State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD

Summary of Board Meeting
May 30, 1996

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
                                                 Barbara Riordan
                                                 Ron Roberts
                                                 James W. Silva
                                                 Doug Vagim

AGENDA ITEM #

96-4-1




Public Hearing to Consider the Repeal of Sections 2201 and 2202, Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Repeal of Sections 93301-93355 and Appendices A to E, Title 17, California Code of Regulations, and Addition of Section 93300.5, Title 17, California Code of Regulations

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

The Governor's Executive Order W-95-127 ordered all California State agencies to review their regulations and eliminate unnecessary or duplicative regulations. Staff presented an overview of ARB's regulation review plan, which was begun in 1995. The regulation review plan has resulted in the elimination of more than 70 regulations from Title 13 and Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR). Staff proposed that the Board repeal two additional regulations as part of the regulation review effort. In addition, staff proposed that the Board approve the transfer of the Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Emission Inventory Criteria and Guidelines from Title 17 of the CCR into a separate document (entitled the "Air Toxics 'Hot Spots' Emission Inventory Criteria and Guidelines Report"), to be incorporated by reference.

The Board adopted new regulation Title 17 CCR section 93300.5, which incorporates the Air Toxics "Hot Spots" Emission Inventory Criteria and Guidelines Report by reference, and repealed Title 13 CCR section 2201 and section 2202, and Title 17 CCR sections 93301-93355 (including appendices A-E).

ORAL TESTIMONY:

Cindy Tuck                                                       CCEEB

FORMAL BOARD ACTION:

Approved Resolution 96-19 by a unanimous vote.

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION:  EO/Office of Legal Affairs

STAFF REPORT:  Yes (5 pages)

96-4-2 Public Meeting to Consider Amendments to Divide the Southeast Desert Air Basin Into Two Air Basins and to Modify the Boundary of the South Coast Air Basin and Amendments to the Related Agricultural Burning Regulations

Health and Safety Code (H&SC) Section 39606.1, added by Assembly Bill 421 (AB 421) of 1995, requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt regulations by January 1, 1997, to divide the Southeast Desert Air Basin (SEDAB) into two new air basins. It also mandates that one new air basin be named the "Mojave Desert Air Basin," and specifies its minimum territories. ARB may include any additional areas contiguous to the minimum territories that ARB determines appropriate for inclusion.

A second new air basin would consist of those areas of the SEDAB not included by ARB in the new Mojave Desert Air Basin. The staff proposed a new name for this second air basin to alleviate possible confusion by the public between the old and new versions of the SEDAB.

Unrelated to AB 421, the South Coast Air Quality Management District requested that ARB realign air basin boundaries, so that the San Gorgonio Pass area of the SEDAB would become a part of the South Coast Air Basin.

The Board adopted the staff's proposal as follows:

(1) Divide the Southeast Desert Air Basin into two new air basins called the
      "Mojave Desert Air Basin" (MDAB) and the "Salton Sea Air Basin" (SSAB);
      and

(2) Alter the boundary of the South Coast Air Basin (SOCAB) by including the
      San Gorgonio Pass area. As a result, there will be a total of 15 air basins in
      California, and there will no longer be an air basin called the "Southeast Desert
      Air Basin."

The new Mojave Desert Air Basin (MDAB) will consist of the previous SEDAB portions of Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties, and also that segment of Riverside County that lies east of the southwestern boundary line of Hydrologic Unit Number 18100100 in Riverside County.

The new Salton Sea Air Basin (SSAB) will consist of all of Imperial County and that segment of the previous SEDAB portion of Riverside County that lies to the west of the aforementioned Hydrologic Unit boundary line, except for the San Gorgonio Pass area of Riverside County.

The South Coast Air Basin, as modified, will consist of all the current territories plus the San Gorgonio Pass area.

The Board also adopted the staff's proposal that the previous meteorological criteria in the agricultural burning regulations for the SEDAB be used for the new SSAB; and the same criteria be used for the new MDAB, except that the criterion on wind direction, which does not apply to the MDAB, be deleted.

The Mojave Desert District expressed concerns about the regulatory burden caused by the federal classification of "Severe-17" for the national ozone standard. In response, the Board approved the staff recommendation to request that the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency: (1) Make conforming changes in the nonattainment area boundaries for the federal Southeast Desert Modified Air Quality Maintenance Area (AQMA); (2) Support a change in federal law to consider intra-state transport in establishing area classifications; and (3) Review and modify, as appropriate, the planning requirements for the Southeast Desert Modified AQMA.

A number of individuals requested in writing or orally that the Big Bear Lake area of the SOCAB be made a part of the new Mojave Desert Air Basin. The Board approved the staff's recommendation not to change the current boundaries, and directed the staff to work with local governments and residents to discuss future possibilities of air basin boundary changes around the Big Bear Lake area.

ORAL TESTIMONY:

Mike Rothschild                             Mojave Desert AQMD

Douglas Mac Iver                           Doug Mac Iver Consulting

Ron Wilcox                                    Citizen

FORMAL BOARD ACTION:

Adopted Resolution 96-20 by a vote of 10-0.

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION:  TSD

STAFF REPORT:  Yes (54 pages plus six Appendices)

96-4-3 Public Meeting to Consider a Report to the Board on the Progress of the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission (GCVTC)

SUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:

The GCVTC was created by the federal Clean Air Act of 1990 (CAA'90). The Commission is required to make recommendations to the EPA to remedy existing, and prevent future, visibility impairment at Grand Canyon National Park and other Class I areas on the Colorado Plateau. Chairman Dunlap is Governor Wilson's designated GCVTC representative. The Commission will meet June 10 to consider adopting a "consensus" recommendation. The Commission's work and proposed recommendations were discussed, emphasizing impacts on California's air pollution control programs.

The GCVTC constructed a computer model, called the "Integrated Assessment System," which links a regional economic model (REMI), an emission inventory (12 states, Mexico, and Canada), wild and prescribed fire, CAA'90 requirements, and regional air pollution models. The region's economic activity, emissions, and visibility were projected through 2040 for "baseline" conditions and for "scenarios" representing possible approaches to visibility protection. Major findings are:

1.  Haze comes from sources throughout the West, not just Southern California.

2.  Significant improvements are possible with moderate cost.

3.  Wild and prescribed fires are major haze sources.

4.  Mexican emissions contribute to haze across most of the region. This will
     need to be addressed by the U.S. government through international programs.

5.  California's current SIP commitments will substantially reduce the state's
     contribution to haze on the Colorado Plateau; no major new emission control
     programs will be required.

Major elements of the recommendations before the GCVTC are:

1.  Let the CAA'90 reduce regional emissions through the year 2000.

2.  Stationary sources agree to a 13% reduction in regional SO2 emissions by
     2000; long-term reduction of 50-70% by 2040, using an emissions market.

3.  Mobile source emissions will be reduced by promoting advanced controls
     (national, regional, and local programs for LEVs, fuels, VMT reductions, etc.).

4.  Regional emissions from all sources will be reduced by applying pollution
     prevention and conservation measures, using incentives and, possibly, emission
     fees.

5.  Smoke from managed fires (agriculture, forestry, range management, etc.) will
     be controlled by aggressive smoke management, developing alternatives to
     burning, and removing administrative barriers to non-burn alternatives.

ORAL TESTIMONY:  None

FORMAL BOARD ACTION:  None

RESPONSIBLE DIVISION:  RD

STAFF REPORT:  No

96-4-4 Consideration of Research Proposals

Resolutions 96-26, 96-27, 96-29, 96-30, 96-31, 96-32, 96-33, 96-34 were approved unanimously. Resolution 96-28, "Incorporation of Radio Transponders into Vehicular On-Board Diagnostic Systems" was held over for a future Board meeting.