BOARD MEETING DATE: May 7, 2010
AGENDA NO. 10
PROPOSAL:
Designate Funds from Interest Earned in the Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund and Execute Contract for Coachella Valley PM10 Clean Streets Management Program
SYNOPSIS:
The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) has been responsible for overseeing a PM10 Clean Streets Management Program as part of the Coachella Valley PM10 SIP. CVAG continues to seek long-term funding for this important program, however additional interim funding has been requested to continue the project at current levels. Staff recommends designating interest earned from the Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund and, upon mutual agreement, executing a contract with CVAG to assist in funding the Coachella Valley PM10 Clean Streets Management Program at a cost not to exceed $400,000.
COMMITTEE:
Administrative, April 9, 2010, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Designate $400,000 in interest earned from the Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund to provide interim funding for the Coachella Valley PM10 Clean Streets Management Program.
Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments in an amount not to exceed $400,000 in interest earned from the Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund contingent on CVAG securing commitments for future funds for long-term program funding.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Entrained road dust is one of the largest anthropogenic sources of PM10 in the Coachella Valley. In 1997, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) developed and implemented a regional street sweeping program as a part of the Clean Streets Management Program. The program mitigates blowsand and vehicular entrainment of paved road dust PM10 emissions through routine and post-natural event (i.e., high winds) street sweeping. The effort is an important part of the Board-adopted and U.S. EPA approved Coachella Valley PM10 SIPs. Air quality improvements resulting from this and other PM10 control strategies have made the region eligible for redesignation as attainment for PM10 under federal Clean Air Act provisions. A summary of this program is included as an attachment of this Board letter.
Under the Coachella Valley regional sweeping program, approximately 43,600 curb miles of arterial roadways are cleaned annually by a fleet of alternative-fueled vehicles, including 13 vacuum-based street sweepers. Program costs are approximately one million dollars annually. A variety of federal, State, and local funding sources have been used to finance the program in the past. Initially, federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds were used for both equipment purchases and to partially cover program operational costs. CMAQ funding for equipment purchases continues to be acceptable; however, a determination by federal officials has indicated that this source of funds can no longer be used for operational costs.
AB2766 motor vehicle registration funds have also been used for program operational costs. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), local jurisdictions in the Coachella Valley pass through a percentage of their AB2766 funds directly to CVAG, thereby providing a relatively constant revenue stream to assist with program implementation. Although the percentage of AB2766 funds from local governments provided to CVAG was recently increased to 45 percent, there is not sufficient funding to sustain the program at current service levels. CVAG staff has committed to work with local jurisdictions to seek an increase to the percentage of AB2766 funds allocated to help fund the sweeping program. A review of previous AB2766 funding indicates that even if all the funds were directed to CVAG, additional resources would be required to maintain the program.
CVAG has also applied for and received special grants from sources including the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Committee (MSRC), Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Funds and Colmac Air Quality Enhancement Funds (the latter established as part of a litigation settlement). These funding sources have allowed the regional sweeping program to continue but do not represent a consistent, long-term funding source. CVAG is requesting AQMD’s assistance to provide an additional interim funding source while efforts to secure a long-term revenue stream are identified. Interest earned from the Rule 1309.1 fund will ensure that this valuable service and effective component of the local air quality plan is continued. As a condition of contract approval, additional funding commitments must be secured to ensure long-term program stability.
Equipment Replacement
Much of the original fleet of CNG-fueled sweepers has served the intended service life and needs replacement. In 2007, CVAG applied for, and was ultimately approved to receive an additional two million dollars in CMAQ funding to purchase seven new alternative-fueled street sweepers. Prior to final allocation of this CMAQ funding, staff from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and CVAG have discussed long-term funding for program operational costs. Without funding for operational costs, the program may not be able to take advantage of federal funds for equipment purchases. AQMD Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Funds would assist in the allocation of significant federal funding to purchase necessary equipment. Federal assistance to purchase alternative fuel street sweeping equipment helps to lower overall program costs and assists in ensuring continued program implementation.
Proposal
Staff is proposing that interest earned from the Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund be used to assist in the continuation of CVAG’s regional street sweeping program in an amount not to exceed $400,000. CVAG staff indicated that these funds will be set-aside for FHWA repayment and the funds previously held for that purpose would be used to fund the regional sweeping program. Awarding the contract would be contingent on CVAG securing commitments for future long-term funding.
Air Quality Benefits
Funding assistance would allow the continued implementation of the Coachella Valley regional sweeping program and provide overall air quality benefits to the region that are necessary to ensure continued attainment with federal PM10 air quality standards. If funding is not provided, CVAG’s street sweeping operations would be adversely effected and this will jeopardize efforts to formally reclassify the region as attainment for PM10. The continued operation of alternative-fueled street sweepers with this funding will reduce PM10 emissions and help ensure PM10 attainment maintenance. A net decrease in NOx emissions and emissions of toxic compounds would also be expected from purchase and operation of CNG rather than diesel-fueled equipment.
Resource Impacts
Total funding for this project shall not exceed $400,000 from the AQMD Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund. Sufficient funds are available from interest earnings in the Rule 1309.1 Priority Reserve Fund for this and other projects. Existing staff resources are sufficient to administer this contract.
Attachments (EXE, 215k)
Summary of Clean Streets Management Program
Map of CVAG Sweeping Zones