BOARD MEETING DATE: February 3, 2006
AGENDA NO. 31

Mobile Source Committee

SYNPOSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, January 27, 2006.  Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Jane Carney, Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting started at 9:02 a.m. Present: Committee Chair Jane Carney, Committee Vice-Chair Roy Wilson (via videoconference), and Gary Ovitt.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

1) Report on FY 2004-05 Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment
    Program

An overview of the FY2004-05 Carl Moyer Program with funding from SB1107 and AB923 was presented. Staff described that in response to the RFP, the program was greatly oversubscribed and all the proposals were evaluated based on the guidelines approved by the Board on July 8, 2005. A total of $19.6 million in project awards will be recommended to the Board for approval in February. The projects will result in NOx and PM reductions of 792 tons/yr and 23 tons/yr, respectively. Chair Carney requested that staff return to the Mobile Source Committee with a further discussion of how this program fits in with the District’s AQMP goals.

2) Report on Locomotive Idling Emission Testing

AQMD staff summarized locomotive emissions testing conducted for Proposed Rule 3502 – Minimization of Emission from Locomotive Idling. The emissions testing was conducted based on comments received from the railroad industry regarding the potential concern that there could be a trade-off in emissions from increased locomotive restarts if idling restrictions are implemented. The AQMD staff presented data from two contractors, Engine, Fuels and Emissions Engineering (EF and EE) and Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). The contractors tested four locomotives that were a representative sample of locomotives used by freight railroads. The results showed that there would be no trade-off in NOx or PM emissions from restarting a locomotive after it had idled for 30 or more minutes, and thus implementation of idling restrictions would produce a net air quality benefit.

3) Status Report on Proposed Rules 3501 and 3502

AQMD staff provided an update on Proposed Rule 3501 – Recordkeeping for Locomotive Idling and Proposed Rule 3502 – Minimization of Emissions from Locomotive Idling. At the November Mobile Source Committee, Governing Board members had expressed concerns regarding the enforceability of the proposed rules. AQMD staff provided a summary of revisions to the proposed rules that were made to improve the enforceability and clarity of the proposed rule. Key revisions to the proposals included specifying additional information that could be used to verify recordkeeping data, restructuring idling requirements, elimination of unnecessary exemptions, adding a circumvention provision, commitment to enforcement staff to ensure compliance, and stipulating how penalties would be assessed. The AQMD staff explained that there are two remaining key issues that the railroads have raised that include the need for the proposed rules and the AQMD’s legal authority to implement the proposed rules.

4) Report on Port-Related Emission Testing

Dr. Wayne Miller of UC Riverside provided a brief summary of the emissions studies that have been conducted at the Port of Los Angeles. The presentation focused on the locomotive study. Field measurements of both criteria pollutants and air toxics were conducted. The emissions testing has found that the EC/OC ratio increases with increasing engine notch setting; formaldehyde is the dominant carbonyl for all notches; benzene is the dominant light air toxic hydrocarbon; and naphthalene is the primary PAH. Staff will ask Dr. Miller to return to the Committee to discuss studies on port sources other than locomotives.

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 10:23 a.m.

Attachment
Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE
JANUARY 27, 2006
ATTENDANCE ROSTER

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