BOARD MEETING DATE: February 1, 2008
AGENDA NO. 25

REPORT:

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, January 18, 2008.  Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file the attached report.

Ronald O. Loveridge, Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

Chair Ronald Loveridge called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Present were Committee Members Jane Carney and Gary Ovitt. Vice-Chair Roy Wilson and Committee Member Jan Perry, (left at 9:41 a.m.), attended via videoteleconference. Absent: Committee Member Bill Campbell. The following items were presented:

ACTION ITEM:

1. Issue RFP for Rule 2202 Air Quality Investment Program and Issue Program Announcements for Low Emission Leaf Blower Vendors

Shashi Singeetham, Air Quality Specialist, gave a presentation on the staff recommendations for the release of the Rule 2202 Air Quality Investment Program (AQIP) RFP for the second semiannual period of CY 2008, and for the issuance of a Program Announcement for the Leaf Blower Exchange program for CY 2008. Mr. Singeetham provided information on the AQIP background, RFP proposal ranking, selection criteria, and proposal due dates; the available funding for the period; a summary of the 2007 Leaf Blower Exchange program; and details of the Program Announcement.

Councilmember Perry requested that a Leaf Blower Exchange event be held in her District and stated that her District might be able to make a financial contribution towards additional units for exchange. Mayor Loveridge suggested that the exchange events locations be moved around, in order to avoid diminishing returns in participation.

In response to Ms. Carney’s question about the AQIP participation level in Rule 2202, Mr. Singeetham stated that the AQIP participation level in Rule 2202 is about 9%.

Ms. Carney also inquired about leaf vacuums. Staff informed the Committee that an RFP was released soliciting proposals in a competition that will financially reward U.S. university engineering students for developing a prototype of a rechargeable electric leaf vacuum that could meet the needs of commercial gardeners. Based on the proposals received, three universities have been selected to build a prototype.

Mayor Loveridge moved to recommend approval of this item. Supervisor Ovitt seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

2. Southern California Association of Governments 2008 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)

Rich Macias, SCAG’s Interim Director of Planning & Policy presented an update of the 2008 Regional Transportation Plan. The $569 billion, multi-modal plan, developed in consultation with local stakeholder agencies, outlines the transportation action plan policies, strategies and projects to occur over the next 30 years. The plan meets SCAG’s Regional Council priorities for the region, which include maximizing mobility, improving land use decisions and improving air quality. Challenges identified in the plan include population increases, air quality, energy, congestion, aging infrastructure, explosive growth in goods movement, aviation capacity constraints and financing.

Transportation strategies in the Plan propose to make the most of the existing system, reduce VMT, concentrate new development along existing and planned transportation corridors and offer alternatives to solo occupancy commutes. The Plan includes HOV lane and connector projects, mixed flow lane additions, toll and HOT Lane facilities, transit expansion, commuter rail, increased rail track capacity, grade separation projects, dedicated truck lanes, airport decentralization, high speed rail, and a freight component.

Plan expenditures are primarily directed to capital projects (52% or $294 billion) and O&M-Transit (29% or $164 billion). The leading revenue source is from local funds (51% or $288 bill). New revenue sources (27% or $156 billion) have been identified and include value capture strategies, local option sales tax extensions, user fees, state and federal gas excise tax adjustments, and private equity participation. Overall, the Plan is to achieve an 8% increase in vehicle travel speeds, an 18% reduction in delays, reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, and help meet air quality mandates.

Three public hearings are scheduled to occur during the month of January, with the Public Comment Period closing on February 18, 2008. The final Plan adoption is targeted for April 2008.

Committee members had questions relating to locomotive Tier 4 engines, rail electrification, and Maglev. At the request of the committee members, AQMD staff has committed to forward the proposed AQMD comments to the RTP to the Mobile Source Committee prior to submittal to SCAG.

3. Report on State Surplus Off-Road Opt-in for NOx Program and Proposed Rule 2449 – Control of Oxides of Nitrogen from Off-Road Diesel Vehicles

Staff provided an update report on the proposed opt-in to the state Surplus Off-Road Opt-In for NOx (SOON) program. Under the state regulation, air districts must formally opt-in to the SOON program and develop additional administrative guidelines to implement the SOON program. To implement the SOON program, staff is proposing a rule (Proposed Rule 2449) that would incorporate by reference the state regulation. As part of the proposed rule, staff prepared a draft PR 2449 Administrative Guidelines, which was released as part of the set hearing on January 4, 2008. The PR 2449 Administrative Guidelines use the Carl Moyer Program Guidelines and the AQMD Policies and Procedures as the basis for the SOON program. Additional administrative guidelines are proposed to reflect the criteria of the SOON program. These criteria include vehicle qualification/eligibility, reporting requirements, operational requirements, and project award.

Staff indicated that the SOON Regulation when fully implemented would achieve 12 tons/day of NOx emission reductions by 2014. Staff estimates that about 100 to 150 fleets or about 1,000 to 1,500 off-road diesel vehicles would be affected by the SOON Program. It is estimated that $120 million of funding would be needed to obtain the 12 tons/day of NOx emission reductions. CARB is in the process of finalizing the SOON Regulation along with the base statewide regulation. Both regulations would need to be submitted by April 5, 2008 to the California Office of Administrative Law for approval.

Relative to the Public Hearing scheduled for the Board’s February 2008 meeting, staff conducted a public workshop on December 4, 2007 and received five written comments by the close of comment period. In addition, a SOON Implementation Working Group was formed to provide input and comments in the development of the draft PR 2449 Administrative Guidelines. In addition, staff has held meetings with the construction industry, individual public and private fleets, and CARB. Lastly, a workshop was held on January 16, 2008 relative to the Program Announcement on the SOON funding (released by the Board in November 2007).

Staff discussed the some of the key issues raised including fleet eligibility, award criteria, contract duration, flexibility to operate outside of the South Coast District region, co-funding, voluntary versus mandatory program, equitable distribution of funds, availability of repower/retrofit solutions, and compliance plan submittal. A majority of the issues are addressed through the revised draft PR 2449 Administrative Guidelines. The cost impacts are minimized through the funding caps and distribution of funds in the Program Announcement. Staff provided an example of the maximum funding a single entity could potential receive. Staff indicated that the projects do not have to be completed in the same year since the SOON compliance targets are three years apart.

Staff concluded with its recommendation that the Board consider opting-in to the SOON Regulation and adopt PR 2449.

4. Update on Fleet Rules

Due to time constraints, this item was carried over to the February meeting.

5. Review of AQMD Interaction and Support of the Clean Cities Coalitions in the Basin

Due to time constraints, this item was carried over to the February meeting.

6. Rule 2202 Activity Report

Written report submitted. No comments.

7. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives – CEQA Document Commenting Update

Written report submitted. No comments.

8. Other Business

None

9. Public Comment

None

The meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.

Attachment

Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE MEETING
JANUARY 18, 2008 - ATTENDANCE ROSTER