BOARD MEETING DATE: June 1, 2007
AGENDA NO. 32

REPORT:

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, May 25, 2007.
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 9:00 a.m. Present were Committee Member Jane Carney and Committee Member Gary Ovitt. Committee Members Roy Wilson, Jan Perry and Bill Campbell participated by video teleconference. The following items were presented:

INFORMATION ITEMS:

1) Report on Draft Final 2007 AQMP
An update of the Draft Final 2007 AQMP was provided to the Mobile Source Committee by Dr. Laki Tisopulos, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer of Planning, Rule Development & Area Sources. First, it was noted that the final CEQA and Socioeconomic Documents as well as the Draft Final Plan had been released earlier this week. The presentation summarized the general scope of the Plan in terms of total measures to be introduced and emissions reductions needed meet the annual PM2.5 standard in 2015 and the ozone standard in 2024. The discussion followed with a breakdown of the additional 74 TPD NOx emissions reductions needed beyond the base District and CARB plans to achieve the PM2.5 standard.

Out of discussions from the 3-agency meeting that took place in May, different proposals were floated to reduce emissions by the District, SCAG and CARB. Most noteworthy in the discussion of the AQMP were the two District particulate measures addressing, under-fire charbroiling and wood smoke from fireplaces and wood stoves and SCAG’s two new transportation measures. Board members in attendance questioned the amount of emissions reductions that could be garnered from the PM2.5 measures and the likelihood of implementation for the wood smoke curtailment. The support for the measure was mixed with a note that if the measure goes forward that exemptions need to be included for burning in remote areas of the Basin where wood burning is the only viable source of heating and an alternative to wood burning may not exist. Dr. Wallerstein, commented that the introduction of the measures were in response to CARB’s assertion that the gap in emissions needed for attainment could be made up solely through the smoke prohibitions. He pointed out that actions are needed to be taken to reduce NOx to attain the 24-hour PM2.5 and ozone standards and that a smoke solution would not be a sufficient springboard for the ozone commitment.

The discussion moved to SCAG’s electrified high speed transport system and truck only lane focusing on the need for a backstop commitment from CARB to facilitate the measure. Several of the committee member expressed doubts that the state would provide a backstop and questions were raised as to the implementations schedule. The presentation concluded with a summary of the upcoming actions including another 3-agency meeting followed by the public hearings at the Governing Board Meeting on June 1^st and lastly the CARB Board Meeting on June 21^st.

2) Execute Contracts for Rule 2202 Air Quality Investment Program
Shashi Singeetham, Air Quality Specialist in Science and Technology Advancement, gave a presentation on the staff recommendations for the Rule 2202 AQIP for the second semiannual period of 2006. The presentation included the Emission Reduction Targets, Funding amount available; list of all the proposals received, and project recommendation for funding.  

Four projects, Peed Equipment, AQMS Automotive, Inc., LLC, Pick Your Part Auto-wrecking and Clean Energy were recommended for funding.

Board member, Dennis Yates asked how much time was allowed for completion of projects under AQIP to which Mr. Singeetham responded by saying that all projects are completed within one year but the benefits form the projects last for much longer periods.

Executive Officer Barry Wallerstein added that the AQIP projects were amongst the most effective and prompt in maintaining the time lines.

Supervisor Gary Ovitt moved to recommend approval of this action item to the Governing Board and Board member Jane Carney seconded.  The motion was passed unanimously.

3) Report on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell 2007 International Conference and Trade Show
A presentation was given by Larry Watkins, Program Supervisor in Science and Technology Advancement reported on his attendance at The Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Conference held in Vancouver, British Columbia. The intent of the conference was to offer and discuss the latest developments in global hydrogen and fuel cell research, business and government policy. It was very well attended with over 700 representatives from numerous governments, universities, businesses and partnership organizations. Delegates from Canada, US, Germany, Denmark, UK, France, Japan, Norway, Italy, Korea, China and Sweden gave over 150 oral presentations, 90 posters.

Many of the presentations offered the latest scientific breakthroughs, commercial opportunities and policy developments by various government agencies throughout the world. The Trade Show portion of the conference allowed inspection of state-of-the-art in hydrogen and fuel cell products, technologies and demonstrations. Temporary & portable hydrogen fueling equipment was one of the highlights as they may ease infrastructure burden in near future. A number of new products based on fuel cell technology were highlighted as being able to meet ongoing commercial niche markets.

4) Rule 2202 Annual Update Report
Carol Gomez, Planning and Rules Manager in Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources, made the presentation on this item. Rule 2202 requires employers with 250 or more employees on a full or part-time basis to implement an emissions reduction program to reduce mobile source emissions generated by employee commutes during peak hours. Employers may select one of three program options to comply with Rule 2202: an Employee Commute Reduction Program (ECRP), Emissions Reduction Strategies (ERS), or an Air Quality Investment Program (AQIP).

The presentation was divided into four sections. The first section provided background information on rule implementation, applicability, compliance options, and information on the good faith effort determination elements of the rule.

The second section described worksite operations that included data on employer participation in the available compliance options, the corresponding emission reductions, and information on the compliance for the diesel emission minimization plans and the clean fleet vehicles purchase/lease programs. Employer participation in the compliance options was as follows: 53% ECRP, 38% ERS, and 9% AQIP. Tons a day of emissions reduced, including inter-pollutant crediting was: 4.95 VOC, 5.40 NOx, and 29.87 CO. Fourteen employers filed diesel minimization plans in which they have committed to retrofit thirty-five, replace eleven, and remove three pieces of off-road diesel equipment. Seven employers complied with the clean fleet purchase lease program, by purchasing or leasing thirty-three ULEV passenger vehicles or light –duty trucks and five SULEV medium-duty trucks.

The third section contained outreach information describing training for employee transportation coordinators (ETCs); the Transportation Program internet web site; and meetings held with consultants, Transportation Management Associations (TMAs), employers, and rideshare agencies.

The last section contained information on program compliance that includes an audit process triggered by complaints and/or staff requests.

Staff will continue to provide outreach and technical assistance to the regulated community and stakeholders. Rule 2202 continues to make steady progress towards reducing mobile source emissions.

5) Rule 2202 Activity Report
Written report submitted. No comments.

6) Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives
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 10:30 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

  SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE
MAY 25, 2007
ATTENDANCE ROSTER