State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD

Summary of Board Meeting
December 9, 1999

Air Resources Board

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

MEMBERS PRESENT: Hons. Alan C. Lloyd, Ph.D., Chairman
    Joseph C. Calhoun, P.E.
    Doreen D'Adamo
    Mark DeSaulnier
    C. Hugh Friedman
    William F. Friedman, M.D.
    Matthew R. McKinnon
    Barbara Patrick
    Ron Roberts

AGENDA ITEM #

99-10-1 Public Meeting to Consider the Approval of California's On-Road Motor Vehicle Emissions Inventory

This item was postponed to the March 2000 Board meeting.
   
99-10-2 Public Meeting to Consider a Report on the Air Quality Impacts of the Use of Ethanol in California Reformulated Gasoline

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

The staff proposed that the Board approve a report to the Environmental Policy Council on Air Quality Impacts of the Use of Ethanol in California Reformulated Gasoline.

On March 25, 1999, Governor Gray Davis issued Executive Order D-5-99 calling for the removal of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) from gasoline at the earliest possible date, but not later than December 31, 2002. Task 10 of the Executive Order requires the Air Resources Board (ARB), in conjunction with the State Water Resources Control Board (WRCB) and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), to evaluate the fate and transport of ethanol in gasoline.

The ARB staff conducted an analysis to estimate the air quality impacts that would result from substituting ethanol-blended gasoline for gasoline blended with MTBE. The results of the air quality evaluation were provided to OEHHA for inclusion in its risk assessment of the health impacts. The analysis showed that the use of ethanol instead of MTBE in gasoline would lead to increased emissions of ethanol and acetaldehyde, but the predicted air quality impacts of MTBE-free gasoline do not lead to any substantial differences in health risk.

The Board approved the report for transmittal to the Environmental Policy Council. The Council will consider this report and the reports by the WRCB and OEHHA at a meeting scheduled for January 18, 1999.

ORAL TESTIMONY:
   
Dr. Donald Lucas Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and University of California, Berkeley
Gary Whitten ICF Consulting
Tom Koehler Parallel Products
Janet Hathaway Natural Resources Defense Council
   
FORMAL BOARD ACTION: None

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: PTSD

STAFF REPORT: Yes (377 pages)
   
99-10-3 Public Hearing to Consider Amendments to the California Reformulated Gasoline Regulations, Including a December 31, 2002 Prohibition of Using MTBE in Gasoline, Adoption of Phase 3 Gasoline Standards, a Phase 3 Predictive Model, and Other Changes

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

Staff proposed regulatory amendments to the California Air Resources Board's (Board) California Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG) regulations consistent with the Governor's Executive Order D-5-99, SB 989, and the timetable for removing MTBE approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC).

The Board approved the staff's proposal for a ban on the production of California gasoline with MTBE, which will apply to all gasoline supplied from production and import facilities no later than December 31, 2002.

In addition to the required phase out of MTBE use, the Board approved a number of changes to the current specifications for CaRFG Phase 2 gasoline. Collectively, these specifications are referred to as the CaRFG3 standards. The Board approved revisions to the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) limit, and lowered the sulfur flat, average, and cap limits.

The Board also lowered the benzene flat and cap limits. The aromatics content cap and oxygen cap limits were increased. In addition, the Board approved an increase in the T50 and T90 distillation temperature, flat, and average limits, and maintained the T50 and T90 existing cap limits.

The Board adopted the CaRFG3 specifications and allowed refiners and importers to supply gasoline meeting the CaRFG3 standards, including prohibition of MTBE and use of the CaRFG3 Predictive Model, prior to December 31, 2002. This change was adopted to enable refiners to take advantage of the CaRFG3 rules to phase out MTBE use early.

The Board also adopted the staff's proposed alternative CaRFG3 standards for small refiners that produced complying CaRFG2 during 1998 and 1999. A small refiner would need to meet all CaRFG3 requirements with adjusted flat limits for: aromatics, benzene, T50, and T90. Such refiners must also comply with applicable federal RFG standards. Any increase in emissions associated with the small refiner alternative specifications must be fully mitigated through a mechanism to be added to the small refiner diesel regulations. A volume cap would also apply.

The Board also approved recommendations to maintain the CaRFG2 cap limits for T50 and T90, instead of increasing these levels as staff originally proposed. Because of this change, the proposed specification for a Driveability Index (DI) was deleted by the Board as it is no longer needed to maintain existing fuel performance.

The Board approved staff's recommendations to have staff return to the Board for a public hearing by October, 2000, on further amendments to the CARBOB provisions, proposed specifications for denatured ethanol, and amendments to the diesel regulations to implement the mitigation required of small refiners.

ARB staff also proposed a study of commingling effects associated with ethanol by the end of 2001, and, if this assessment indicates that emissions will increase beyond the level mitigated by the CaRFG3 rule, committed to propose revisions to the regulation to provide needed additional emissions reductions. In addition, staff was directed by the Board to return with additional information by the end of 2000 on the effects of ethanol on evaporative emissions related to permeation effects on polymer and elastomeric hoses used in gasoline-powered sources. The Board also directed staff to return every six months with a status report on the implementation of the CaRFG3 program and, if needed, recommendations to make further gasoline regulatory amendments.

The Board also approved staff's recommendations for a new CaRFG3 Predictive Model to be applicable along with the CaRFG3 standards. The revised model is based on the existing ARB Predictive Model with three basic changes. First, the new model would add an evaporative emissions element that would allow refiners to vary RVP and use hydrocarbon impacts in conjunction with the exhaust emissions Predictive Model. This will facilitate ethanol usage by permitting refiners who use ethanol to produce a fuel with higher RVP provided that the increase in evaporative emissions were offset by reductions in exhaust emissions. A second ARB Predictive Model change would allow a hydrocarbon credit for gasoline that provides CO emissions reductions associated with an oxygen content greater than 2.0 weight percent. A third ARB Predictive Model change updates the model to reflect recent vehicle test data and changes in the current vehicle fleet, and to account for changes in new vehicles' response to changes in fuel properties.

The Board authorized the Executive Officer to update the CaRFG3 Predictive Model with data in the revised inventory, once the Board accepts the EMFAC2000 emission inventory update. The EMFAC2000 emissions inventory agenda item is now scheduled for the Board's consideration in March 2000.

ORAL TESTIMONY:

Gordon Schremp California Energy Commission
Catherine Koshland University of California, Berkeley
Tom Stallard Sacramento Area Council of Governments
Rosario Marin Mayor, Huntington Park
Duane Bordvick Tosco Corporation
Douglas Henderson Western States Petroleum Association
Ed Manning Western States Petroleum Association
Al Jessel Western States Petroleum Association
Charles Franiken Ultramar Diamond Shamrock
Gregory Dana Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers
William Piel Oxygenated Fuels Association
Michael Scippa CRASH
Mike Kulakowski Equilon Enterprises
Chad Tuttle Kern Oil and Refining
John Wright CENCO Refining
Jay McKeeman California Independent Oil Marketers Association
Paul Geyer Bartlett Petroleum
James Lyons Sierra Research
Paul Knepprath American Lung Association
Sandra Spelliscy Planning and Conservation League
Brooke Coleman Blue Water Network and CalPirg
Mark Nelson Cleaner Air Partnership
Janet Hathaway Natural Resources Defense Council
Larry Greene California Air Pollution Control Officers Association
Chung Liu South Coast Air Quality Management District
Martin Tuttle Sacramento Area Council of Governments
Gene Fisher Watts Learning Center
Al Sutton Vietnam Veterans Association #713
Franco Reyna Multi Area Health Education Coalition
John McClelland National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)
Michael Graboski, PhD Colorado School of Mines (NCGA)
Alison Pollack, PhD Environ (NCGA)
Neil Koehler Parallel Products (RFA)
Gary Whitten, PhD ICF Consulting (RFA)
Bruce Heine Williams Energy (RFA)
Steven Mazor Automobile Club of Southern California
Bob Reynolds Downstream Alternatives (RFA)
Eric Vaughn Renewable Fuels Association (RFA)
Terry Jafoni Cargill (Vice-Chair, RFA)
Jodi Waters Oxy Busters
V. John White Sierra Club/Coalition for Clean Air
John Cabaniss Jr. Association of International Automobile Manufacturers
Gary Herwick General Motors Corporation
Harold Haskew Consultant
Walter Kreucher Ford Motor Company
Anne Schlenker Daimler Chrysler Corporation
Suzanne Phinney Gencorp (Aeroject) and Cleaner Air Partnership
Dennis Lamb DWL Services
Charlie Peters Clean Air Performance Professionals
Azibuike Akaba Communities for a Better Environment
Stan Van Vleck Agricultural Coalition
Robert Bruce Bullard Environmental Philanthropist

FORMAL BOARD ACTION:

The Board approved Resolution 99-39 by a unanimous vote.

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: SSD

STAFF REPORT: Yes (489 pages)