BOARD MEETING DATE: June 6, 2008
AGENDA NO. 32

REPORT:

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, May 16, 2008.
Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Receive and file the attached report.
 

S. Roy Wilson, Vice Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

Vice Chair Roy Wilson called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m. Present was Committee Member Gary Ovitt, and Committee Member Jan Perry joined the meeting at 9:12. Absent were Chair Ronald Loveridge, and Committee Members Bill Campbell and Jane Carney. The following items were presented:

ACTION ITEMS:

1) Execute Contract to Conduct Systems and Performance Audits of Meteorological Monitoring Network

Staff presented a recommendation for the award of a contract with Technical and Business Systems, Inc. to conduct systems and performance audits of the AQMD Meteorological Network, in an amount not to exceed $60,000. The contracted audits will focus on the five AQMD upper air wind and temperatures profiling stations and additional surface meteorological stations. Staff presented background information on the project, the advertising of the RFP, the RFP evaluation process and panel composition, and the recommendation to award for this highly specialized work. Funding will be through the U.S. EPA Section 106 Grant for the PAMS program.

Committee Member Perry moved to recommend approval of this item. Committee Member Ovitt seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.

2) Execute Contract to Provide Technical Support for Coachella Valley Meteorological Network

Staff presented a recommendation for the award of a contract with Technical and Business Systems, Inc. to provide technical support for the Coachella Valley Meteorological Network, in an amount not to exceed $50,000. The contracted effort will provide field support of the meteorological stations, instrument testing, data management, and data analysis for this network that is used for wind event forecasting and exceptional event characterization. Staff presented background information on the project, the advertising of the RFP, the evaluation process and panel composition, and the recommendation to award for this highly specialized work. Funding for the first year of this effort is in the Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources FY 2007-08 budget.

Committee Member Ovitt moved to recommend approval of this item. Vice Chair Wilson seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.

3) Execute contracts for Rule 2202 Air Quality Investment Program and Leaf Blower Exchange Program

Shashi Singeetham gave a presentation on the staff recommendations for the Leaf Blower Exchange Program and Rule 2202 Air Quality Investment Program for the second semi-annual period of calendar year 2007. The presentation included slides on AQIP background, proposal ranking, selection criteria, details of the Leaf Blower Exchange Proposal, available funding for the period, list of AQIP proposals received and staff funding recommendations.

Committee Member Perry indicated that her staff was looking for a dealership and a venue to conduct a leaf blower exchange event in her Council District.

Both of the recommended action items were recommended for approval by Committee Member Ovitt and seconded by Committee Member Perry.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:

4) Report on Proposed Amended Rule 1610 – Old Vehicle Scrapping

Dr. Laki Tisopulos, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, reported on the Proposed Amended Rule 1610 - Old Vehicle Scrapping, scheduled for a Public Hearing on June 6, 2008.  Dr. Tisopulos stated that the objective of the proposed amendment to Rule 1610 is to be consistent with recent changes made to the California Air Resource Board’s Voluntary Accelerated Light-Duty Vehicle Retirement (VAVR) regulation as required by law.  Those changes include reinstating vehicle registration requirements from 120 days to 24 months prior to vehicle scrapping, removing a restriction on individuals selling multiple vehicles and adding and revising some definitions for clarity.  Dr. Tisopulos also discussed issues relating to continuous registration, which include the licensed scrapper’s desire that lack of insurance should not be considered a lapse in vehicle registration.  Also, licensed scrappers have commented that they should be able to rely solely on printed copies of registration to determine vehicle eligibility.  Dr. Tisopulos stated that staff has discussed these issues with CARB who indicated that any variance from the VAVR would not be acceptable.

5) Report on Proposed Amended Rule 1186 – PM10 Emissions from Paved and Unpaved Roads, and Livestock Operations

Jill Whynot provided an update on proposed amendments to Rule 1186. The proposed amendments will help ensure continued performance of street sweepers and enable aftermarket parts to be used, provided they do not affect equipment performance. Equipment manufacturers and part suppliers that wish to sell parts will be required to submit information that will assist staff in determining if changes to parts are acceptable.

A public consultation meeting will be held next week to get additional stakeholder input. No environmental impacts and minor costs for submitting information are expected. The rule may allow more choices for street sweeper operators. This item will be set in June for a July public hearing.

6) Rule 2202 Program Status Report for Calendar Year 2007

At the May Mobile Source Committee meeting, Board Members were presented a Calendar Year 2007 Annual Program Update for Rule 2202 – On-Road Motor Vehicle Mitigation Options. Rule 2202 requires employers with 250 or more employees on a full or part-time basis to implement an emissions reduction program to reduce mobile source emissions generated by employee commutes during peak hours.

Employers may select one of three program options to comply with Rule 2202: an Employee Commute Reduction Program (ECRP), Emissions Reduction Strategies (ERS), or an Air Quality Investment Program (AQIP).

The presentation was divided into four sections. The first section provided background information on rule implementation, applicability, compliance options, and information on the good faith effort determination elements of the rule.

The second section described worksite operations that included data on employer participation in the available compliance options, the corresponding emission reductions, and information on the compliance for the diesel emission minimization plans and the clean fleet vehicles purchase/lease programs. Employer participation in the compliance options was as follows: 49% ECRP, 39% ERS, and 12% AQIP. Tons per day of emissions reduced, including inter-pollutant crediting was: 5.51 VOC, 4.51 NOx, and 31.57 CO. Six employers filed diesel minimization plans in which they have committed to retrofit eight, and replace two pieces of off-road diesel equipment. A final diesel minimization plan is pending for one of the employers. Four employers complied with the clean fleet purchase/lease program, by purchasing or leasing forty-four ULEV and SULEV passenger vehicles or light-duty trucks and five SULEV medium-duty trucks.

The third section contained outreach information describing training for employee transportation coordinators (ETCs); the Transportation Program internet web site; and meetings held with consultants, Transportation Management Associations (TMAs), employers, and rideshare agencies.

The last section contained information on program compliance that includes an audit process triggered by complaints and/or staff requests.

Staff will continue to provide outreach and technical assistance to the regulated community and stakeholders. Rule 2202 continues to make steady progress towards reducing mobile source emissions.

7) Rule 2202 Activity Report

Written report submitted. No comments.

8) Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives – CEQA Document Commenting Update

Written report submitted. No comments.

9) Other Business

None

10) Public Comment

None

The meeting adjourned at 9:40 a.m.

Attachment
Attendance Roster

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MOBILE SOURCE COMMITTEE
MAY 16, 2008
ATTENDANCE ROSTER