BOARD MEETING DATE: June 5, 2009
AGENDA NO. 31

REPORT:

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, May 22, 2009.

 Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Receive and file the attached report.
 

Roy Wilson, Vice-Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

Vice-Chair Roy Wilson called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. Present were Committee Members Jane Carney and Josie Gonzales, and Committee Member Jan Perry (via videoconference). Absent were Chair Ronald Loveridge, and Committee Member Bill Campbell. The following items were presented:
 

ACTION ITEM:

1. Issue RFP to Prequalify Consultants for Assistance Preparing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Documents and Other CEQA-Related Technical Analyses
   Susan Nakamura, Planning and Rules Manager, gave the presentation on the CEQA RFP. RFP #P2009-24 would prequalify services for generalist consultant assistance preparing CEQA documents for AQMD rules, regulations, plans, and non-AQMD permit application projects where the AQMD is the lead agency under CEQA. This RFP would prequalify expert services for other topic-specific CEQA-related analyses, such as GHG analysis, mitigation measure development, or significance threshold development, which may be used to update the AQMD’s CEQA Air Quality Handbook. This RFP would also prequalify services for consultant assistance in the following specialized environmental topic areas: air quality and traffic/transportation analyses. Total funding for this RFP is $60,000. Staff responded affirmatively to a question from Mrs. Jane Carney as to whether there had been RFPs for CEQA consultant services in the past. Mrs. Carney also raised a concern about potential conflicts of interest among consultants, especially with regard to any assistance updating the CEQA Handbook. Staff responded that the RFP includes a section addressing conflicts of interest and any policies and procedures used by the consultants to resolve conflicts of interest. With regard to the revised Handbook, new and revised significance thresholds are developed primarily by staff through a public process, including stakeholder working group meetings and public workshops.
   
   Motion by Gonzales; seconded by Perry; and unanimously approved. 
   
   
   INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
2. Rule 2202 Program Status Report for Calendar Year 2008
   Carol Gomez, Planning & Rules Manager, presented the Calendar Year 2008 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. Approximately 1,500 employers where regulated by this program at the end of 2008. Staff noted that as of April 2009 the number of regulated employers had dropped to 1,427.
   
   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 ECRP requires employers to develop and implement an employee trip reduction program which is to assist them in reaching an average vehicle ridership (AVR) goal. If a worksite does not make progress towards their AVR goal, they are required to implement strategies from a menu of trip reduction options. The ERS requires employers to surrender emission reduction credits; and the AQIP calls for payment into a fund which the AQMD utilizes to finance mobile emission reduction projects. Employer participation in the compliance options was as follows: 46% ECRP, 42% ERS, and 12% AQIP. Tons per day of emissions reduced, including inter-pollutant crediting was: 3.71 VOC, 4.03 NOx, and 26.34 CO.
   
   Outreach for Rule 2202 consists of information describing training for employee transportation coordinators (ETCs); the Transportation Program internet web site; participation in Rideshare events, and meetings held with consultants, Transportation Management Associations (TMAs), employers, and rideshare agencies. Twenty six classes throughout the District were held to train 372 ETC’s.
   
   Additionally information was provided on the compliance component of the program that includes an audit process triggered by complaints and/or staff requests. 402 audits were conducted in 2008 resulting in 169 Notices to Comply and 14 Notices of Violation.
   
   Supervisor Josie Gonzales encouraged staff to incorporate the support of bike lane connectivity in this rule and other district programs as appropriate. Staff commented that Rule 2202 indirectly supports the adoption and expansion of bike lanes through the Transportation Management Association networks and through the AB 2766 Subvention program. Supervisor Gonzales also encouraged staff to work with local governments and regulated employers to maximize the use of the existing bike trails/lanes. Mrs. Carney commented that the development of bike lanes will also be addressed in PR 2301, and she requested that staff present at a future Mobile Source Committee meeting how the following programs connect: CEQA review, the ECRP portion of Rule 2202, PR 2301, MSRC, and the
   AB 2766 Subvention Fund program.
    
3. Status of EPA Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards
   Dr. Jean Ospital, Health Effects Officer, presented an update of the U.S. EPA’s schedule for reviewing the national ambient air quality standards. The U.S. EPA is under deadlines from court approved settlements to decide whether revisions are required for standards for three pollutants as follow. Nitrogen Dioxide – January 22, 2010; Sulfur Dioxide – June 2, 1010; Carbon Monoxide – May 13, 2001. The Basin is currently in attainment for these three pollutants.
   
   Additionally, the Supreme Court has sent the PM2.5 annual standard back to U.S. EPA for review. This was a result from a suit brought by environmental groups, the AQMD, and others. The U.S. EPA’s schedule for a decision of the Particulate Matter standards is October, 2011.
   
   Based on AQMD staff assessment, the U. S. EPA will likely propose a revision to the NO2 standard based on an hourly average 98^th or 99^th percentile maximum. Depending of the level selected, the Basin may or may not meet such a new standard. A similar one-hour new standard for SO2 may be proposed. However, the Basin will most likely be under any proposed levels being considered by U.S. EPA staff. Regarding the CO standard, the process is still in the early stages, and it is not clear if a revised standard may be proposed. It is still early in the process for the PM2.5 annual standard as well; however during the last review the U.S. EPA Clean Air Science Advisory Committee strongly recommended a lowering of the annual standard. This recommendation was not taken by the Administrator. Given the Court decision and recent analyses indicating that the adverse effects of PM2.5 may be greater than previously estimated, staff believes it is very likely that the standard will be reduced.
   
   Councilwoman Jan Perry left the meeting at 9:30 a.m.
    
4. Rule 2202 Activity Report
   Written report submitted. No comments.
    
5. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives – CEQA Document Commenting Update
   Written report submitted. The Committee members requested that next month’s agenda include a presentation on how documents are prioritized and reviewed for the Intergovernmental Review process, especially projects with EJ implications.
    
6. Other Business
   None
    
7. Public Comment
   None
    

The meeting adjourned at 9:47 a.m.
 

Attachment (DOC, ~46k)

Attendance Roster