State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD

Summary of Board Meeting
March 26, 1998

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

MEMBERS PRESENT: Hons. John D. Dunlap, III, Chairman
Joseph C. Calhoun, P.E.
Mark DeSaulnier
Lynne T. Edgerton, Esq.
William F. Friedman, M.D.
Jack C. Parnell
Barbara Patrick
Sally Rakow
Barbara Riordan
Ron Roberts
James W. Silva

AGENDA ITEM #

98-3-1 Public Meeting to Consider an Overview of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

Robert Oglesby, Director of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, provided an overview of the activities of the office, basic information about the personnel, the legislative process, and intergovernmental affairs efforts.

ORAL TESTIMONY: None.

FORMAL BOARD ACTION: None.

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

STAFF REPORT: No


98-3-2

Public Meeting to Consider a Draft Resource Document Which Identifies Achievable Performance Standards and Emerging Technologies for Stationary Sources

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

The staff presented information on an effort underway to assist the districts in identifying potential sources of emission reductions from stationary sources. The staff provided a short summary of the California Clean Air Act requirements as they pertain to every feasible measure, and described how this requirement ensures steady and expeditious progress towards meeting the more health protective State ambient air quality standards. The staff also shared with the Board a draft resource document that can be used by the districts as a reference document as they look for ways to strengthen their plans and rules, as well as a resource for the Air Resources Board (ARB) staff as they review the plans and rules submitted by the districts. This draft document identifies the most effective control strategies that can be implemented now, as well as emerging technologies under development that may offer additional emission reductions in the future. The staff also identified the steps to be taken to finalize the draft document and ensure that the affected stakeholders have an opportunity to comment.

ORAL TESTIMONY: None

BOARD ACTION: None

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: SSD

STAFF REPORT: Yes (10 pages + Appendix)

98-3-3 Consideration of Research Proposals

The Board approved Resolutions 98-12 and 98-13 by unanimous approval. Resolution 98-14, entitled "The Effect of Smoke from Rice Straw and Other Vegetative Residue Burning on Airway Inflammation and Pulmonary Function in Healthy, Asthmatic and Allergic Individuals," was held over to the April Board meeting.

ORAL TESTIMONY:

Joe A. Carrancho
Rice Producers of California

Steven Butler
Rice Farmer

Charlie Hoppin
CA Rice Industry Assn.

Paul Knepprath
American Lung Assn.

98-3-4 Public Meeting to Consider Approving California's 1990 Small Off-Road Engine Emission Inventory

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

Staff requested Board approval for the 1990 emissions inventory for small off-road engines to meet those obligations set forth in Health and Safety Code Section 39607(b) and to fulfill their promise to the Board to update the off-road inventory in its entirety prior to the end of 1998.

ORAL TESTIMONY:

James M. Lyons
Sierra Research, Inc./ Portable Power Equipment Manufacturers Association

Mac Dunaway
Dunaway & Cross/Portable Power Equipment Manufacturers Association

FORMAL BOARD ACTION:

The Board unanimously granted approval of the 1990 emissions inventory for small off-road engines as well as projections to future years.

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: MSCD

STAFF REPORT: Yes (44 pages)


98-3-5

Public Hearing to Consider Amendments to the Small Off-Road Engine Regulations

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

Staff proposed amendments to the 1999 small off-road engine regulations, including a one-year delay in implementation, relaxation of emissions standards for non-handheld engines, emissions durability requirements, averaging/banking/trading, harmonization with the federal diesel engine regulation, and modifications to the production line testing requirements.

Staff proposed some additional changes at the hearing, most notably the replacement of the non-handheld standards with an alternative that would provide equivalent emissions benefits. The Board approved those changes, as well as requesting the addition of "green" labeling and market incentive programs, and a technology review every two years. The changes will be distributed for a 15-day comment period.

ORAL TESTIMONY:

Bruce Bertelsen
Manufacturers of Emissions Controls Association

Tim Carmichael
Coalition for Clean Air, representing also the Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club

Frank Coots
Ryobi

Jim Cotton
Komatsu Zenoah

Mac Dunaway/Jim Lyons
Portable Power Equipment Manufacturers Association

Bob Falconer
California Association of Nurserymen

Andrew Frasier
Pioneer Eclipse

Tom Griswold
John Deere Home Products

Randy Haslam
Tanaka

Julie Kelts
Environmental Council of Sacramento

Kim Liechty
Frigidaire/Husqvarna

Jed Mandel
Engine Manufacturers Association

Paul Maurer
Maurdyne

Larry Otto
Lawn Tech Equipment Company

Larry Rohlfes
California Landscape Contractors Association

Toshiharu Sawada
Komatsu Zenoah

Edward L. Strohbehn, Jr.
Ryobi

Singh Suchdev
Ryobi

Bob Wyman
Briggs & Stratton/ Tecumseh

Jim White
McCulloch

Larry Will
Echo

Ken Zeltner
Autonnic Research

FORMAL BOARD ACTION:

The Board approved Resolution 98-15 by a vote of 7-2 for handheld provisions, and by a unanimous vote for non-handheld provisions.

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: MSCD

STAFF REPORT: Yes (65 pages plus attachments)

98-3-6 Public Meeting to Consider a Resolution Directed to U.S. EPA

Staff recommended that the Board approve a resolution urging the U.S. EPA to recognize the partnership between the local, state, and federal governments, as mandated by the federal Clean Air Act, and to act as a partner by recognizing effective state/local programs which achieve federal standards. Examples of the scope of ARB concern include: For air toxics and operating permits, the EPA is imposing new programs over existing and effective state and local programs. U.S. EPA consistently does not act within statutory limits either on requests for redesignation of air quality status or on hundreds of rules that comprise the SIP. U.S. EPA has failed to provide an enforceable mechanism to recognize the legitimate need for temporary operation of a source under variance.

ORAL TESTIMONY: None

FORMAL BOARD ACTION:

The Board approved Resolution 98-16 by a unanimous vote.

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: Office of Legal Affairs, assisted by the Stationary Source Division.

STAFF REPORT: None