BOARD MEETING DATE: September 8, 2006
AGENDA NO. 31

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, July 28, 2006. 
Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file the attached report.

S. Roy Wilson, Vice Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

The meeting started at 9:03 a.m.  Present were Committee Vice Chair Roy Wilson (via videoconference), Committee Member Jan Perry (via videoconference), and Committee Members James Silva and Jane Carney.  Due to schedule conflicts, the presentations were given in the order summarized below.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

3. Status of CARB Issues Associated With SCAQMD Proposed Light & Medium Duty Vehicle Remote Sensing, Repair, and Scrapping Program

Dean Saito, Planning & Rules Manager in the Technology Advancement Office, apprised the Mobile Source Committee of the status of the upcoming light-duty program involving the identification of gross polluting vehicles through the use of remote sensing technology.  The program includes a voluntary program to offer incentives for repair and scrapping of such vehicles. Mr. Saito also briefed the Committee of issues recently raised by ARB staff on specific components of the proposed pilot program.

Mr. Saito described background legislation that allowed air districts to approve a $2.00 registration surcharge for funding additional types of work programs under the Carl Moyer program, including light and medium duty vehicles and agriculture engines. He indicated that in February 2005 the Governing Board approved AB923 program funding which included apportioning $4 million dollars for a light/medium duty program.

Mr. Saito described the proposed light-duty pilot program as consisting of identifying high emitting vehicles; offering assistance for vehicle repair up to $500.00; and a vehicle retirement incentive of $1,000 and an additional $1,000 for low income eligible consumers upon documentation of a replacement of LEV or cleaner car.

Mr. Saito presented a graphic description of a remote sensing equipment setup typically on a freeway on-ramp and a flow diagram describing the sequence of events in the voluntary program.

Mr. Saito explained that the Board approved the issuance of a sole-source contract award to the Foundation of California Community Colleges (FCCC), a non-profit organization which currently operates under a contract with the State of California for purposes of implementing the Smog Check’s Referee Program. He indicated that the FCCC will be tasked to conduct acceleration simulation mode (ASM) testing for all vehicles included in the program for both repair and vehicle retirement.  He also indicated that the FCCC will be responsible for the database development of testing records and the outreach element of contacting potential consumers for program implementation. The sole source award was for $1 million dollars.

Mr. Saito went on to describe that the remote sensing component was initiated with an RFP issued in September 2005. AQMD staff received one proposal from Environmental Systems Products, a leader in RSD data collection programs in the United States and abroad. The proposal submitted by ESP was for the measurement of approximately 3 million records anticipated to produce approximately 1 million unique records.  Two teams will be operating over a 12 month period to collect this information.

Mr. Saito indicated that for the vehicle retirement component the staff released a request for quote and received a bid from Pick Your Part Auto Wrecking which will pay the District $15.00 per scrapped vehicle.  This entity has locations in all four counties of the AQMD and is currently an approved entity for AQMD’s Rule 1610 and the BAR’s vehicle retirement program. Mr. Saito indicated that the $15.00 per vehicle revenue will go back into the AB 923 restricted revenue account.

Mr. Saito also highlighted that the proposed AQMD pilot program will also include components which staff is hopeful can lead to further enhancements to California’s Smog Check program. These components include the sampling and testing of particulate matter emissions. Mr. Saito explained that California’s current smog check program does not include the measurement of PM.  He described how the AQMD staff is working with CARB staff and its contractor (UC Riverside) on designing a test procedure to measure PM in addition to the subsequent correlation work with remote sensors to identify high emitting PM vehicles.  Because of recent amendments to the Carl Moyer Program, the PM reductions are quantified with a multiplying factor of X20 and this could have a significant impact on cost-effectiveness estimates of the program. Other program components which will be included in the pilot program would include would be a low pressure evaporative test currently not included in California’s Smog Check program and the inclusion of a two-speed idle test currently not included in “enhanced area” Smog Check program. Staff believes that in congested areas like Southern California this additional test could result in added reductions with little resource expenditure.

Mr. Saito then covered the proposed timeline for the program.  He indicated that beta testing of the repair and outreach program will begin in August by the FCCC. The actually remote sensing teams will be deployed later in the year.

Mr. Saito then covered issues regarding the proposed pilot program raised recently by CARB staff.  The first issue deals with the Moyer program’s Administrative Cost Cap of 5%.  CARB staff has raised a concern that they consider as much as 50% of the program cost to be administrative cost.  CARB staff believes that proposed components of the pilot test program including remote sensing, outreach and solicitation, and database development can be considered administrative costs.

Mr. Saito indicated that AQMD staff believes that all three components are integral to the program and should be considered program costs:  remote sensing needed to identify gross polluters; outreach and solicitation needed because of the voluntary nature of the program; and database development to document the quantified reductions for audit purposes.

Mr. Saito added that an additional issue raised by CARB staff is that if the pilot program fails to achieve the Moyer’s cost effectiveness threshold of $14,300 the District could be required to buy down the program to achieve the cost-effectiveness threshold of $14,300. 

4. Informational Briefing and Technical Meeting on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Dr. Matt Miyasato, Technology Demonstration Manager, provided an update on two meetings hosted by the AQMD on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).  The first meeting was an informational briefing, which included a ride-and-drive, on June 22, 2006.  During the briefing, speakers from the AQMD, Southern California Edison, UC Davis, and the Plug-in Partners national campaign discussed the air quality, fuel economy and global warming benefits of plug-in hybrids as well as local and national efforts to commercialize the vehicles.  Attendees were also able to view a plug-in hybrid prototype Sprinter Van by DaimlerChrylser, and participate in a ride-n-drive of two converted Toyota Priuses to PHEVs.  Attending the briefing were a number of local elected officials and their staffs, representatives from area utility companies, local port officials, and area companies and businesses.  Because the CARB board meeting was held at the AQMD Headquarters that morning, board Members, including CARB Chairman Robert Sawyer, stopped by to inspect the vehicles after their meeting.

The second meeting on July 12, 2006 was the day-long Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Forum and Technical Roundtable that focused on technical issues related to advanced batteries and their effect on the development and commercialization of the vehicles.  This was the second in a series of technical roundtables hosted by the AQMD (the first was on ethanol in June as reported to the Committee last month).  The objective of the meeting was to identify key expert perspectives on battery capabilities, requirements, and other issues specifically for application to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.  Seven technical experts from the DOE, NREL, Sandia, Johnson-Controls, Southern California Edison, EnergyCS, and EPRI provided focused presentations on various aspects of PHEV battery issues.  A technical roundtable discussion by these experts was conducted in the afternoon to solicit input on desired research and development areas for near-term commercialization of plug-in hybrids.  Several key consensus items were identified by the panel:

• Current battery technology is too expensive for commercialization of an all electric range PHEV;
• Using the current hybrid electric vehicle strategy (charge sustaining architecture), smaller and less expensive batteries could be used to enable a PHEV with limited all-electric range within the next two to three years; and
• Near-term demonstrations, on the order of 100 to 200 vehicles, are important for providing early feedback into battery development.

AQMD staff presented the urgency to accelerate this timeline due to local emissions concerns and for the energy diversity and greenhouse gas emission reduction benefits.

Copies of the presentations from most of the speakers and the webcast archive file are available on the AQMD’s web site. 

1. Status Report of PM10 Air Quality in the Basin

Staff presented the recent trends of PM10 air quality in the Basin with emphasis on the Rubidoux monitoring station.  Rubidoux is the only site in the Basin that continues to exceed the federal standard (50.4 μ g/m³) with a PM10 design value for 2005 (54.8 μ g/m³).  PM10 data for the first two quarters of 2006 indicated an increase in the first quarterly average concentration while the second quarter was consistent with preceding years.   Dryer conditions that were observed in January and February contributed to the increase first quarter concentration.  Based on the data through to date, it is estimated that the annual average will exceed the federal standard and Rubidoux will fail to meet attainment by the end of 2006.

Staff outlined the actions taken over the past year to address the unique PM10 problem at Rubidoux including rule development and implementation, discussions with the County to improve street construction of gutters and sidewalks and the option of mowing open fields as opposed to tilling.  The likely actions that would follow a finding of non-attainment by U.S. EPA were also presented to the Committee.  The Committee directed staff to develop an action plan to expedite the development and implementation of measures to reduce emissions in the area.  In addition, the Committee further directed staff to identify the PM10 impacts at Rubidoux as an Environmental Justice issue.

2. Annual Report on AB 2766 Funds from Motor Vehicle Registration Fees for FY 2004-05

Staff gave an annual status report on the FY 2004-05 AB 2766 Subvention Program fund usage and program results.  AB 2766 was signed into law September 1990.  Current statute authorizes a $6 motor vehicle registration fee surcharge of which 40% of the first four dollars is subvened to local governments on a quarterly basis to implement projects that reduce mobile source emissions.

The financial summary of the program indicated a beginning balance of $28.1 million; funds received totaled $18.9 million; project spending totaled $20.3 million; earmarked funds totaled $19.2 million; and funds remaining after earmarking totaled $7.8 million.  Expenditures in the 11 project categories indicated that Transportation Demand Management, Alternative Fuels, Traffic Management and Public Transportation had the highest spending allocations with vehicle emissions abatement and market based programs having the least.  Staff also reported on the number of projects funded and quantified over the last six fiscal years.  During FY 2004-05, 397 projects were funded, of which 178 had reported emission reductions that resulted in approximately 4,421 tons of emissions (VOC, NOx, PM10 and CO/7) reduced.  Average cost-effectiveness was $1.01 per pound of emissions reduced.

AQMD staff provided ongoing technical guidance to local government staff through meetings, telephone calls and training sessions.  The overall summary of reports from local governments reflected an increase in emissions reductions, and in earmarked funds.

AQMD staff efforts will continue to focus on providing technical assistance to local governments and continuing to interface with CARB.  Staff will coordinate with Finance staff to monitor outcome of bi-annual audit results.  Staff will also coordinate with COGs and local governments to request more detailed program data on funds allocated towards COG sponsored programs.  The full staff report will be presented to the Governing Board at its September 8, 2006 meeting and upon its approval will be forwarded to CARB.

5. Staff Proposal for Calculating PM2.5 Significance Thresholds

Dr. Steve Smith, Program Supervisor of the CEQA section, gave the presentation recommending a methodology for calculating PM2.5 and providing recommendations for PM2.5 localized and regional significance thresholds.  The staff recommendation for calculating PM2.5 emissions is an indirect method in which PM10 is calculated using standard methodologies and emission factors and then applying the PM2.5 fraction of PM10 is applied to the result.  The PM2.5 fractions are obtained from the CARB inventories that are used for the AQMP.  Staff is recommending a PM2.5 localized significance threshold (LST) for construction of 10.4 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m³).  Staff’s recommendation for the operational LST is 2.5 ug/m³.  For the regional significance threshold for both construction and operation, staff is recommending 55 pounds per day, which is consistent with U.S. EPA’s definition of significant emission rate for PM2.5.  Dr. Smith summarized comments on staff’s proposal received from the PM2.5 stakeholder working group members and staff responses.  Finally, staff will be holding a public workshop on the proposal on August 9, 2006, and will bring the proposal to the Board for approval at its October 6, 2006 public hearing.

6. Rule 2202 Activity Report

Written report submitted.  No comments.

7. Report on Scientific, Technical & Modeling Peer Review Group

Written report submitted.  No comments.

8. Other Business

None.

9. Public Comment

None.

The meeting adjourned at 10:37 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE
APRIL 28, 2006
ATTENDANCE ROSTER