State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD

Summary of Board Meeting
May 25, 1995

Air Resources Board
Board Hearing Room, Lower Level
2020 "L" Street
Sacramento, California

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Hons. John D. Dunlap, III, Chairman
                                                 Eugene A. Boston, M.D.
                                                 Lynne T. Edgerton, Esq.
                                                 M. Patricia Hilligoss
                                                 John S. Lagarias, P.E.
                                                 Jack C. Parnell
                                                 Ron Roberts
                                                 James W. Silva
                                                 Doug Vagim

AGENDA ITEM #

95-5-1




Public Meeting to Consider a Proposed Report to the California State Legislature on Funding Sources of California's Air Pollution Control Districts with Budgets Exceeding One Million Dollars

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

The staff presented a summary of the proposed report, including descriptions of statutory requirements, district budgets, sources of funding, sources of fee income, and how funds are allocated among district programs and services. The FY93-94 budgets for the 12 districts discussed in the report ranged from $104 million to $1.6 million. Most funding comes from fees (52 percent) and vehicle registration funds (17 percent) on a statewide basis. Of the fees, the oil and gas industry contributed 33 percent and manufacturing 27 percent of the total. Fines and penalties from enforcement activities averaged 2 percent of the total funds.

Staff noted that, because each district defines budget categories in a non-uniform way, the report does not compare district program budgets. The Board requested next year's report provide that information. This will allow district-to-district comparisons of programs and revenues. The Board also indicated that ARB should not impose undue burdens on districts as staff develops standard reporting formats.

After directing staff to work with CAPCOA on standardizing program and revenue reporting for next year's report, the Board approved the report for submittal to the Legislature and the Governor.

ORAL TESTIMONY:

Larry Robinson                                      Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD

FORMAL BOARD ACTION:

Approved Report by a 9-0 vote.

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION:  EO

STAFF REPORT:  Yes (26 pages)

95-5-2 Public Meeting to Consider A Status Report on the State Implementation Plan (SIP) and the Federal Implementation Plan (FIP)

The staff reported on Congressional rescission of the Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) and the progress that has been made in obtaining U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) approval of California's own State Implementation Plan (SIP).

On April 10, 1995, President Clinton signed California- sponsored legislation to permanently eliminate the FIP. Staff clarified that the rescinded FIP measures are not the same as the national standards assigned to U.S. EPA as part of the SIP.

National emissions standards are critical to the SIP. The U.S. EPA has committed to pursue standards for heavy-duty diesel trucks and off-road equipment, locomotives, and pleasure craft. ARB and U.S. EPA staff are working together on the proposals for heavy-duty engines.

U.S. EPA advanced the SIP approval process, finding the entire California SIP to be complete and adequate for rulemaking on April 18, 1995. The agency is due to follow up with a letter to the Air Resources Board outlining any SIP approvability issues in early June. These issues may include credit for national standards and funding for vehicle scrappage measures, as well as technical clarification. The staff expects to resolve any issues favorably and gain approval of the plan. The U.S. EPA intends to propose action on the SIP in October 1995, with final action in 1996.

The staff provided an update on the State's commitment to adopt SIP measures, including the schedule for public hearings through 1997. For example, the lower oxides of nitrogen (NOx) standard for medium- and heavy-duty gasoline vehicles is headed for a hearing this September, with industry support. The Bureau of Automotive Repair will hold a June 15 hearing on regulations to implement the enhanced inspection and maintenance program (I/M). The I/M regulations are expected to be adopted and submitted to U.S. EPA in time to avoid the lapse of a sanctions clock on June 30.

Finally, the staff described the progress of a joint state and local SIP strategy, the mobile NOx program in the five-district Sacramento Region. The program is designed to address heavy-duty engines by offering incentives to accelerate introduction of cleaner engines and, Board support the Sacramento District's application for federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) funds to implement the regional mobile NOx program.

ORAL TESTIMONY:  None

FORMAL BOARD ACTION:

Approved Resolution 95-20 by a unanimous vote, endorsing the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District's application for CMAQ funds to support the regional mobile NOx program.

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION:  EO/OAQTP

STAFF REPORT:  None

95-5-3 Consideration of Research Proposals

Approved resolutions 95-21, 95-23, 95-24, and 95-25 by a 9-0 vote. Resolution 95-22, "Common Indoor Sources of Volatile Organic Compounds: Emission Rates and Techniques for Reducing Consumer Exposures," was held over until the next Board meeting.