State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD

Summary of Board Meeting
February 26, 1998

South Coast Air Quality Management District
Auditorium
21865 East Copley Drive
Diamond Bar, California


MEMBERS PRESENT: Hons. John D. Dunlap, III, Chairman
Joseph C. Calhoun, P.E.
Mark DeSaulnier
William F. Friedman, M.D.
Jack C. Parnell
Barbara Patrick
Sally Rakow
Barbara Riordan

AGENDA ITEM #

98-2-1 Public Meeting to Consider an Informational Report on Air Quality Trends

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

The staff presented an informational item on California air quality trends and also described several new products for distributing air quality and emissions data available on the Internet and in CD format.

The trends presentation focused on seven pollutants of great interest in California. Three of these pollutants--lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide--have shown dramatic improvements over the last 20 years. A fourth pollutant, benzene, is a toxic air contaminant (TAC). Since the Board identified benzene as a TAC, statewide mean concentrations have decreased over 65 percent. A fifth pollutant, carbon monoxide, poses a problem in only three areas--Los Angeles County, the Fresno Urban Area, and the City of Calexico, in Imperial County. This is in contrast to the situation in (Continued) the 1980's when 12 urban areas were nonattainment for this pollutant.

In contrast to the previous pollutants, ozone and PM10 still pose significant problems throughout California. With ozone, some of the greatest improvements have been seen in the most populated areas of the state. In general, the coastal areas have been most responsive to emission reductions. Inland areas, such as the Central Valley, have experienced larger rates of growth and have shown less progress.

The state PM10 standards are still violated in all areas of California except Lake County. The PM10 problem is so difficult because the emission sources are diverse, and the nature of the problem varies from area to area.

In summary, staff's analysis shows that dramatic progress has been made in reducing air pollution in California. However, despite these improvements, the air quality in many areas still violates both the state and federal health-based standards.

In addition to presenting trends, the staff also demonstrated several new tools for accessing air quality and emissions data. These tools take advantage of CD-ROM and internet technology. The staff has compiled a CD-ROM containing 17 years of air quality data. These data may be accessed using Voyager software (included on the CD-ROM) or exported to another application.

The internet provides direct access to air quality data in the Aerometric Data Analysis and Management System (ADAM) and to emissions data in the California Emission Inventory Data and Reporting System (CEIDARS). Various options let the users generate information in a format compatible with their interest. Both of these databases can be accessed from the Air Resources Board's homepage, located at www.arb.ca.gov.

ORAL TESTIMONY: None

BOARD ACTION: None

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: TSD

STAFF REPORT: No

98-2-2 Public Meeting to Consider a Summary of the 1998 Regulatory Rulemaking Calendar

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

Staff presented a summary of each of the regulatory items on the 1998 ARB Draft Rulemaking Calendar to the Board and the public with information relating to the implementation of the 1994 Ozone SIP.

Staff also provided a brief summary of the rulemaking procedures and legal requirements of the state Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

Following the staff's presentation, the Ombudsman, James Schoning, stated that as important as the technical merit and feasibility of the regulations that the Board adopts, is the process by which regulations are developed and adopted. He indicated that the Office of the Ombudsman follows every regulatory item of the Board, as well as a number of non-regulatory items, to assist effective involvement by stakeholders in the identification, development, and implementation of air quality rules. In 1997, the Ombudsman office tracked and submitted comments on 10 regulatory items.

ORAL TESTIMONY: None

FORMAL BOARD ACTION: None

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: Executive Office & Office of Legal Affairs

STAFF REPORT: No

98-2-3 Public Hearing to Consider Approval of a Revision to the California State Implementation Plan

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

In 1994, California adopted a comprehensive ozone SIP to demonstrate attainment of the federal ozone standard and show a steady rate-of-progress toward that goal for the six areas in California with the most severe smog problem. ARB's element of the SIP included a series of commitments to reduce emissions in the future. Mobile source commitments are referred to as "M" measures. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) approved the 1994 California SIP for Ozone in 1996. Subsequent air quality plans for ozone and particulate matter (PM10) in the South Coast also relied on ARB's 1994 SIP commitments.

At the Board meeting, staff proposed and the Board approved a narrow SIP revision to withdraw ARB Measure M-7 and submit a new Measure M-17 affecting the same mobile source category. Accelerated Retirement of Heavy-Duty Vehicles, M-7 committed to reduce emissions of ozone precursors in the South Coast Air Basin by 11 tons per day in 2010, with lesser reductions expected in earlier years. This measure envisioned that the reductions would be achieved through the annual retirement of about 1,600 of the oldest highest emitting trucks in the South Coast. Although this approach seemed feasible in 1994, subsequent analysis revealed major obstacles to successful implementation.

The Board also approved the staff's proposal for a new measure to ensure the SIP continues to meet federal requirements for attainment and rate-of-progress. The goal of the new Measure M-17, Additional Reductions from Heavy-Duty Vehicles, is to reduce in-use emissions from heavy-duty vehicles through proper maintenance and durable emission controls, and to pursue incentives to speed the introduction of cleaner engines. M-17 will achieve the same 11 tons per day of emission reductions in 2010 as M-7. While the new measure would not supply all of the reductions identified in the affected plans for 1999 through 2005, M-17 provides the legally required emission reductions in the South Coast Air Basin for ozone and PM10.

At the hearing, the trucking industry opposed the the proposed revisions to the SIP. While the industry representatives concurred with staff that truck scrappage is not viable, they strongly supported mechanisms to accelerate fleet turnover as the sole approach. Their preferred mechanisms would be a tighter, retroactive emission standard for older trucks and financial incentives to support engine upgrades or new purchases. Environmental groups also requested that the Board not adopt the proposed revisions to the SIP. They supported the goal of M-17, but expressed concern about a short-term loss of emission reductions. The Board directed staff to expand the on-going, cooperative efforts to identify and secure incentives to upgrade the fleet and to periodically update the Board on the progress of these efforts.

ORAL TESTIMONY:

Jed Mandel
Engine Manufacturers Association

Janet Hathaway
NRDC

Stephanie Williams
California Trucking Association (CTA)

Bill Smerber
CTA

Bill Garnett
Think Fresh Transport

Dennis Firestone
KKW Trucking

Ian Nievez
Qwikway Trucking Co.

Arthur F. Thompson
Tom-Son Tank Lines Inc.

Cleo Evans
Evans Dedicated System

Andy Anderson
Condor Freight Lines

William K. Applebee
Best Overnight Express, Inc.

Tim Carmichael
Coalition for Clean Air

FORMAL BOARD ACTION: Approved Resolution 98-11 by a unanimous vote.

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: EO/OAQTP

STAFF REPORT: Yes (25 pages)

98-2-4 Public Meeting to Consider an Overview of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

This item was held over to the March 1998 Board meeting.