BOARD MEETING DATE: December 5, 2008
AGENDA NO. 24

REPORT:

California Air Resources Board Monthly Meeting

SYNOPSIS:

The California Air Resources Board met on November 20 and 21, 2008. The following is a summary of those meetings.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Receive and file.
 

Ronald O. Loveridge, Member
SCAQMD Governing Board

The Air Resources Board’s (ARB or Board) November meeting was held in Sacramento. Key meeting items are summarized below.
 

1.  Impacts of Climate Change on California: Scenarios Assessment Findings

ARB staff presented a summary of the impacts of climate change on California that will be published in an upcoming biennial report to the Legislature. The report will examine ranges of impacts under three future scenarios: business as usual, the International Panel on Climate Change lowest emission scenario, and an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The impacts studied range from sea level rise and California coastal areas that will be inundated, to increases in ozone concentrations in major nonattainment areas from air temperature. The report is expected to be released to the public in mid-December 2009.
 

2.  Consideration of the Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) Scoping Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in California

The Board conducted a public hearing on the AB 32 Proposed Scoping Plan that was released on October 15, 2008. Staff provided an overview of the Plan’s components, the process by which it was developed, and the schedule for implementation of Plan measures, followed by over ten hours of public testimony from individuals representing community groups, environmental and public health groups, local government, air quality management districts, and business groups, among others. The Board discussed issues, including the possibility of increasing the land use and transportation greenhouse gas reduction target, public health impacts, the role of local air districts, and potential design features of a cap and trade program. As planned, no action was taken and the item was continued until the December 11 Board meeting to provide the necessary 45 day public review period.
 

3. Amendments to the Current Small Off-Road Engines (SORE) Regulations

ARB adopted amendments to the small off-road engine (SORE) regulations to correct problems in emission reduction credit accumulation and to preserve the emission benefits forecast when the Board adopted the SORE emissions credit program in 1998. The SORE regulation reduces emissions from engines small than 25 horsepower, typically used in handheld, walk-behind, and small self-propelled equipment. When
the credit program was adopted, the staff underestimated the extent to which emission credits resulting from the early introduction of cleaner engines would be accumulated for future use to offsetting the sale of larger, higher emitting engines. Many manufacturers are using accumulated credits rather than introducing product lines with cleaner, tier 3 engines. The approved amendments will limit new certification credits to the expected five-year life of the equipment and discontinue the granting of production credits. Existing production credits will also sunset in 2010. The amendments also provide incentives to manufacture all-electric alternatives for SORE equipment
to accelerate the penetration of battery electric power systems in handheld and
walk-behind power equipment.
 

4. Amendments to the Current Regulations for Large Spark-Ignition (LSI) Engines With an Engine Displacement Less Than or Equal to One Liter

The Board adopted amendments to its regulation for large spark-ignition (LSI) engines, which reduces emissions for larger equipment such as portable generators, industrial lawn care equipment, and airport ground support equipment powered with gasoline, liquid natural gas, or compressed natural gas. The amendments will reduce the emission limits for new engines in the 0.855 to 1.0 liter range to 6.0 g/bhp-hr NOx+ROG, and further reduce the limit for these engines in 2015 to 0.8 g/bph-hr NOx+ROG. New engines smaller than 0.855 liters will be required to meet an emission limit of 8.0 g/hp-hr NOx+ROG. In 2020, these amendments will provide 8.4 tons per day statewide reductions in NOx+ROG beyond the benefits forecast in the 2007 State Implementation Plan.
 

Attachment (DOC, 54k)

CARB November 20-21, 2008 Meeting Agenda