incorporate key public comments: a) expanded discussion of general plan formats; b) suggestion to consider site design features as mitigation measures, as an alternative to buffer zones; c) clarification to many of the policies to emphasize local discretion; d) expanded the discussion to provide rationale for the suggested policies/strategies in the Transportation, Energy, and Public Awareness chapters; and e) added two appendices to the document. A copy of the Coachella Valley Model Dust Control Ordinance and a list of potential funding information for the suggested policies/strategies were added. While revisions have been made, a number of outstanding issues remain. The comment was made that the air is getting cleaner and the associated cancer risk is diminishing; therefore, the suggested policies may not be necessary. Staff’s response to this comment is that emission reductions from engine standards have a lengthy fleet turnover period; growth projections will off-set some of the progress made; while regional progress will be obtained, there is the issue of localized impacts; and local governments can implement policies that could reduce emission impacts in the near term. Another comment made was that the document should be reorganized to highlight the importance of reducing stationary and mobile source emissions, not on land use decisions as a strategy. In response, staff is expanding the background section discussion of on-going local, state, and federal regulatory and incentive programs. The organization of the document will remain the same, since the primary focus of this document is to assist local governments who are making land use decisions. Staff has heard that due to the effectiveness of Rule 403 – Fugitive Dust, it is unnecessary to suggest local governments adopt ordinances or additional policies for fugitive dust. Staff is revising the document to remove any duplicative requirements. The suggested policies will assist local governments in adopting dust controls tailored to local or project specific needs. The following comments regarding the format of the document where made: a) to add examples of air quality policies and ordinances, and b) to reformat the document in the identical 4-tier approach used by the State Guidelines. Regarding the examples request, the document does contain a list of local governments that have adopted air quality elements; however, in future revisions of the document we plan to include examples and internet links. In regard to the 4-tier approach, our document utilizes a 3-tier approach which closely parallels the State Guidelines. Staff received comments that this format was helpful. As this is a "living document," staff will continue to obtain feedback on this issue and will update the document accordingly. Comments from several attendees at the meeting included the following concerns. Concern was expressed that release of the document will negatively affect affordable housing production, thereby leading to housing affordability issues. Concern was also expressed that fugitive dust text is duplicative to related goals in the District’s Rule 403, resulting in multiple requirements for developers to track. Staff noted these comments. This item will be taken to the Board for approval in April. Once approved, staff will begin local government outreach; and will develop a web page to provide information and resources to assist local governments in their air quality decision-making process.
2)	Update on Carbon Monoxide Attainment Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan Joe Cassmassi, Senior Meteorologist, Planning and Rules, updated the committee on the status of the CO Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan. The discussion focused on the selection of the Clean Data Policy, CO on-road conformity budget development, the public process, and comments received addressing the impacts of the proposed action. In addition, the Committee members inquired about the locations of the public meetings and outreach to the environmental community.
3)	Ultrafine Particles Dr. Jean Ospital, Health Effects Officer, made the presentation in response to a request from Board Member Bea LaPisto-Kirtley, requesting staff prepare a summary report on ultrafine particles. Topics included ambient levels, composition, formation, control technologies and health effects. Staff is preparing a written report summarizing the findings for the Committee.
4)	Update on Localized Significance Thresholds Susan Nakamura, Planning and Rules Manager, provided an update on the localized significance thresholds (LSTs). The Governing Board adopted the LST analysis methodology at the October 2003 public hearing. As part of the adoption, the Board directed staff to: conduct a pilot program and field test; expand the list of sample construction projects used by local planners to implement the LSTs; identify additional mitigation measures; and report back to the Mobile Source Committee by May 2004. Staff reported that the pilot study and field study have been completed. Based on the field survey of construction sites, staff revised sample construction scenarios in the guidance document. The sample construction scenarios were expanded from three to five; emission factors for on- and off-road mobile sources were updated; and additional mitigation measures were identified. The sample construction scenarios in the guidance document do not exceed any applicable LSTs. The sample projects reduce the need to perform calculations by planners. They can use the scenarios directly from the guidance documents or they can modify or tailor them to their needs. AQMD staff recommended that the LST methodology be implemented for new permit application projects where the AQMD is the lead agency and that staff begin providing comments recommending lead agencies perform the LST analysis as part of AQMD’s intergovernmental review responsibilities. Committee Chair Carney requested that staff report back to the Mobile Source Committee in six months to provide a status report on program implementation.
5)	Rule 2202 Activity Report Rule 2202 Summary Status 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 10:15 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 25, 2005
 

ATTENDANCE ROSTER
 

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