BOARD MEETING DATE: April 4, 2008
AGENDA NO. 8

PROPOSAL:

Execute Contract to Cosponsor Remote Sensing Measurements of Emissions from On-Road Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles

SYNOPSIS:

Heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDV) are significant contributors to the Basin’s on-road vehicle emission inventory. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is seeking to conduct a study to examine how HDDV emissions are impacted by changing fleet regulations and new HDDV emission standards over the next few years. The proposed study is expected to obtain a database of on-road emissions from HDDV operating from 2008 through 2012. Field measurements are to be conducted at two locations in the Basin using one research remote sensing device (RSD) operated by the University of Denver in parallel to one commercial RSD operated by Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc. The total cost for this project is estimated to be $360,082. This action is to execute contracts with the University of Denver and Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc. to conduct this project at a cost not to exceed $199,041 from the Clean Fuels Fund.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, March 21, 2008. Less than a quorum was present for the discussion of this item; the Chair communicated their concurrence and recommendation that this item be forwarded for Board consideration with no approval or disapproval recommendation from the Committee.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute contracts with the University of Denver and Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc. to conduct remote sensing measurements of emissions from on-road HDDV during 2008 through 2012, in an amount not to exceed $199,041 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDV) are significant contributors to the on-road vehicle emission inventory in the South Coast Air Basin (Basin). There is a need for high quality historical on-road data of HDDV emissions over the next several years to track the impacts of new on-road mobile source regulations which are expected to significantly alter current in-use on-road heavy-duty emissions levels. Specifically, CARB’s Drayage Truck Regulation and proposed In-Use On-Road Heavy Duty Diesel Regulation will significantly change the on-road fleet beginning in 2010. The proposed study is designed to obtain on-road HDDV emissions baseline and to examine how HDDV emissions are impacted by changing fleet regulations and new HDDV emission standards over the next few years.

Proposal

The University of Denver (DU) proposes to conduct on-road measurements of HDDV emissions at two locations in the Basin using a laboratory-grade remote sensing device. The remote sensing device (RSD), called the Fuel Efficiency Automobile Test (FEAT) device, is capable of remotely measuring tailpipe emissions from vehicles, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ammonia. If urea or ammonia injection is used to meet tighter NO_x emission standards, the FEAT will be able to observe any ammonia slip. Also, vehicles using illegal higher sulfur fuel will be easily observed by the SO₂ detection system of the FEAT.

Initial field measurements are proposed to be in an area surrounding the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, and will consist of one week of observations for each year (over four years) at a suitable location where a significant number of drayage trucks is expected to be operating. The second location will be at a truck weigh station in the Basin. One suggested location is the northbound Weigh Station on Highway 91 south of Corona in Anaheim, CA, where the HDDV emissions had been previously measured by DU in 1997. In both locations, the side doors of the vehicles or other suitable identification locations will be digitally imaged and, from those images, in collaboration with the Ports and weigh station operators, the vehicles will be identified by make and model year. It is anticipated that the field measurement for this project will be carried out each spring in 2008 through 2010 and in 2012.

A commercial-grade RSD manufactured by Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc. (ESP) will also be employed in parallel to the DU equipment to conduct side-by-side comparisons of the two instruments. The ESP RSD is commercially available and has the capability to measure particulate matter (PM), another major pollutant of concern for diesel powered vehicles. Evaluation of PM emissions by the ESP RSD would provide important historical data since PM emissions from HDDV are also expected to experience significant deduction during the period of this study.

ESP will provide commercial-grade RSDs, operations training, and operator support to DU personnel to operate the ESP RSD along side the FEAT during each year’s two week study period. DU will be responsible for analyzing and reporting the data obtained from both the ESP and DU equipment. Each year during the period of this project three quarterly reports and one annual report (except for 2011) will be submitted by DU. In later years, the reports will analyze the prior historical record in context with the new data.

Benefits to AQMD

The AQMP relies upon the expedited implementation of advanced technologies in Southern California to achieve federal and state ambient air quality standards and to continue reductions in air toxic exposure. Remote sensing devices are among the technologies being considered for inspection and maintenance of HDDV in the 2007 AQMP. The proposed study will provide an updated on-road HDDV fleet emissions characteristics with state-of-the-art remote sensing technology. Data obtained from the study will be analyzed to better characterize in-use on-road heavy-duty vehicle emissions in the Basin and can be used to evaluate the impact of mobile source regulations and fleet turnover.

Sole Source Justification

Section VIII.B.2 of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. It is requested for the contract with DU that a sole source award be made under provision B.2.d.: Other circumstances exist which in the determination of the Executive Officer require such waiver in the best interest of the AQMD. Specifically, these circumstances are: B.2.d.(8) Research and development efforts with educational institutions or nonprofit organizations, and B.2.d.(1) Project involving cost sharing by multiple sponsors. This project will be conducted by the University of Denver, an educational institution. The cost will be cofunded by NREL, a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy.

For the contract with ESP, it is requested that a sole source award be made under provision VIII.B.2.c(1): The unique experience and capabilities of the proposed contractor or contractor team. ESP has more than 25 years’ experiences of providing the automotive inspection and maintenance industry with state-of-the-art equipment and solutions for vehicle emissions programs throughout the world.

Resources Impacts

Total cost for the proposed project is estimated at $360,082. NREL will fund the Weigh Station portion of the DU cost in the amount of $161,041. AQMD will fund the Port portion of the DU cost in the amount of $161,041, and the ESP cost for both measurement locations in the amount of $38,000. AQMD’s share of the total cost will not exceed $199,041. Details of the cost allocation are listed below.

Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund, established as a special revenue fund resulting from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code Sections 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code Section 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels, including the development of the necessary advanced enabling technologies. Funds collected from motor vehicles are restricted, by statute, to be used for projects and program activities related to mobile sources that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.