BOARD MEETING DATE: March 2, 2007
AGENDA NO. 7

Amend Emission Testing Contract with West Virginia University to Include Refuse Trucks from City of Los Angeles

SYNOPSIS:

In August 2004, the City of Los Angeles committed to evaluate and conduct emissions tests on four of its natural-gas refuse trucks.  In July 2006, the Board approved execution of a contract with West Virginia University (WVU) to conduct in-use emissions tests of 15 Model Years 2004 and 2005 heavy-duty diesel trucks.  In order to minimize administrative expenses, the City of Los Angeles has requested to join the AQMD-WVU program to perform the evaluation of the four natural-gas refuse trucks and to include eight diesel refuse trucks.  This action is to amend the WVU contract to include the City of Los Angeles.  The additional cost for this emission testing of 12 refuse trucks for the City of Los Angeles will not exceed $500,000 and will be funded entirely by the City of Los Angeles.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, February 23, 2007, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Authorize the Chairman to enter into an Agreement with the City of Los Angeles to receive $500,000 for in-use emissions testing of refuse truck.
2. Recognize upon receipt, $500,000 in revenue from the City of Los Angeles into the Clean Fuels Fund; and
3. Authorize the Chairman to amend the West Virginia University contract to include the in-use emissions testing of refuse trucks from the City of Los Angeles in an amount not to exceed $500,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

On August 2, 2004, the Executive Officer granted an exemption under Rule 1193 to the City of Los Angeles for the purchase of diesel waste-collection vehicles because only four  rule compliant vehicles were available out of a total of 120 vehicles that the City needed to purchase.  As a condition of this exemption, the City of Los Angeles was obligated to install diesel particulate filters (DPFs) on the diesel vehicles.  As a condition of the exemption, the City committed to conduct performance evaluations and in-use emission testing of the four rule compliant natural-gas refuse vehicles.    In addition to the commitment to conduct the in-use emissions testing, the City agreed to meet with AQMD staff on an ongoing basis to discuss issues related to the performance of the 120 vehicles and other related issues relative to the implementation of the AQMD fleet rules. 

The City of Los Angeles is now ready to conduct the evaluation and in-use emission testing of the natural-gas vehicles. Recently, the City indicated a desire to conduct the in-use testing and requested AQMD staff assistance to identify a test facility and discuss the appropriate protocols to conduct the tests.  In addition, the City asked if they could piggyback on any testing that is currently being conducted.  Last July 14, 2006, the Governing Board approved execution of a contract with West Virginia University (WVU) to conduct in-use emissions testing of 15 Model Years 2004 and 2005 Class 8 heavy-duty diesel trucks.  In order to minimize its administrative expenses, the City of Los Angeles has requested to join AQMD-WVU Contract No. 07054 to perform the evaluation of the four natural-gas refuse vehicles and to include eight diesel refuse vehicles in this testing.

Proposal

This action is to: 1) authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with the City of Los Angeles to receive funding for emission testing of the City of Los Angeles’ natural gas and diesel trucks; and 2) amend AQMD Contract No. 07054 to include the emission testing of 12 refuse vehicles, which include four natural-gas and eight diesel vehicles.  The emission tests to be performed will be based on previous AQMD-sponsored in-use emissions testing of refuse vehicles using a modified William H. Martin test cycle.  Both regulated and unregulated pollutants will be measured.

Benefits to AQMD

The emission testing project for the City of Los Angeles will provide a better understanding and estimation of NOx and PM emissions from natural-gas refuse trucks and diesel refuse trucks, including those diesels with and without DPFs and with different engine models.

Resource Impacts

The contract amendment for the City of Los Angeles testing will be at a cost not to exceed $500,000 and will be entirely funded by the City of Los Angeles.  With this amendment, the total project cost will be $740,000.