REPORT:

Technology Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Technology Committee met on June 26, 1998. Major items discussed included Technology Advancement items reflected in the regular Board Agenda for the July Board meeting; a presentation on AQMD BACT guideline procedures; a presentation on Rule 1610 Revisions; an update on the Technology Advancement Clean Fuels Program Reauthorization; and monthly report on environmental justice initiative 10. Environmental justice initiatives 2, 7, and 8 were continued to the July 17, 1998 Technology Committee meeting. A summary of these topics with the Committee's comments is provided, together with an attendance roster. The next Technology Committee meeting will be on July 17, 1998 at 11:30 a.m. in CC-8.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Receive and file this report.

Leonard Paulitz, Vice Chair
Technology Committee

Attendance: Present were Committee Vice Chair Leonard Paulitz, and Committee members Norma Glover, Jon Mikels and Wayne Nastri. Committee member Roy Wilson participated by video conference.

1. Execute Contract to Cost-Share Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicles Relative to Internal Combustion Engines - Various studies have focused on quantifying the exhaust and evaporative emissions benefits expected with the implementation of the ARB’s ZEV program, leaving detailed examination of other environmental factors less well quantified. ARB intends to conduct a study to compare the life-cycle environmental impacts, excluding exhaust and evaporative emissions, of electric vehicles relative to conventional vehicles. ARB has invited the AQMD to co-sponsor this project. This action is to execute an agreement with ARB in the amount of $100,000 out of a total budget of $200,000.

   The Committee initially approved staff’s recommendation. However, after consideration of Item #2, it was moved by Committee Member Glover, and seconded by Committee Member Nastri, that both agenda items be brought back to the Committee at its July 17, 1998 meeting. The Committee communicated that AQMD will likely participate in this project, but asked for additional information. It was further moved that staff furnish such additional information in the Board Letter relating the proposed project to anticipated emissions reduction and project goals to the Air Plan.

2. Execute Contract to Cost-Share Demonstration of Fast-Response On-Board NOx Sensors for Heavy-Duty Vehicles - Fast response sensors, capable of detecting real-time NOx emissions, could be useful as tools to assist in optimizing control techniques, as well as continuously monitoring vehicle NOx emissions. ARB is in the process of selecting a contractor to demonstrate fast-response on-board NOx sensors for heavy-duty vehicles. ARB has invited the AQMD to co-sponsor this project. This action is to execute an agreement with ARB in the amount of $125,000 out of a total budget of $350,000.

   It was moved by Committee Member Glover, and seconded by Committee Member Nastri, that this agenda item be brought back to the Committee at its July 17, 1998 meeting. The Committee communicated that AQMD will likely participate in this project, but asked for additional information. It was further moved that staff furnish such additional information in the Board Letter relating the proposed project to anticipated emissions reduction and project goals to the Air Plan.

3. Execute Contract to Cost-Share Second Year Development and Demonstration of Advanced Premixer/Catalytic Combustor for Natural Gas combustion Turbines - On February 14, 1997, the Governing Board approved cost-sharing the first year of a two-year project to develop and demonstrate an advanced, ultra-low NOx catalytic combustion system for natural gas-fired combustion turbines. The project, led by Clemson University Research Foundation’s South Carolina Energy Research and Development Center, in conjunction with UC Irvine, Solar Turbines, Inc. and Catalytica Inc., has successfully achieved its first year goals. The objective of this proposal is to complete the second year of this $1,443,000 project. The AQMD contribution for the second year is $269,000, for a total project contribution of $534,000. The Committee reviewed the information presented, and noted their approval of staff’s recommendation, with Committee Member Glover opposed. The Committee directed that staff return to the Committee with quantification of potential emissions benefits.

4. AQMD BACT Guideline Procedures - Anthony Oshinuga, Air Quality Engineer II, Stationary Source Compliance, presented an overview of the procedures used in BACT/LAER determination, reviewing procedure, flexibility and status. The issue of flexibility was discussed and Committee Member Nastri indicated the need for data to verify the percentage of permits which actually deviate from BACT guidelines.

5. Rule 1610 Revision - Laki Tisopulos, Manager Planning, Transportation and Information Management, presented an update on Rule 1610 revisions. The Committee discussed various aspects of the rule, and asked that the issue of future surveys to track replacement vehicles be omitted. They also requested removing the insurance requirement in favor of relying on the DMV report.

   Catherine Grummand, of Market-Based Solutions, noted that it was the responsibility of the car scrappers to determine that the vehicle being scrapped is legal, and that incorporating the DMV report into the rule would avoid having to perform a second insurance check.

6. TAO Clean Fuels Program Reauthorization - Barry Wallerstein, Acting Executive Officer, reported that Senator Tom Hayden has agreed to work with AQMD to resolve concerns on AB2194 without amending the bill.

7. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives - Due to time constraints, only Environmental Justice Initiative 10 was presented as a status report. Initiatives 2, 7 and 8 were continued to the July 17, 1998 Technology Committee meeting.

   Initiative #10 - Jill Whynot, Planning and Rules Manager, Stationary Source Compliance presented a status report on Environmental Justice Initiative 10, Rules 1401 and 1402. A monthly status report was handed out and is attached hereto as Attachment E.

8. Other Business - There was no other business.

9. Public Comment Period - Public comment has been included under individual agenda items.

Attachments
Attachment A - Attendance
Attachment B - Environmental Initiative # 2 Status Report
Attachment C - Environmental Initiative # 7 Status Report
Attachment D - Environmental Initiative # 8 Status Report
Attachment E - Environmental Initiative #10 Status Report

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AQMD Staff, with peer review feedback, will design and conduct a program of ambient monitoring for toxic hot spots. Expanded, accurate, reliable, suitable data on exposure levels will enable us to begin to apply that knowledge to effective problem-solving.

May/Early June Actions:

1. MATES-II - Schedule Update:

   • Eight sites now operational
     (Burbank, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Fontana, Pico Rivera, Anaheim,
     Rubidoux, and Huntington Park)
     
   • License agreements completed with City of Compton and DWP (Wilmington)
     
   • Laboratory analyses for April samples completed
     
   • Contractor's workplan for emission inventory contract submitted to staff

2. Microscale Study:
   
   
   • Hawthorne spring seasonal sampling completed
     
   • Mobile platforms deployed in Pacoima and Montclair
     
   • Mobile platform deployment underway for Torrance
     
   • Process for second set of Microscale deployments in progress
     
   • Microscale inventory process initiated

3. ATSTRG Actions from Meeting on June 17, 1998
   
   
   • Agreed to include Boyle Heights area with Bell/Downey microscale site
     
   • Requested staff to provide summary of changes from initial workplans
     
   • Given proposed pilot health study for review and comment

4. Public Outreach
   
   
   • Press conference held at AQMD Headquarters and Pacoima on June 9, 1998
     
   • Montclair "community visit" held on June 5, 1998

Upcoming Items:

• Finalize deployment of MATES-II sites
  
• Compile monthly summaries of completed laboratory analyses
  
• Continue microscale inventory process
  
• Continue process of specific site locations for Mobile Platforms #1 and #2
  
• Monitor MATES-II inventory contract and complete staff review of workplan
  
• Next ATSTRG meeting July 15, 1998
  
• Torrance "community visit" scheduled for July 8, 1998

The Governing Board will pursue a set of Initiatives at the local, state, and federal level to incentivize the early clean-up or removal of diesel engines in the Basin. Research indicates that low-income communities and communities of color experience disproportionate air quality impacts associated with diesel engine use.

Support funding incentives

• The Governor has placed a program similar to AB 1368 (Villaraigosa) into ARB's FY 1998-99 budget. As currently proposed, the Governor's plan does not include funding for infrastructure. The proponents of AB 1368 believe that infrastructure funding is critical to success of the program and will be meeting with the Governor's staff to discuss this issue. AB 1368 will be heard in Senate Appropriations on June 29, 1998. WSPA has made a verbal commitment to be neutral on the bill.

• AB 2194 (Washington), the bill to re-authorize the AQMD Clean Fuels Program and extend its funding, passed out of the Assembly on a vote of 51-Ayes/23-Noes. AB 2194 was heard in Senate Transportation on June 16, 1998 and passed on a vote of 6-Ayes/2-Noes. Although the bill did pass out of Senate Transportation, Senator Hayden did express interest and an intent to add further oversight to the program to ensure appropriate expenditure of funds through some form of periodic program audit.

Promote Technology Advancement

• AQMD staff met with DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) staff on June 19, 1998 to initiate formal coordination of future programs and projects. Future project plans were discussed and opportunities for cost-sharing projects of mutual interest identified. Such projects will be included in each organization's RD&D plan documents. Quarterly meetings are proposed to continue the coordination efforts.

Continue statewide coordination

• The Incentive Program Implementation Team of the Truck Working Group met in Sacramento on June 2, 1998. Attending the meeting were representatives of ARB, CEC, SCAQMD, SMAQMD, BAAQMD, Ventura and San Joaquin APCDs, and EPA. The group decided to invite DOE/NREL to future meetings. Topics discussed included availability of low-emission engine certification information through ARB's web site; status of the various incentive programs throughout the state; SIP credit for incentive programs; supply of LNG in California, including local liquefaction possibilities and other sources.

Initiative: The AQMD staff will formulate a plan to use modern advances in technology for enhanced field inspection purposes to better detect pollution problems identified by the public and investigate ways to enhance AQMD’s field presence.

June Progress:

• Refine Testing and Analysis Technologies and
  
• Improve In-Field Enforcement Capability
  • The Board-approved work plan to investigate the technical feasibility and cost of using detection and monitoring instrumentation for routine inspections continued to be implemented.
  
  
• State-of-the-Science Contract Study to Identify Advanced Inspection, Testing, and Analytical Technology
  • Bids for the re-released RFP were reviewed during the week of May 26, 1998 and a consultant was selected.
    A July Board meeting recommendation regarding consultant selection has been completed and is undergoing internal review.

• Establish a Peer Review Group
  • The five-member Peer Review Group held their initial meeting with staff on June 11, 1998.

July Goals:

• Refine Testing and Analysis Technologies and

• Improve In-Field Enforcement Capability
  • Work plans will continue to be implemented according to the Board-approved proposals.

• State-of-the-Science Contract Study to Identify Advanced Inspection, Testing, and Analytical Technology
  • Staff’s consultant recommendation is expected to be approved by the Board at their July 10^th meeting.
  • The consultant contract will be executed immediately after Board approval.
  • The consultant work plan is due July 24^th.

• Establish a Peer Review Group
  • The Peer Review Group meeting with the consultant will be held shortly after execution of the contract.

Presented at the June 19, 1998 Stationary Source Committee and the June 26, 1998 Technology Committee meeting.

Initiative: The Governing Board will re-open for public comment the toxics significant thresholds for cancer and non-cancer impacts contained in Rule 1402 - Control of Toxic Air Contaminants from Existing Source, and consideration of adding additional compounds and non-carcinogenic impact prevention into Rule 1401 - New Source Review of Carcinogenic Air Contaminants.

Status of Efforts:

Public Input

• Board hearing July 10
  - 60-day effective date
  
• Set hearing May 8
  - 60-day review
  
• Working Group meeting (joint meeting with EJ Task Force) June 26
  
• Two public consultation meetings – May 26 & 27

Key Issues

• Requests for special consideration
  - film labs
  - nickel plating
  - chemical film maskants
  - wood stripping
  - dry cleaners
  
• Impacts of factor changes
  
• Cumulative impacts/scope
  
• Implementation

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