BOARD MEETING DATE: May 4, 2007
AGENDA NO. 24

REPORT:

California Air Resources Board Monthly Meeting

SYNOPSIS:

The California Air Resources Board met on April 26, 2007. The following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Ronald O. Loveridge, Member
SCAQMD Governing Board

The meeting held was held on April 26 at the Cal/EPA Building in Sacramento. Key items presented are summarized below.

1. Reports to the Board

Update on Health Impacts of Fine Particle Components in California

Staff reported on the results of a recent study in California examining the associations between daily mortality and 19 PM2.5 components, including elemental and organic carbon, nitrates, sulfates, and various metals. The study evaluated data that was collected from six California counties: Fresno, Kern, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego and Santa Clara counties which represent 8.7 million people and 25% of California’s population.

The study supports the hypothesis that exposure to combustion-associated components of fine particles may lead to 8,200 premature deaths in California each year. The study also suggests increased mortality risk in the cooler months (October through March) may be associated with seasonal weather inversions that limit the amount of clean air that pollutants can mix with. In addition, because residential wood-burning is more prevalent in the winter, increased concentrations of directly emitted PM are more likely.

Staff provided their monthly update to the Board on the status of State Implementation Plan (SIP) development for the federal 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 ambient air quality standards, focusing on PM2.5 attainment and approvability issues in the South Coast.

Staff presented the results of new analyses that examined cost-effective alternatives to close the PM2.5 attainment gap in 2014. Staff noted that, unlike the emission decreases in the mobile source sector that will occur over the planning period, areawide direct PM2.5 emissions in the South Coast will increase, largely due to population growth and activity.

With that in mind, staff indicated that the most cost-effective way of closing the gap in the South Coast would be to stop and reverse the growth in direct PM2.5 emissions using aggressive but feasible, local measures; namely a temporary moratorium on residential wood burning, an augmented regulation that reduces smoke from commercial cooking operations, and more stringent controlled dust regulations.

ARB staff used the South Coast’s air quality model to estimate the impact of reductions in residential wood burning and, based on the model, determined that as much as 0.9 ug/m3 of PM2.5 was attributable to residential burning. Assuming a strong enforcement program, and an 80 percent compliance rate, reduced wood burning between November and February would eliminate the attainment gap. Additional rules to reduce smoke from commercial cooking and to reduce dust could supplement wood burning restrictions, and provide greater assurance that the PM2.5 standard would be met.

Staff announced that the public hearing on the South Coast SIP will be held on June 21, 2007 in ARB’s El Monte offices.

The Board unanimously adopted an ATCM that will require all composite wood products sold in California to meet strict formaldehyde limits. Similar products sold outside of California are exempt.

Formaldehyde has both cancer and non-cancer health effects. Health risks from average formaldehyde exposures in California from all sources range from 86 to 231 excess cancer cases per million for adults, and from 23 to 63 excess cancer cases per million for children. Formaldehyde also has non-cancer effects such as eye, nose and respiratory irritation and has been linked to the exacerbation of asthma.

To ensure compliance, foreign and domestic manufacturers of composite wood products must use an ARB-approved “third party” lab to certify their products and clearly label the items as meeting California's emission requirements. Distributors, contractors, panel manufacturers, and importers will be held responsible for assuring their products comply. When ARB's standards are in full effect in 2012, annually there will be 500 fewer tons of formaldehyde in California's air.

As directed by the Board, clarifying amendments will be added to provide compliance testing flexibility, specify quality assurance requirements for manufacturers, and clarify several definitions in the rule.

Staff will report back each year to the Board on enforcement efforts to maximize compliance with ATCM requirements.

1. The Board approved funding for three research proposals that will improve emissions inventory information on particulate matter, and greenhouse gases associated with refrigerants.

2. Staff provided an update on progress made in implementing the Emission Reduction Plan for Ports and Goods Movement in California including: rulemakings, enforcement, technological development, public outreach, additional risk assessments and challenges faced.

Attachment
CARB April 26, 2007 Meeting Agenda