BOARD MEETING DATE: July 7, 2006
AGENDA NO. 29
Technology Committee
SYNOPSIS:
The Technology Committee met on June 23, 2006. Major topics included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the July Board meeting. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on July 28, 2006 at 12:00 p.m. in CC-8.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file.
Roy Wilson, Chairman
Technology Committee
Attendance: Committee Chairman Roy Wilson and Committee member William Burke participated by video-teleconference. Committee members Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta and Dennis Yates were in attendance at District headquarters.
JULY BOARD AGENDA ITEMS
- Appropriate Funds and Execute Sole-Source Contract to Conduct Remote Sensing Device Technology Feasibility Study to Measure Locomotive Emissions
On February 3, 2006, the Board appropriated $300,000 from the General Fund to the Science and Technology Advancement FY 2005-06 Budget, Professional and Special Services Account to conduct a feasibility study to measure locomotive emissions using remote sensing device (RSD) technology as required under AB 1222. However, a decision was not reached until recently on a contractor to conduct the study, and the $300,000 reverted back to the General Fund. In addition, CARB committed an additional $100,000 to ensure that all aspects of AB 1222 are implemented. This action is to enter into agreement with CARB to provide $100,000 for the AB 1222 study, appropriate $400,000 from the AQMD General Fund, and to execute a sole-source contract with Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc. to develop and implement the RSD feasibility study at a total cost not to exceed $400,000.
Moved (Yates), seconded (Burke), and unanimously recommended for approval.
- Execute Contracts for Technical Assistance in Goods Movement
On April 7, 2006, the Board approved release of an RFP to solicit proposals for expert technical consultation in goods movement operations and logistics. Three technical proposals were received and reviewed. This action is to execute contracts with technical experts to provide services at a total cost not to exceed $174,000 from the Clean Fuels Program.
Moved (Verdugo-Peralta), seconded (Yates), and
unanimously recommended for
approval.
- Transfer Funds from Clean Fuels Fund to FY 2006-07 Budget of Science & Technology Advancement and Authorize Withhold Payment on Completed Contract with Closed Account
Since FY 1999-00, revenues from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program have been directed to the Clean Fuels Fund. Periodically, funds are transferred from the Clean Fuels Fund to the General Fund to support AQMD activities directly related to the Clean Fuels Program. This action is to transfer $500,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to the FY 2006-07 Budget of Science & Technology Advancement, Services and Supplies Major Object, Professional and Special Services Account to support Clean Fuels Program activities. In addition, an expired Clean Fuels Program contract with an unpaid balance was administratively closed in the Finance and Accounting System. The AQMD has a contractual obligation to pay the unpaid balance, which requires Board approval.
Moved (Yates), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta), and
unanimously recommended for
approval.
- Issue Program Announcement for Carl Moyer Fleet Modernization Program and Execute Contract to Conduct In-Use Emissions Testing
Pre-1990 heavy-duty diesel trucks are high-polluting and contribute significantly to the South Coast Air Basin’s NOx, PM10, and VOC emissions. Pre-1990 trucks can emit two and a half times as much NOx and five times as much particulates as trucks meeting the current on-road heavy-duty engine exhaust emissions standards. The Carl Moyer program includes a heavy-duty on-road truck fleet modernization element under which incentive funds are provided to truck operators to replace pre-1990 vehicles with newer vehicles. This action is to release a Program Announcement to solicit projects to replace pre-1990 diesel trucks with Model Year 2006 diesel or natural gas trucks at a cost not to exceed $6 million contingent upon CARB approval of AQMD’s Fleet Modernization Plan, and to execute a contract with West Virginia University for $240,000 to conduct in-use emissions testing on heavy-duty trucks. The Board set-aside $6 million from the Carl Moyer Program for Fleet Modernization. Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund to conduct the in-use emission testing.
Moved (Yates), seconded (Burke), and unanimously
recommended for approval with
the amendment to limit the number of trucks
eligible for funding to five (5) per
company.
- Issue RFP for Pilot Study of Air Purifier Systems in Classrooms at Three Elementary Schools
On April 7, 2006, the Board directed staff to prepare RFPs for a pilot study of air purifier systems in classrooms and a demonstration of fenceline monitoring of refineries to be funded with Rule 1173 mitigation fees. The pilot study will involve design and installation of classroom air purifier systems and ambient air testing before and after the installation to determine the efficacy of the filtration systems. The fenceline monitoring project will demonstrate the feasibility of using fenceline monitoring to alert local schools of high air pollution levels. This action is to issue a RFP in the amount of up to $1,050,000 for a pilot study of classroom air purifier systems with Rule 1173 mitigation funds.
Moved (Yates), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta), and
unanimously recommended for
approval.
- Execute Contract to Demonstrate Ultra-Low NOx Burner for Large Industrial Boilers
The Gas Technology Institute and Coen Company have developed an innovative ultra-low NOx burner capable of operation at less than 5 ppm NOx on large industrial boilers. This action is to field-demonstrate the prototype burner on a working boiler. Of the total $300,000 project costs, the AQMD’s contribution is proposed to be an amount not to exceed $90,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The Southern California Gas Co. will also contribute $90,000, and the remaining $120,000 will be provided by Coen in the form of burner fabrication and installation services.
Moved (Burke), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta), and
unanimously recommended for
approval.
- Execute Contracts for Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program with Returned Funds from Incomplete Projects
The AQMD has administered its Carl Moyer Program since FY 1998-99, awarding more than $85 million in projects for purchase of low-emitting heavy-duty vehicles, engines, and equipment. Some of the awarded contracts have been returned by the recipients due to various reasons such as economic conditions and other business priorities. This action is to execute new contracts under the Carl Moyer Program with companies that were unable to receive funds in the last round of awards in February 2006, with turn-back funds in an amount not to exceed $9.1 million.
Moved (Yates), seconded (Verdugo-Peralta), and
unanimously recommended for
approval.
- Recognize Revenue and Appropriate and Reallocate Funds for PAMS and Issue Purchase Orders for Laboratory and Field Equipment
On May 2, 2006, the AQMD received the 14th year PAMS, Section 105 grant award from U.S. EPA, which allows the AQMD to move forward with the acquisition of equipment and complete the tasks for the current federal fiscal year. This action is to: 1) recognize revenue of $963,427 for Section 105 grant funds in the FY 2006-07 Budget; 2) appropriate and reallocate $899,684 to Science and Technology Advancement and Planning, Rules, and Area Sources FY 2006-07 Budgets; and 3) issue purchase orders for various laboratory and field equipment for a total amount not to exceed $819,684, the remainder to be spent on administration of the PAMS program. These allocations were discussed with and approved by U.S. EPA.
Moved (Yates), seconded (Burke), and unanimously recommended for approval.
OTHER BUSINESS - There was no Other Business.
Public Comment Period - There was no Public Comment.
The meeting was adjourned.
Attachment
A - Attendance
Attachment A – Attendance
Brett Franklin, Board Assistant....................................................... AQMD
Bob Ulloa, Board Assistant............................................................ AQMD
Rhonda Reyes, Board Assistant...................................................... AQMD
Chung Liu, DEO, S& TA............................................................... AQMD
Rick Pearce, DEO, Finance........................................................... AQMD
William Wong, District Counsel..................................................... AQMD
Kevin Durkee, Meteorology........................................................... AQMD
Fred Minassian, S& TA................................................................ AQMD
Rudy Eden, S& TA...................................................................... AQMD
Philip Fine, S& TA...................................................................... AQMD
Matt Miyasato, S& TA.................................................................. AQMD
Vicki White, S& TA..................................................................... AQMD
Dipankar Sarkar, S& TA................................................................ AQMD
Randall Pasek, S& TA................................................................... AQMD
Penny Cedillo, S& TA.................................................................... AQMD
Dory Kilgour, S& TA...................................................................... AQMD
John Billheimer........................................................................Enviro-Reality