BOARD MEETING DATE: December 4, 2009
AGENDA NO. 30
REPORT:
Mobile Source Committee
SYNOPSIS:
The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, November 20, 2009.
Following is a summary of that meeting.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Receive and file the attached report.
Jane Carney, Acting Chair
Mobile Source Committee
Attendance
Acting Chair Jane Carney called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Present at AQMD were Jane Carney and Josie Gonzales. Chairman of the Board Dr. William Burke and Committee Member Bill Campbell attended via videoconference. Committee Member Jan Perry (arrived at 9:15am) via videoconference. Absent were Chair Ronald Loveridge and Vice Chair Marion Ashley. The following items were presented:
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
1) Overview of Auto Dismantlers Scrapping Guidelines
Dean Saito, Planning and Rules Manager, presented an overview of automotive dismantlers scrapping guidelines prepared by the State of California Auto Dismantlers Association (SCADA). Mr. Saito provided background information on SCADA relative to their formation and SCADA’s development of a program entitled “Partners in the Solution.” He described the program as providing guidelines for SCADA member dismantlers to follow in order to stay in compliance with a myriad of regulatory requirements. Mr. Saito provided an overview of the goals of the program and the annual audits performed by SCADA to assess its members compliance with the requirements in the program. Mr. Saito went over specific requirements of the “Partners in the Solution” program covering the following program areas: 1) business and licensing standards; 2) environmental standards; and 3) safety standards.
Mr. Saito provided a list of the dismantlers currently under contract to the SCAQMD in both the Rule 1610 program and the High Emitter Repair or Scrappage program (HEROS). He indicated that there are seven dismantlers who are SCADA members and another seven dismantlers who are not SCADA members. Mr. Saito summarized that all dismantlers must comply with applicable regulations regardless of membership. However, dismantlers who are members of SCADA and subsequently obtain a certification under the SCADA program may provide a greater assurance that they comply with the myriad of applicable regulations.
Public comments made by Martha Cowell, Executive Director of SCADA, included a request to recognize those dismantlers who have demonstrated compliance with SCADA standards. Additionally, Paul Segal, Director Environmental Affairs and Metal Recycling for Pick Your Part, stated that it is more likely that local agencies (city/county) perform periodic inspections rather than state agencies having regulatory authority.
Supervisor Gonzales indicated that she thought that a program like SCADA would better ensure an even level playing field for contracted dismantlers. Staff indicated that the SCADA program is voluntary in nature and that all dismantlers must comply with applicable regulations. Staff also indicated that they will further assess the SCADA program requirements in order to ascertain whether compliance rates are higher for SCADA members compared to non-members and the benefits of belonging to SCADA. Staff will report back to the Committee.
2) Proposed NO2 Standard and Near-Roadways Issues
Jean Ospital, Health Effects Officer, presented a brief update on recent research relating to adverse health effects in residents living near busy roadways, and on recent findings relating to short term (1 to 24 hour) exposures to Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2). EPA has recently reviewed the health effects of NO2, and has proposed a new 1-hour standard in the range of 80 – 100 ppb, with the form of the standard being a three year average of the 99th percentile (or 4th highest) daily one hour maximum. The proposed standard also contains a requirement for NO2 monitoring within 50 meters of busy roadways. The proposal would require 4 additional near road monitors in the Basin. Based on a court settlement, the decision on any proposed standard is due from the Administrator by January 22, 2010.
As presented by staff, U.S. EPA’s review concluded that associations of ambient exposures to NO2 in areas which meet the current standard were causally related to increases in respiratory symptoms, emergency room visits and hospital emissions for respiratory related health effects. U.S. EPA also concluded that the association of NO2 exposures with respiratory mortality was suggestive of a causal relation. In controlled human exposures, asthmatics were found to be most sensitive to NO2 effects, with increased air way reactivity (a measure of airway constriction) found at levels as low as 100 ppb for one hour.
Staff also presented recent information on the levels of NO2 near roadways, which have been measured to be, on average, 30 – 100 % higher near busy roadways than measured at monitors away from busy roadways.
The following highlights comments and questions from committee members.
What is the population that resides within 50 meters of busy roadways? What are the exposures and expected health effects?
How will the proposed monitors near roadways affect compliance with a new standard?
Should AQMD take a more active role in commenting in the standard review process?
If U.S. EPA chooses the 98th percentile as the design value, how will that affect compliance?
Staff noted that the Board’s policy on setting standards has been that the level should be set at a level that protects public health, and is based on the best available science. Issues associated with attaining the health-based standards should be dealt with in the implementation phase. Staff also noted the U.S. EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee has endorsed the range proposed by the U.S. EPA staff, and that CASAC has recommended that a new standard should be no higher than 100 ppb over one hour and at the 99th or 98th percentile to address year-to-year variation due to meteorological factors. AQMD staff has also submitted oral and written comments that support the proposed range of the standard. Staff has not made comments regarding the siting of monitors near busy roadways. Supervisor Campbell questioned whether adequate statistical information existed for U.S. EPA’s proposed standard level and requested additional information regarding the appropriateness of near-highway measurements.
Committee members requested that this item be brought to the Governing Board, along with staff recommendations for possible additional input to the U.S. EPA administrator.
Councilwoman Jan Perry left at 9:50 a.m.; Dr. William Burke left at 10:00 a.m.
3) Rule 2202 Activity Report
Written report submitted. No comments.
4) Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives – CEQA Document Commenting Update
Written report submitted. No comments.
5) Other Business
None
6) Public Comment
None
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
Attachment (DOC, 54k)
Attendance Roster