BOARD MEETING DATE: May 2, 2008
AGENDA NO. 29

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.
 

Ronald O. Loveridge, Member
SCAQMD Governing Board

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

At the commencement of the Board meeting, a new member representing the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Dr. John Telles, was introduced and sworn onto the Board. Dr. Telles fills the newly created “physician” seat on the San Joaquin Valley Board.

1.  Health Update: Effects on the Heart from Particulate Matter Exposure and a Possible Role of Genetics

ARB staff presented the results of recent research exploring the relationship between genetic factors and vulnerability to adverse health impacts from exposure to particulate matter (PM) concentrations. Iron, a component of particulate matter, is known to cause chemical reactions in the body that reduce heart rate variability, a risk factor for heart disease. At least one gene, HFE, is also known to modulate heart rate variability. The new research revealed that people with a variant HFE gene have naturally higher iron levels in the body, and are not as adversely affected by additional iron absorption through inhalation as those possessing the standard HFE gene. Thus, people with standard HFE genes appear to be more susceptible to heart disease from ambient exposure to iron than those carrying the variant HFE gene.

2.  Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Climate Protection Program

Jean Roggenkamp, Deputy Air Pollution Control Officer, presented a summary of climate protection program activities that have been undertaken by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. These activities include:

• preparation of a regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory and emission mitigation studies.
• purchase of sufficient annual GFG reduction credits to offset all District-generated GHG emissions.
• establishment of a grant program to seed GHG mitigation projects implemented by local agencies and nonprofit organizations.
• preparation and dissemination of public education materials and school curricula.
• establishment of several local and statewide collaborations to disseminate and share GHG mitigation information.

3. Report of AB 32 Implementation Update on Electricity and Natural Gas Sector

ARB, California Energy Commission (CEC), and California Public Utility Commission (PUC) staff presented an update on the evaluation of potential strategies to reduce GHG emissions from electrical generation and residential and commercial natural gas use in California. While ARB is delegated authority to implement GHG reduction actions under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), analyses of GHG emissions and reduction strategies are being coordinated with CEC and PUC staff because of the significant experience these agencies have in regulating California’s energy economy. Staff reported that both direct regulation and market-based control mechanisms are being evaluated for cost-effectiveness and technological feasibility. Both of these approaches are generally supported by the affected sectors, but much more analysis is needed to identify preferred strategies. CEC and PUC staff recommend adoption of minimum energy efficiency levels, increased renewable portfolio standards for electrical generators, a cap-and-trade system for electrical production and natural gas use, the auctioning of some GHG allowances, and the return of auction revenues to benefit consumers through programs like energy conservation investments. ARB staff recommendations for this sector will be included in the AB 32 Scoping Plan that will be presented to the Board in November.

4. Report on the Health Risk Assessment for the Port of Oakland and the West Oakland Community

ARB staff summarized its recently completed health risk assessment (HRA) for the Port of Oakland and the community of West Oakland. The assessment evaluated risks from emissions associated with operations of the Port of Oakland; emission sources included in the analysis were ships docking at the Port, the rail yards serving the Port, and the on-road diesel trucks transporting containers to and from the Port. The analysis indicates increased cancer risks of up to 1,200-in-a-million, of which 71% is attributed to diesel truck activities, 21% to ship emissions, and 8% to locomotive emissions. The overall diesel PM cancer risk in the West Oakland community was found to be approximately three times higher than the average risk levels within the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The staff report recommends that risk exposures be reduced through aggressive implementation of adopted and upcoming ARB measures targeting diesel PM emissions from the responsible sources.

5. Update on Implementation of the Emission Reduction Plan for Ports and Goods Movement

ARB staff presented an update on progress toward implementation of the Goods Movement Emission Reduction Plan adopted by the Board in April 2006. Goods Movement Plan actions taken to date will reduce diesel particulate matter (DPM) emissions in 2020 by 19% compared to levels that would be present in the absence of the plan. Two measures scheduled for Board consideration in 2008, would reduce DPM emissions by another 43% in 2020. These two measures would reduce emissions from ocean-going vessel main engines and from existing on-road diesel trucks. Adopted regulations, together with the two proposed measured, will reduce 2020 emissions DPM emissions by a total of 75%, and DPM cancer risk by 82%, when compared to 2001 levels. Achieving the Goods Movement Plan goal of reducing DPM cancer risks from goods movement by 85% in 2020 will require additional contributions from accelerated replacement of locomotives, tough international ship and fuel standards, and planned greenhouse gas measures.

6. Update on the 2005 ARB/Railroad Statewide Agreement

ARB staff presented the fifth update on implementation of the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with California’s Class 3 railroads to reduce diesel particulate matter emissions from railroad operations. The two affected railroads are in compliance with the requirements of the agreement and on track to meet phased deadlines. Enforcement inspections conducted by ARB staff have found high compliance rates with idling reduction and visible smoke limits, and over 30% of switcher engines have been replaced to date with new, cleaner units. At the present rate of replacement, all switchers will be replaced by new units by 2010, the agreement deadline. HRAs have been completed for ten of sixteen designated rail yards, and the remaining assessments will be finished within the next year. The Board directed staff to report back in September on a process for a comprehensive review of the goods movement sector including rail, trucks, and freight handling as a system.

7. Update on the Status of the 8-Hour Ozone Plan

ARB staff reported on the status of local 8-hour ozone attainment plans that have not yet been submitted to ARB. Ventura County, the Western Mojave Desert nonattainment area, and the Sacramento Metropolitan nonattainment area have all requested re-classification to provide more time to attain the standard. Plans for these areas will be adopted locally over the next few months. In addition, Imperial County is preparing a PM10 plan for December, 2008 adoption.

8. Approval of Modified Transportation Conformity Budget Contained in the 2007 Air Quality Management Plan for Attaining the Federal 8-Hour Ozone and PM 2.5 Standards in the South Coast Air Basin

The Board approved modified transportation conformity budgets for the South Coast Air Basin to be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) as a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP). Transportation conformity budgets associated with the 2007 Air Quality Management Plan for the 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 standards were originally approved by ARB on November 15, 2008. U.S. EPA staff questioned the inclusion in the budgets of emission reductions from future control measures, and signaled its support for budgets that reflect only previously adopted control measures. To respond, ARB staff in consultation with SCAQMD, Southern California Association of Governments, and EPA staff developed two sets of conformity budgets for submittal to EPA. One set includes benefits from future committed control measures and the other represents emissions without adjustment for future control measure benefits. These budgets will be sent to EPA with a request that the agency approve the more protective budgets that are based on emission reduction commitments in the 2007 SIP.
 

Attachment (Doc 70 kb)
CARB April 24, 2008 Meeting Agenda