BOARD MEETING DATE: November 6, 2009
AGENDA NO. 31

PROPOSAL:

Request to Revise 8-Hour Ozone and PM2.5 Transportation Conformity Emission Budgets for South Coast Air Basin and Coachella Valley

SYNOPSIS:

In response to a request from U.S. EPA, staff is proposing that the Governing Board adopt revised 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 transportation conformity emission budgets for the South Coast Air Basin and Coachella Valley reflecting emission reductions associated with on-road mobile source regulations adopted by CARB during 2007 and 2008 and request CARB to forward the updated budgets to U.S. EPA for the purpose of conformity budget adequacy findings. These revisions will not impact the 2007 SIP control measures and the AQMD’s SIP reduction commitment will not change.

COMMITTEE:

Mobile Source, October 16, 2009, Reviewed

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Approve the revisions to the 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 transportation conformity emission budgets for the South Coast Air Basin.

2. Approve the revisions to the 8-hour ozone transportation conformity emission budgets for the Coachella Valley.

3. Direct staff to forward the updated transportation conformity budgets to CARB for approval and submission to U.S. EPA as part of the 2007 SIP revisions.

 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

At its July 13, 2007 meeting, the Board adopted the 2007 Final Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) transportation conformity emission budgets which were subsequently forwarded to CARB for approval and incorporation into the 2007 State Implementation Plan (SIP). On November 15, 2007, CARB approved the modified transportation conformity emission budgets to reflect the additional on-road mobile source emission reductions associated with the revised Statewide Strategy. The 2007 SIP, which included the South Coast Air Basin (Basin) 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 transportation conformity emission budgets, was subsequently forwarded by CARB to the U.S. EPA for approval on November 28, 2007. The 8-hour ozone conformity budgets for Coachella Valley were submitted to U.S. EPA following CARB’s approval of the Early Progress Plan for transport-impacted ozone nonattainment areas in February 2008. U.S. EPA found the Coachella Valley 8-hour ozone conformity budgets adequate on May 7, 2008 [Federal Register: May 7, 2008 (Vol. 73, No. 89, Notices, P. 25694)].

On April 4, 2008, the AQMD Board approved a request to CARB to provide an alternative approach for transportation conformity emission budgets for the Basin based on the 2007 SIP baseline emissions reflecting only the regulations adopted as of October 2006 for all milestone years up to the attainment years. The CARB Board approved Resolution 08-27 itemizing the modifications to the Basin transportation conformity emission budgets, and the reasonable further progress baseline budget was found adequate by U.S. EPA on May 15, 2008 [Federal Register: May 15, 2008 (Vol. 73, No. 95, Notices, P.28110)].

Under the U.S. EPA transportation conformity rule (40 CFR parts 51 and 93), the on-road motor vehicle emission budgets established in SIPs serve as a “ceiling” for ensuring the conformity of transportation plans and programs with the SIP attainment demonstration. Exceedances of the budget indicate an inconsistency with the SIP and could jeopardize the flow of federal funds for transportation improvements in the region.

Since the adoption of the 2007 AQMP, CARB has adopted several motor vehicle rules and control measures outlined as part of the Statewide Strategy. U.S. EPA staff has requested that the baseline 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 transportation conformity budgets for the Basin and 8-hour ozone transportation conformity budgets for the Coachella Valley be updated to reflect emission reductions achieved from the rules and control measures in the Statewide Strategy that were adopted in 2007 and 2008.

Proposal

In response to U.S. EPA’s request, staff is recommending that the Governing Board adopt the revised baseline transportation conformity budgets that reflect emissions reductions from control measures and rules recently adopted by CARB in 2007 and 2008 as part of the Statewide Strategy for:

• PM2.5 in the South Coast Air Basin retaining the 2009 and 2012 budgets U.S. EPA has previously found adequate and adding a budget for 2014;

• 8-hour ozone in the South Coast Air Basin retaining the 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020 budgets U.S. EPA has previously found adequate and adding a budget for 2023; and,

• 8-hour ozone in the Coachella Valley replacing the 2012 budgets U.S. EPA has previously found adequate with budgets for 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2018.

In addition, it is recommended that the Board direct staff to forward the adopted revised budgets to CARB for their approval and inclusion as part of the SIP and recommend that CARB forward the budget to U.S. EPA for their determination of adequacy and approval.

Public Process

As required by federal law, a 30-day notice is required before holding a hearing to adopt a SIP revision including a transportation conformity budget update. A Notice of Public Hearing providing the proposed updated transportation conformity budgets was released on October 6, 2009.  

CEQA and Socioeconomic Impacts

CEQA and socioeconomic impacts for all control measures that have been subsequently adopted by CARB as part of the Statewide Strategy were analyzed as part of the 2007 AQMP and there is no need for any additional analysis as a result of the proposed transportation conformity budget revisions.

AQMP and Legal Mandates

The proposed revisions to the transportation conformity emission budgets will not impact the 2007 SIP attainment demonstration or the overall SIP reduction commitment.  

Resource Impacts

The proposed revisions to the transportation conformity emission budgets will require no additional staff resources and funding.  

Attachments

A. Resolution

B. Revised South Coast Air Basin Transportation Conformity Emissions Budgets: PM2.5, Baseline

C. Revised South Coast Air Basin Transportation Conformity Emissions Budgets:
8-Hour Ozone, Baseline

D. Revised Coachella Valley Transportation Conformity Emissions Budgets: 8-Hour Ozone, Baseline

ATTACHMENT A

Resolution 09-__

A Resolution of the Governing Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) approving the proposed Revised 8-Hour Ozone and PM2.5 Transportation Conformity Emissions Budgets for the South Coast Air Basin And Coachella Valley

WHEREAS, the 2007 AQMP was adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Governing Board on June 1, 2007 meeting federal and state Clean Air Act requirements for ozone and PM2.5 attainment demonstrations; and

WHEREAS, The motor vehicle emissions budgets for the Basin and Coachella Valley, reflecting adopted rules and proposed short-term/defined measures, were approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on September 27, 2007 and submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the 2007 State Implementation Plan (SIP); and

WHEREAS, the CARB Board adopted revisions to the Coachella Valley 8-hour ozone transportation conformity emission budgets as a component of the Early Progress Plan Toward Attaining the 8-hour National Air Quality Standard for Ozone on February 28, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the revised Coachella Valley 8-hour ozone budget was submitted to EPA and found adequate [Federal Register: May 7, 2008 (Vol. 73, No. 89, Notices, P. 25694)]; and

WHEREAS, on April 4, 2008, the AQMD Governing Board approved alternative transportation conformity emission budgets for the Basin based on the 2007 SIP baseline emissions reflecting only the regulations adopted as of October 2006 for all milestone years up to the attainment years; and

WHEREAS, CARB’s Board Resolution 08-27 approved the Basin alternative ozone and PM2.5 budgets as part of the Reasonable Further Progress Plans for Transportation Conformity Purposes; and

WHEREAS, the Reasonable Further Progress transportation baseline emission budgets were found adequate by U.S. EPA [Federal Register: May 15, 2008 (Vol. 73, No. 95, Notices, P.28110)]; and

WHEREAS, AQMD is proposing revisions to the Basin 8-hour ozone transportation conformity budgets retaining the 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020 budgets U.S. EPA has previously found adequate and adding a budget for 2023; and,

WHEREAS, AQMD is proposing revisions to the Basin PM2.5 transportation conformity budgets retaining the 2009 and 2012 budgets U.S. EPA had previously found adequate and adding a budget for 2014; and

WHEREAS, the AQMD is proposing revised 8-hour ozone in the Coachella Valley replacing the 2012 budgets U.S. EPA had previously found adequate with budgets for 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2018; and

WHEREAS, these revisions will not impact the 2007 SIP control measures and the AQMD’s SIP reduction commitment will not change; and

WHEREAS, the AQMD Governing Board determines that revisions to the transportation conformity budgets are in harmony with, and not in conflict with or contradictory to, existing statutes, court decisions, or state or federal regulations; and

WHEREAS, the AQMD staff conducted interagency consultation meetings regarding the proposed revisions to the transportation conformity budgets; and

WHEREAS, the AQMD Governing Board has held a public hearing in accordance with all provisions of law following a 30-day period of public notice as required by federal regulation;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Governing Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District does hereby approve the revised 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 transportation conformity emissions budgets for the Basin and 8-hour transportation conformity emissions budgets for the Coachella Valley, as set forth in the attached and incorporated herein by this reference.

ATTACHMENT B

Revised South Coast Air Basin Transportation Conformity Emission Budgets: PM2.5, Baseline

(Annual Average Day – Tons Per Day)

* Reductions from rules adopted prior to December, 2006 not reflected in EMFAC2007.

** Reductions from Statewide Strategy rules adopted in 2007 and 2008.

*** Rounded upward to the nearest ton.

⁺ The budgets approved by U.S. EPA for 2012 are applicable for all subsequent years.

ATTACHMENT C

Revised South Coast Air Basin Transportation Conformity Emission Budgets:
8 Hour Ozone, Baseline

(Summer Planning – Tons Per Day)

* Reductions from rules adopted prior to December, 2006 not reflected in EMFAC2007.

** Reductions from Statewide Strategy rules adopted in 2007 and 2008.

*** Rounded upward to the nearest ton.

⁺ The budgets approved by U.S. EPA for 2020 are applicable for all subsequent years. 

ATTACHMENT D

Revised Coachella Valley Transportation Conformity Emission Budgets: 8 Hour Ozone, Baseline

(Summer Planning – Tons Per Day)

* Reductions from rules adopted prior to December, 2006 not reflected in EMFAC2007.

** Reductions from Statewide Strategy rules adopted in 2007 and 2008.

*** Rounded upward to the nearest ton.

⁺ U.S. EPA has previously found the budgets in CARB’s Early Progress Plan for 2012 adequate and those budgets have been used for 2012 and subsequent years. This action replaces the 2012 budgets with budgets for 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2018.