BOARD MEETING DATE: May 5, 2006
AGENDA NO. 6
Amend Contract for Coachella Valley PM10 Clean Streets Management Program
SYNOPSIS:
Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) has been overseeing a PM10 Clean Streets Management Program as part of the Coachella Valley PM10 SIP. CVAG indicated that in order to continue the program, they would need additional funding assistance over the next three years. The AQMD is providing funding assistance to the program, while CVAG is seeking additional federal funding that would sustain the program. However, CVAG indicated that the federal government has not yet made a final determination on funding. CVAG is requesting additional AQMD funding support to cover the program in the short-term and will reevaluate the program based on the federal government’s decision. This action is to amend the existing contract with CVAG for funding the Coachella Valley Clean Streets Management Program with an additional $500,000 from the Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund and extending the contract for a period of up to one year.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, April 28, 2006, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the Executive Officer to amend the existing contract (Contract No. 04186) with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments to increase the contract value in an amount not to exceed $500,000 from the Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund and extend the contract term by an additional one year period to support the Coachella Valley Sub-Regional Street Sweeping Program.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Entrained road dust emissions are one of the larger source categories that contribute to the PM10 air quality in the Coachella Valley. The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) developed and implemented a Coachella Valley Regional Street Sweeping Program as a part of its Clean Streets Management Program in 1997. Such measures are an integral part of the Coachella Valley PM10SIP recently adopted by the Board to mitigate blow sand and its resultant PM10 through routine and post event street sweeping. As a result of implementing such measures, Coachella Valley has been recognized as a model for other PM10 nonattainment areas to follow.
Since the inception of the Clean Streets Management Program in 1997, CVAG’s Sub-Regional Street Sweeping Program has grown from its original fleet of seven CNG fueled regenerative air sweepers servicing approximately 40,000 curb miles to its existing fleet of 13 CNG fueled regenerative sweepers and other CNG fueled support equipment servicing over 52,000 curb miles.
The cost to fund the Coachella Valley Clean Streets Management Program is estimated at approximately $1,500,000 per year. CVAG has committed the use of the Coachella Valley’s share of federal CMAQ funds to provide 88.53 percent of the estimated costs. CVAG has also committed prior-year carryover AB2766 funds received by the local cities to provide the required 11.47 percent local match. In addition, the Board approved at its March 2004 meeting, the provision of $258,075 to assist in the implementation of the program.
CVAG recently indicated that the federal government has not made a final decision on whether the program could be funded under the new Transportation Act, SAFETEA-LU and would provide a decision within the next few months. Regardless, CVAG indicated that additional funding assistance will be needed in the interim since CMAQ funds will be depleted as of May 2006. Due to the need to continue the program, staff believes that funding assistance could be provided over the next six months until the federal government makes a final decision on the program. CVAG will be reevaluating the program once a decision is made by the federal government on other sources of funding.
Proposal
Staff believes that the Sub-Regional Street Sweeping Program is a vital program for the Coachella Valley to attain and maintain the federal annual PM10 ambient air quality standard. As such, staff is proposing that an additional $500,000 from the Rule 1309.1 – Priority Reserve funds be allocated to assist in the continuation of CVAG’s Regional Street Sweeping Program for a period of up to one year. The proposed action would be to amend the existing contract with CVAG to add an additional $500,000 and extend the contract period up to one year. CVAG estimates that the cost to implement the program is about $95,000 to $100,000 per month. Based on CVAG’s estimates, the recommended funding would be sufficient to cover the program until CVAG is notified regarding any potential federal funding. CVAG expects to receive a decision within the next six months. However, staff recommends that the contract performance period be extended one year to cover any unforeseen delays in the federal government’s decision.
The annual emission reductions from the program are listed in Table 1. Assistance at this time would enable CVAG to continue implementation of the program until decisions are made relative to continued federal funding.
Table 1
Estimated annual emission reductions (lbs/year) associated with the use of
21 CNG vehicles by Coachella Valley Association of Governments
PM
206,960
NOx
7,979
CO
14
VOC
1
Benefits to AQMD
Providing funding assistance to CVAG’s Regional Street Sweeping Program at this time will enable the continued operation of the 21 CNG vehicles and provide overall air quality benefits to the region. If funding is not provided CVAG’s street sweeping operations could be adversely effected. Staff estimates that the operation of the 21 CNG vehicles with this funding assistance will result in emission reductions of 206,960 pounds of PM10 and 7,979 pounds of NOx per year. In addition there will be some reductions in VOC and CO emissions with use of natural gas street sweepers.
Resource Impacts
Total funding for this project shall not exceed $500,000 from the AQMD Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund. AQMD’s Rule 1309.1 – Priority Reserve contains adequate funding for this and other projects.