BOARD MEETING DATE: June 6, 2008
AGENDA NO. 13

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Authorize the Chairman to execute an agreement with CARB under which CARB will provide $20,000 for additional measurement and data analysis for the Remote Sensing Technology Feasibility Study to Measure Locomotive Emissions (AB 1222).

2. Upon receipt from CARB, recognize $20,000 into the General Fund.

3. Appropriate $20,000 from the General Fund, Undesignated Fund Balance to the Science and Technology Advancement FY 2007-08 Budget, Professional and Special Services Account for the additional measurement and data analysis for the Remote Sensing Technology Feasibility Study to Measure Locomotive Emissions (AB 1222).

4. Authorize the Chairman to amend Contract No. 07209 with Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc. (ESP) for an additional amount not to exceed $20,000 to conduct further measurement and data analysis for the Remote Sensing Technology Feasibility Study to Measure Locomotive Emissions (AB 1222) from the Science and Technology Advancement FY 2007-08 Budget, Professional and Special Services Account.
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

AB 1222 (Jones, Chaptered October 6, 2005) requires CARB to conduct a pilot program to determine emissions from locomotives, using remote sensing devices. AB 1222 also requires CARB to establish an Advisory Group comprised of recognized experts in the field of RSD and locomotive technology, representatives of citizen community groups, South Coast AQMD, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD), Union Pacific Railroad, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. The specific objectives of the pilot program are to determine whether remote sensing devices can accurately and reliably determine, with a reasonable level of precision, the levels of emissions from locomotives and whether the measured results can be calibrated to determine compliance with applicable federal emission certification levels.

AB 1222 specifies that the railroads shall contribute up to a combined maximum of $200,000 towards implementing the pilot program and the AQMD shall contribute the remainder of the costs not to exceed $300,000 for a combined total of $500,000. After the development of the work plan and cost estimates, additional funding was provided by CARB ($100,000), Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD ($25,000), the railroads ($70,000) and the AQMD ($70,000) bringing the combined total for the program to $765,000. Subsequent to the start of the measurement element of the program, the Advisory Group requested additional in-use measurements and analyses to better analyze locomotive emissions. The Advisory Group also recognized the need to test and collect more data at the in-use line haul locomotive sites to provide a larger database, and to address unanticipated sampler hardware and software performance problems. The additional analysis is estimated to be $20,000. CARB has agreed to provide $20,000 for the additional analysis.
 

Proposal

Staff is recommending that the Board execute an agreement with CARB to provide the additional $20,000 for the additional analysis for the AB 1222 Remote Sensing Technology Feasibility Study to Measure Locomotive Emissions. Upon receipt from CARB, the $20,000 would be recognized into the General Fund and $20,000 would be appropriated from the Undesignated Fund Balance to the Science and Technology Advancement FY 2007-08 Budget, Professional and Special Services Account to conduct the additional measurements and analysis for the AB 1222 pilot program. In addition, staff is requesting that the Board amend the contract with Environmental Systems Products Holdings, Inc. (the contractor conducting the in-use measurements and analyses) (Contract No. 07209) for an additional $20,000 to conduct the technology evaluation, data collection and analysis associated with completing the AB 1222 Remote Sensing Technology Feasibility Study to Measure Locomotive Emissions as requested by the AB 1222 Advisory Group.
 

Benefits to AQMD

As emission contributions from stationary sources become a smaller component of California’s emissions inventory, the focus has been primarily directed at mobile source emissions. Mobile source emissions (both on-road and off-road) represent a major category of the emissions of both ozone and fine particulate matter forming pollutants, and locomotives emit significant levels of ozone forming pollutants, particularly in the Sacramento Metro Area and in the South Coast Air Basin (equivalent to that of approximately 1.5 million automobiles). This, combined with the close proximity of many rail yards and tracks to communities, demonstrates the necessity of ensuring that only the cleanest locomotives operate in California. Successful implementation and validation of remote sensing devices will allow deployment of such devices across the railroad corridors in both Northern and Southern California to identify high emitting locomotives and mandate necessary steps to reduce their emissions. The potential reductions in emissions could be substantial and the mitigation in health impacts from such reductions would be significant.

As such, staff is proposing that the AQMD continue the efforts of demonstrating remote sensing technology as prescribed under AB 1222 (Jones) to ensure a complete and thorough implementation of all aspects of this pilot study.
 

Resource Impacts

The additional analysis would cost approximately $20,000. CARB has agreed to provide $20,000 for the additional analysis. Staff is requesting the Board to recognize and receive $20,000 from CARB into the General Fund and appropriate $20,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance to the Science and Technology Advancement FY 2007-08 Budget, Professional and Special Services Account to conduct the additional measurements and analysis.