BOARD MEETING DATE: October 1, 2010
AGENDA NO. 30

REPORT:

Mobile Source Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Mobile Source Committee met Friday, September 24, 2010. 9;Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file the attached report.
 

Jane Carney, Acting Chair
Mobile Source Committee

Attendance

Acting Chair Jane Carney called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Present at the AQMD was Committee Member Josie Gonzales. Attending via videoconference were Committee Members Bill Campbell and Jan Perry (arrived 9:24 a.m.). Chair Ronald Loveridge was absent. The following items were presented:

ACTION ITEMS:

1. Execute Contracts for 2010 Leaf Blower Exchange Program
   
   Mr. Shashi Singeetham, Air Quality Specialist, provided a brief background of the Rule 2202 Air Quality Investment Program (AQIP), a summary 2009 Leaf Blower Exchange Program and the available funding; the summary and analysis of the proposal received. Only one proposal was received. Mr. Singeetham stated that only one proposal was received because even though there are other models that operate at low noise levels their emissions were 4 to 5 times higher:
   
   Supervisor Bill Campbell commented on the cost effectiveness of the $2,900 per ton of the program. He wanted to know if that was high or low. Mr. Singeetham explained that it was a very conservative number as it was calculated on the basis of 4 hours of use per week, but was still very cost-effective when compared to other control strategies.
   
   Motion by Gonzales; seconded by Campbell; and unanimously approved.
   
   
2. Issue Program Announcement for Electric Lawnmower Vendors, Licensed Scrappers and Support Service Providers
   
   Mr. Shashi Singeetham, Air Quality Specialist, provided a summary of the 2010 Lawnmower Exchange Program and a summary of the program since the inception of the exchange events. Mr. Singeetham then presented information on the proposed events for 2011, the purpose of the program announcements, the tasks required and the proposal requirements.
   
   The first program announcement was to solicit competitive proposals from qualified manufacturers/suppliers of cordless electric lawnmowers to be used in the lawnmower exchange program in the South Coast Air Basin. The second program announcement was for funding for licensed scrappers/recyclers of the gasoline mowers turned-in at exchange events, and the third program announcement was for funding for support service providers at the lawnmower exchange events.
   
   Ms. Jane Carney asked how the support service providers and licensed scrappers were selected in the previous years. Mr. Singeetham explained that they were selected on a sole-source basis.
   
   Supervisor Josie Gonzales expressed concern about the final disposal of the scrapped mowers and blowers. Mr. Singeetham explained that they were handled by licensed scrappers and the scrapped metal will be disposed off in auction. Dr. Matt Miyasato, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, assured the Committee that such a requirement would be added to the Program Announcements.
   
   Ms Carney discussed the idea of offering corded mowers for commercial landscape maintenance companies. Mr. Singeetham explained that the corded mowers are relatively inexpensive and incentives wouldn’t be needed and he stated further that CARB would only fund cordless electric equipment. Supervisor Gonzales and Councilwoman Jan Perry suggested approaching green groups of landscapers to further the use of electric mowers, and to learn about potential operational issues.
   
   Supervisor Campbell suggested the use of clean low emission 4-stroke gas mowers to commercial gardeners. It would be much like the current Leaf Blower Exchange Program. Mr. Singeetham said that the staff would look at the emission levels of the 4-stroke gasoline mowers.
   
   Supervisor Gonzales discussed the idea of solar panels on gardeners’ trucks to recharge the batteries. She also asked about the possibility of using hydrogen fuel cell run lawn mowers. Mr. Miyasato said the application of the fuel cells is more suited for equipment like forklifts.
   
   Motion by Gonzales; seconded by Perry and unanimously approved.
   
   INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
   
   
   
3. Impact of Higher On- and Off Road Ammonia Emissions on Regional PM2.5
   
   Mr. Joe Cassmassi, Planning & Rules Manager, presented a sensitivity analysis that examined potential impacts to regional PM2.5 from expected changes to the on-and off-road ammonia inventory.  Preliminary development of the 2012 AQMP emissions inventory has identified possible modifications to the on- and off-road ammonia from the use of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) that could result in approximately 10 additional TPD in 2014.  The sensitivity analysis indicated that a 14 to 18 percent increase in ammonia would result in about a 1 percent increase in PM2.5 in 2014 if no change in the other precursor emissions (e.g. NOx, SOx, VOC and PM2.5) occurs.  The analysis will need to be repeated when updates to the emissions inventory become available.
   
   Ms. Carney and Supervisor Gonzales inquired about the locations, types, and density of ammonia emissions in the Basin.  Staff provided the spatial animation of the emissions and discussed the spatial variability of the inventory.   Henry Hogo commented on the ongoing CARB mobile source SCR rule development informing that that alternatives to the urea based mobile source controls are being evaluated.   Dr. Laki Tisopulos, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, also commented on the effectiveness of dairy emissions controls and the status of the AQMD’s ammonia regulation.
   
   Both Supervisor Gonzales and Ms. Carney commented on the current automated dairy milking and feeding process and how future controls could be developed to take advantage of the automated process.
   
   Councilwoman Jan Perry left the meeting at 9:53 a.m., and Supervisor Bill Campbell left the meeting at 10:00 a.m.
   
   
4. Efforts to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in the SCAQMD
   
   This item was deferred to the October 15, 2010 meeting. 
   
   
5. Rule 2202 Activity Report
   
   Written report submitted. No comments.  
   
   
6. Monthly Report on Environmental Justice Initiatives – CEQA Document Commenting Update
   
   Written report submitted. No comments.
   
   
7. Other Business
   
   The Committee asked for a brief update on the CARB Board action on SB 375 Regional Target Setting at the September 23, 2010 CARB Board meeting. (Note: The Committee did not have a quorum at this point.) Mr. Henry Hogo, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer, provided a brief update indicating that the CARB Board approved the CARB staff recommendation of 8% per capita greenhouse gas reduction in 2020 and provisionally approved 13% in 2035. Staff noted that on September 2, 2010, the SCAG Regional Council approved recommending to CARB 6% reductions in 2020 and 8% in 2023. As part of the approval, CARB Board directed their staff to continue to work with SCAG to discuss the 11 provisions that the SCAG staff had provided as part of their recommendation to the Regional Council for the 13% reduction. The discussions between CARB staff and SCAG would be presented to the CARB Board in February 2011, at which time, the CARB Board may make changes to the 2035 target.
   
   Staff indicated that there were about 80 witnesses testifying on the Senate Bill 375 (SB 375) item, including SCAG and various witnesses in support of SCAG’s recommended reductions with other witnesses in support of the CARB staff recommendations. In addition, there were testimonies from the Building Industry and a representative from the “Carpenters in Action” group indicating that setting regional targets would be a detriment to the construction industry and would impact CEQA actions.
   
   A question was asked about whether specific strategies would be required to be implemented to meet the regional reduction targets. Staff indicated that the CARB staff report provided examples of potential strategies, but the local metropolitan planning organizations will be developing specific plans (or sustainable community strategies) to be submitted to CARB to demonstrate how they will meet the regional reduction targets. Another question was asked about whether the strategies are all local government actions or whether strategies would be proposed for individual residences. Staff indicated that SB 375 is focused on transportation and the primary approach is to reduce vehicle miles travelled through increase use of alternative forms of transportation.
   
   
8. Public Comment
   None
   

The meeting adjourned at 10:27 a.m.

Attachment (DOC, 45k)

Attendance Roster