BOARD MEETING DATE: November 2, 2007
AGENDA NO. 32

REPORT:

California Air Resources Board Monthly Meeting

SYNOPSIS:

The California Air Resources Board met on October 25 & 26, 2007. The following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.

Ronald O. Loveridge, Member
SCAQMD Governing Board

The October meeting was held in Sacramento. Key items presented are summarized below.

The Air Resources Board (ARB or Board) was briefed on a recent study that examined the relationship between health impacts and traffic-related air pollutants among 1,600 asthmatics living in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties.  The researchers concluded that living near areas of high traffic increased the risk of frequent asthmatic responses by over 90 percent for the elderly, and 60 percent for other adults.  Increased risks associated with medium traffic areas were estimated to be 40 percent for the elderly and 25 percent for other adults.  The study was conducted using exposure data from 2000 and the 2001 California Health Interview Survey to follow the study subjects for one year.

The Board added seven new measures to the list of greenhouse gas emission reduction early action measures under the California Global Warming Solution Act of 2006, and added six new measures to the list of discrete early action measures. Early action measures are those that are underway or that will be enacted by ARB within the 2007-2012 timeframe. Discrete early action measures are those that will be adopted by ARB and be enforceable by January 1, 2010. With this action the Board has initiated the development of measures that are expected to reduce global warming gasses by 72 million metric tons measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (MMTCO₂E) of an estimated 174 tons MMTCO₂E that will be needed to meet the AB32 goal of reducing California’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

The new measures added to the list are:

Early Action Measures –

• Refrigerant tracking, reporting, and recovery program;
• Increase energy efficiency of California cement facilities;
• Blended cements;
• Additional energy savings measures (relatively inexpensive with short pay back times) for the cement industry;
• Low carbon fuels for cement production;
• Collaborative research to understand how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from nitrogen land application.

Discrete Early Action Measures -

• Green Ports (port electrification);
• Reduction of high greenhouse gases with high global warming potential used in consumer products;
• Reduction of perchlorofluorocarbons (PFC) from the semiconductor industry;
• SmartWay truck efficiency;
• Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF₆) reductions from the non-electric sector;
• Tire inflation program.

The Board adopted protocols for accounting for the voluntary sequestration of carbon on forest lands. The adopted protocols were developed by the California Climate Action Registry and are consistent with international standards. The Board also endorsed a process for the development of additional quantification methods to address specific issues related to public lands, urban forests, and to further encourage voluntary actions.

The Board approved the San Joaquin Valley PM10 Maintenance Plan and Request for Redesignation to Attainment. The San Joaquin Valley did not record any violations of either the current federal 24-hour standard, or the former annual standard, from 2002 through 2005.

The Board adopted regulatory amendments that will require used converters sold in California after January 1, 2009, to reduce emissions as effectively as catalytic converters now installed on new cars. The revisions will increase the control effectiveness requirements, currently 60 to 70 percent, to 95 percent, and will increase durability requirements from 25,000 miles to 50,000 miles. The tests used to determine compliance will also cost more, reducing the economic advantage of using recycled catalytic converters. The regulation is expected to significantly reduce the use of used catalytic converters in California.

The Board conducted a hearing on proposed regulations to reduce emissions from Diesel-powered commercial harbor craft operating within California and within California coastal waters. The proposed regulation would require Diesel engines in existing tugboats, towboats, ferries, and excursion vessels to meet U.S. EPA Tier 2 or Tier 3 emission standards by deadlines that are specific to engine model year and power rating. The compliance deadlines extend from 2009 through 2020 in the South Coast Air Basin, and from 2009 through 2022 in the remainder of the state.

The Board continued this item to its November 15, 2007 meeting and directed staff to look at several issues, including accelerating the statewide compliance schedule with a focus on ferries, and previous Moyer program investments.

The Board approved amendments to the Suggested Control Measure (SCM) for architectural coatings. SCMs are developed by ARB for voluntary use by air quality management districts to control volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the use of architectural coatings. The approved SCM is estimated to provide 15.2 tons per day in volatile organic compound emission reductions statewide excluding the SCAQMD, which has already adopted comprehensive architectural coating regulatory updates.

Attachment
CARB October 25 & 26, 2007 Meeting Agenda (link to CARB website)