Nov. 9, 2001

AQMD ADOPTS MEASURE TO REDUCE DIESEL TRUCK STOP EMISSIONS

The Southland's air quality agency adopted a voluntary program today aimed at reducing diesel exhaust from idling trucks at truck stops.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District's Governing Board adopted the new rule to encourage the installation of electric service units at truck stops for heating and cooling truck cabs in lieu of truckers idling their diesel engines for power.

"Diesel emissions are the primary source of air pollution-related cancer risk in the region, and we need to do everything possible to reduce that risk," said Barry Wallerstein, AQMD’s executive officer.

Under Rule 1634 — Pilot Credit Generation Program for Truck Stops, companies that provide electricity to trucks at truck stops can earn nitrogen oxide (NOx) Mobile Source Emission Reduction Credits. Those credits can be sold on the open market to facilities in AQMD's REgional Clean Air Incentives Program (RECLAIM). There are about 20 truck stops in AQMD's jurisdiction that potentially could participate in Rule 1634.

"This is a win-win program because it potentially can reduce diesel emissions in communities near truck stops, and at the same time provide needed emissions credits to companies in RECLAIM," Wallerstein said.

The rule also benefits air quality by setting aside nine percent of all NOx credits generated and retiring them to benefit the environment. In addition, 100 percent of diesel particulate emission reductions are retired.

Truckers typically idle their diesel engines while parked at truck stops to provide heating, cooling and electrical power to their cabs as well as to refrigerated trailers. To prevent prolonged idling, electrical equipment vendors have developed consoles that attach to the side window of a truck to provide heated or cooled air, power for televisions and small appliances as well as telephone, Internet and cable TV hookups.

AQMD's Rule 1634 is the sixth pilot credit program adopted this year aimed at generating nitrogen oxide credits. Other rules created voluntary credit programs for reducing emissions from trucks, commercial boats and ships, and agricultural pumps.

Rule 1634 now will be submitted for approval to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Credits will be issued until 2006, when AQMD, EPA and the California Air Resources Board will decide whether emission reductions still are surplus to existing air pollution regulations.

In other action today, the Board:

• Amended Rule 1162 — Polyester Resin Operations, to further reduce smog-forming volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the manufacturing of boats, bathroom tubs and showers, recreational vehicles and other products. The rule requires pollution prevention technologies including a reformulation of materials resulting in a VOC emissions reduction of 5.4 tons per day;
• Amended Rule 1309.1 — Priority Reserve, to allow new and expanding power plants to purchase emission offsets for sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide from AQMD through 2003. The rule, and a companion program earlier this year making PM₁₀ credits available, is aimed at assisting the development of new power plants to help ease the state's energy crisis. Under the federal Clean Air Act, new and expanding major sources such as power plants must use best available control technology and obtain emission offsets to operate. Such offset credits for PM₁₀, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide currently are in short supply on the open market. Today's action will allow power plant operators to purchase from AQMD:
  • sulfur dioxide credits for a mitigation fee of $8,900 per pound, per day; and
  • carbon monoxide credits for a mitigation fee of $12,000 per pound, per day;
• Received a report on a 37 percent reduction this year in the agency's permit backlog (see accompanying sidebar);
• Received reports on compliance plans and potential "backstop" pollution control measures for RECLAIM, in the event that amendments to the RECLAIM program adopted earlier this year do not meet the program's emission reduction targets;
• Set public hearings on Dec. 21 to:
  • Adopt Rule 1178 — Further Reductions of VOC Emissions from Storage Tanks at Petroleum Facilities;
  • Amend Rule 518.2 — Federal Alternative Operating Conditions; and
  • Amend Rule 444 — Open Burning and Rule 208 — Permit and Burn Authorization for Open Burning.
• Set a public hearing for Jan. 11, 2002 to amend Rule 2202 — On-Road Motor Vehicle Mitigation Options.

AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

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