BOARD MEETING STATE OF CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD JOE SERNA, JR. BUILDING CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CENTRAL VALLEY AUDITORIUM, SECOND FLOOR 1001 I STREET SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2004 9:00 A.M. TIFFANY C. KRAFT, CSR, RPR CERTIFIED SHORTHAND REPORTER LICENSE NUMBER 12277 PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 ii APPEARANCES BOARD MEMBERS Dr. Alan Lloyd, Chairperson Ms. Dorene D'Adamo Mr. Henry Gong, Jr., M.D. Ms. Lydia H. Kennard Mr. Ronald O. Loveridge Supervisor Barbara Patrick STAFF Mr. Tom Cackette, Chief Deputy Executive Officer Ms. Diane Johnston, General Counsel Mr. Michael Scheible, Deputy Executive Officer Ms. Lynn Terry, Deputy Executive Officer Ms. Kathleen Tschogl, Ombudsman Ms. Catherine Witherspoon, Executive Officer Ms. Lori Andreoni, Board Secretary Mr. Richard Bode, Chief, Health and Exposure Assessment Branch Mr. Ken Bowers, Population Studies Section, Research Division Mr. Bart Croes, Chief, Research Division Mr. W. Thomas Jennings, Senior Staff Counsel PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 iii APPEARANCES CONTINUED STAFF Dr. Eileen McCauley, Manager, Atmospheric Processes Research Section, Research Division Ms. Annmarie Mora, Air Pollution Specialist, Research Division Ms. Barbara Weller, Manager, Population Studies Section ALSO PRESENT Professor John Balmes, M.D., Research Screening Committee Professor Hal Cota, Chairman of the Research Screening Committee Mr. Robert Devlin, Research Screening Committee Professor Barbara Finlayson-Pitts, Research Screening Committee Mr. Jorge Gutierrez, ClearInnovation, LLC Mr. Michael Lipsett, Research Screening Committee Mr. Chung Liu, Research Screening Committee Mr. John Reuter, UC Davis Mr. Harold Singer, Lahonten Regional Board Ms. Tracy Thatcher, Research Screening Committee PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 iv INDEX PAGE Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call 2 Opening Remarks 1 Item 04-9-6 Chairperson Lloyd 1 Executive Officer Witherspoon 3 Staff Presentation 3 Q&A 13 Item 04-9-7 Chairperson Lloyd 22 Executive Officer Witherspoon 22 Staff Presentation 23 Q&A 43 Mr. Singer 46 Mr. Reuter 49 Item 04-9-8 Chairperson Lloyd 51 Executive Officer Witherspoon 54 Professor Cota 54 Research Screening Committee 55 Professor Cota 56 Staff Presentation 59 Q&A 96 Item 04-9-9 Chairperson Lloyd 113 Staff Presentation 113 Q&A 117 Public Comment 121 Adjournment 129 Reporter's Certificate 130 PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 1 1 PROCEEDINGS 2 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Good morning. I'd like to 3 reconvene the October 28th-29th, meeting of the Air 4 Resources Board. 5 I would like to remind everyone before we get 6 into the items today that if they wish to testify, please 7 sign up with the Clerk of the Board, and if you have any 8 written testimony, provide 30 copies. 9 We'll be meeting with the Research Screening 10 Committee today. It's one of the highlights for the 11 Board. And that will appear later on this morning, and 12 then we will have lunch with the RSC and the staff. 13 First item on the agenda is 4-8-1, monthly report 14 on the health update. For the past several years, these 15 monthly updates have provided the Board with briefings on 16 the topic that drives our primary mission: To protect 17 public health. Today's health update will present 18 recently published findings from the Southern California 19 Children's Health Study. The study, funded by the Board, 20 is particularly appropriate today. And it's the largest 21 and longest term epidemiological study to study the health 22 impacts of air pollution on children. 23 For the past ten years, the Children's Health 24 Study has provided crucial information on the health 25 effects of air pollution on children, one of California's PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 2 1 most sensitive populations. The results we will hear 2 about today examine the long-term affects air pollution 3 has on the development of children's lung function and 4 possible implications for respiratory health on in 5 adulthood. And, of course, these studies provide a really 6 strong scientific underpinning for the work that we do 7 here and what motivates us to go ahead with stringent 8 control measures. So with that, I'd like to turn it over 9 to Ms. Witherspoon to introduce the item. 10 GENERAL COUNSEL JOHNSTON: Before we do that, Dr. 11 Lloyd, can we take the roll for the Board? 12 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Oh, sorry. We need to take 13 the roll. Thank you for correcting me. 14 Will the Clerk of the Board please call the roll? 15 SECRETARY ANDREONI: Yes, I will. 16 Ms. Berg? 17 Ms. D'Adamo? 18 BOARD MEMBER D'ADAMO: Here. 19 SECRETARY ANDREONI: Supervisor DeSaulnier? 20 Dr. Gong? 21 DR. GONG: Here. 22 SECRETARY ANDREONI: Ms. Kennard? 23 BOARD MEMBER KENNARD: Here. 24 SECRETARY ANDREONI: Supervisor Patrick? 25 SUPERVISOR PATRICK: Here. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 3 1 SECRETARY ANDREONI: Ms. Riordan? 2 Supervisor Roberts? 3 Ms. Pineda? 4 Mayor Loveridge? 5 BOARD MEMBER LOVERIDGE: Yes. 6 SECRETARY ANDREONI: And Chairman Lloyd? 7 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Here. 8 Thank you very much. 9 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: Good morning, 10 Chairman Lloyd and members of the Board. 11 We actually thought we would take this 12 opportunity not just to tell you about the latest findings 13 from the Children's Health Study, but the entire study for 14 the benefit of new members on the Board and do sort of a 15 wrap up of everything we've learned to date. 16 And with that, I'll introduce Ken Bowers from the 17 Research Division. 18 (Thereupon an overhead presentation was 19 presented as follows.) 20 DR. BOWERS: Thank you, Ms. Witherspoon. And 21 good morning, Chairman Lloyd and members of the Board. 22 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Is your mic on? 23 --o0o-- 24 DR. BOWERS: Today, I want to share with you the 25 latest findings from the Children's Health Study. And PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 4 1 since some of the new Board members may not be familiar 2 with the results of this study, I'll also provide some 3 background and review some of the previous study results. 4 This study of children's health and air 5 pollution, funded with $18 million from the Air Resources 6 Board and co-funding from the South Coast District and the 7 U.S. EPA, continues to produce vital information on the 8 chronic effects of air pollution on one of our most 9 sensitive population groups, our children. 10 --o0o-- 11 DR. BOWERS: Three motivating factors led us to 12 fund the Children's Health Study. First, the need for 13 information to support our ambient air quality standards 14 setting. Second, our concern about children's health 15 effects. And last, the lack of information on chronic 16 health effects from long-term exposure to air pollution. 17 Let me explain in some more detail. 18 --o0o-- 19 DR. BOWERS: As you know, the Air Resources Board 20 establishes ambient air quality standards separate from 21 the U.S. EPA. California standards are set at levels to 22 protect the health of the citizens of California. 23 Importantly, these standards are designed to protect our 24 most sensitive population sub-groups, which may be more 25 vulnerable to air pollution effects. Our research is PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 5 1 designed to give us information on the potential impact of 2 air pollutants on sensitive populations in the state so 3 standard-setting decisions can be logically and 4 authoritatively made. Of particular interest are those 5 persons considered most sensitive due to age, preexisting 6 disease, or exposure. 7 --o0o-- 8 DR. BOWERS: Children have been found to be more 9 sensitive to the effects of air pollution. Children are 10 not simply small adults. They are a unique population and 11 are at greater risk, because they are still growing and 12 developing. In particular, their respiratory and immune 13 systems are still developing through their teenage years. 14 Children are more active and spend more time out of doors 15 than adults, and their breathing rates are higher. 16 Therefore, they will receive more exposure from air 17 pollution than adults under the same circumstances. Also, 18 children are at the beginning of their lives. Lung damage 19 can result in health effects that may persist throughout 20 their lifetime. 21 --o0o-- 22 DR. BOWERS: As of the late 1980s when the 23 Children's Health Study was conceived, little research had 24 been targeted to affects on children, nor was there much 25 known about the chronic health effects. Most studies of PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 6 1 the health effects of air pollution had been based on 2 short-term effects and often primarily in adults. 3 Long-term studies were needed to help determine how 4 chronic exposure to ambient air pollution can affect our 5 children. 6 --o0o-- 7 DR. BOWERS: The Southern California Children's 8 Health Study began in 1992 to investigate these air 9 pollution health concerns. For more than ten years, this 10 study has investigated the air pollution impacts on over 11 5500 children. Students were recruited from the fourth, 12 seventh, and tenth grades and followed through high 13 school. These children have been selected in twelve 14 communities chosen for their different pollution profiles. 15 I will talk more about this in the next slide. 16 To achieve the desired long-term results, the 17 study was designed to have a stable population base. In 18 other words, the study subjects were selected so they 19 would be -- there would be as much subject retention as 20 possible. To maintain a stable population base, most 21 subjects were from middle income families. Similar 22 populations were recruited from the different communities. 23 Health measurements included annual air lung 24 function tests and questionnaires to determine changes in 25 their home environment. The annual questionnaire asks PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 7 1 demographic questions, such as the number of siblings or 2 changes in their home. The questionnaire also asks health 3 information, such as a doctor's diagnosis of asthma or if 4 the child has suffered from a chronic cough. 5 --o0o-- 6 DR. BOWERS: As you can see, the sites are 7 scattered around the Los Angeles basin and sounding areas. 8 Sites were chosen for their differing pollution profiles. 9 Alpine and Lake Arrowhead have the highest ozone levels. 10 Miraloma has the highest particulate matter level. Lompoc 11 and Santa Maria are the cleanest sites. 12 Communities which are mainly impacted by 13 transported pollution and pollutants after undergoing 14 atmospheric chemical reactions are the communities 15 downwind from major pollution source areas and include 16 Miraloma, Riverside, San Dimas, Glendora, and Upland. 17 --o0o-- 18 DR. BOWERS: The major test of respiratory health 19 and lung development used in the Children's Health Study 20 is an annual lung function test using a spirometer, as 21 shown here. A spirometer is an instrument that can 22 measure the volume of air a person can breathe in and out 23 and the rate at which they breathe. By the age of 18, 24 girls' lungs have nearly matured, and the growth of boys' 25 lungs has slowed considerably and will be fully mature by PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 8 1 their early 20s. Lung function naturally plateaus until a 2 person's late 20s, after which a decline of about 1 3 percent per year occurs. 4 --o0o-- 5 DR. BOWERS: Now let me discuss some of the study 6 results. In 2000, the investigators reported that 7 children in the communities with the highest levels of PM 8 10, nitrogen dioxide, and atmospheric acidity, as compared 9 with those communities with the lowest levels, had reduced 10 lung function growth about 1 percent lower growth per 11 year. 12 In 2002, USC reported results from a second 13 cohort of children which found similar results to those 14 found in the first cohort. This second analysis also 15 found that higher exposures to the elemental carbon 16 component of PM 2.5, a parameter not available in the 17 first analysis, in addition to the pollutants from the 18 first study, were significantly associated with slower 19 lung function growth. 20 Confirmation of the reduced lung function growth 21 in the second group significantly strengthens the evidence 22 supporting the adverse effects of air pollution on lung 23 function growth. The slower lung growth associated with 24 high exposures to elemental carbon may indicate a specific 25 respiratory effect of diesel particulate matter or other PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 9 1 combustion exhaust. 2 --o0o-- 3 DR. BOWERS: Due to the long-term nature of the 4 Children's Health Study, the investigators have been able 5 to recently publish findings on eight years of follow up 6 of the children in the study. The investigators found a 7 7.9 percent risk of 20 percent or greater reduction in 8 lung function growth between the ages of 10 and 18 in both 9 boys and girls, as opposed to higher levels of a 10 correlated set of pollutants that included nitrogen 11 dioxide, acid vapor, PM 2.5, and elemental carbon, but not 12 ozone. The primary source of these pollutants in the 13 South Coast basin is motor vehicles, especially diesel 14 emissions. 15 --o0o-- 16 DR. BOWERS: Children who were exposed to higher 17 levels of the pollutants noted plus PM 10, but not ozone, 18 had significantly lower values on lung function tests 19 administered at the age of 18, an age when the lungs are 20 nearly mature. Lung capacity is over-engineered in the 21 sense that lung function deficits do not greatly affect 22 daily life for most persons. However, sensitive person's 23 reduced lung function in childhood or young adulthood may 24 increase the risk of respiratory illness or increase the 25 severity of symptoms and is a strong risk factor in PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 10 1 respiratory complications and death during adulthood. 2 After lung maturation, lung function naturally 3 declines at a rate of about 1 percent per year. 4 Therefore, a 20 percent decrement in lung function, the 5 decrement seen in this study, means that an 18-year-old 6 having grown up in a polluted area has the lung function 7 of a person nearly 40 years old. So they are starting out 8 their adult life at a respiratory disadvantage. 9 --o0o-- 10 DR. BOWERS: This slide illustrates the 11 generalized typical growth of a person's lung function 12 during their life. Line A shows the normal lung function 13 growth and later life decline. Line B shows the reduced 14 lung function growth that may be attributed to air 15 pollution exposure. Line B is projected into later life 16 and assumes that later life declines are not exacerbated 17 by continued exposure. 18 --o0o-- 19 DR. BOWERS: There is a solution to these lung 20 function results. In a paper published in 2001, the 21 investigators found that lung function growth changed if 22 the children in the study relocated to areas with 23 different PM 10 levels. If children moved from a 24 community with high PM 10 to an area with low PM 10, their 25 lung function growth increased, although this increase may PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 11 1 not make up for the adverse effects of their previous 2 exposures. 3 --o0o-- 4 DR. BOWERS: A number of affects were seen on 5 asthmatic children in the study. While we have known for 6 some time that air pollution can exacerbate existing cases 7 of asthma, the Children's Health Study is the first to 8 indicate a possible causal role of air pollution in asthma 9 development. In their 2002 publication, the CHS 10 investigators showed that active children playing multiple 11 team sports in high ozone communities were at three times 12 greater risk of developing asthma. No other pollutants 13 showed this relationship with the development of asthma. 14 These results emphasized the importance of ozone 15 advisories to reduce exposure in children. 16 In cross-sectional studies, PM 10 was 17 significantly associated with bronchitis in asthmatics. 18 There were also positive but weaker associations of PM 19 2.5, NO2, and acidic pollutants with bronchitis and 20 significant associations of this suit of pollutants but 21 not ozone with congestion or phlegm. These associations 22 were not seen in non-asthmatics. 23 In analyses where local traffic was modeled, the 24 investigators observed marginally significant associations 25 between asthma and traffic-related pollutants at the home. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 12 1 In these analyses, large increases in physician-diagnosed 2 asthma reported by the parent were associated with the top 3 10 percent of exposure. 4 --o0o-- 5 DR. BOWERS: Ozone exposure was associated with a 6 substantial increase in school absenteeism from both upper 7 and lower respiratory illnesses. We have estimated that 8 reducing current ozone levels to meet the state One-Hour 9 standard could prevent 3.3 million school absences 10 annually throughout California. 11 --o0o-- 12 DR. BOWERS: The results from the study suggest 13 that boys in general are more susceptible to adverse 14 respiratory systems and asthma outcomes than girls, while 15 girls appear to have greater susceptibility for adverse 16 effects on lung function development. 17 --o0o-- 18 DR. BOWERS: In summary, air pollution has been 19 found to affect the short- and long-term respiratory 20 health of children. In addition to affecting their lung 21 function development, air pollution has also been shown to 22 be associated with the causation and exacerbation of 23 asthma. These affects were seen to be alleviated by 24 reduction of pollution exposure. However, by about age 25 18, lung development is largely complete, and the deficits PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 13 1 in lung function development may be permanent and may 2 impact life-long respiratory health. 3 Since the pollutants studied are the products of 4 primary fuel combustion and since they are present at 5 similar levels in many other areas, the results are 6 believed to be applicable to children living outside of 7 Southern California, for example, in the San Joaquin 8 Valley where high levels of particulate matter and ozone 9 also exist. Although the ARB's involvement will be less, 10 a follow-up study referred to as CHS 2 will continue these 11 investigations and continue to follow up the children into 12 adulthood. 13 --o0o-- 14 DR. BOWERS: We have provided you with a DVD 15 about the Children's Health Study and one from our Public 16 Information Office about the health effects of smog. 17 These DVDs are also available to the general public free 18 of charge in the lobby and from our web page. Thank you 19 for your time. We'd be pleased to answer any questions 20 that you may have. 21 CHAIRMAN LLOYD: Thank you very much. 22 Dr. Gong. 23 DR. GONG: I thought that it was a wonderful 24 review of this longitudinal study. And I really agree 25 with everything you said. I thought your slides were PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 14 1 great from that vantage point as well. 2 I just wanted to emphasize to the other Board 3 members that this ten-year-plus study is really a landmark 4 study. It's landmark because not just what it told us, 5 but also because it really looked at a relevant 6 geographical and human population that's affected by 7 chronic air pollution. 8 The other important thing is that there were many 9 children involved, not just one or two or a dozen, but 10 thousands. 11 And the other important aspect is that these 12 children were studied over time. It wasn't just a 13 snapshot at one particular point in their lives, but 14 actually over years, which makes a very powerful message 15 if you find something that's really revealing. 16 I would say that there was a comment about 17 permanent effects. And we had discussed this in our 18 briefing. It really has not been absolutely shown that 19 these effects that you've shown up to age 18 do persist 20 into adulthood, into the 20s or 30s or 40s. There is 21 suspicion that it might. And, indeed, one of the studies 22 Dr. Avol performed showed that lung function, at least in 23 children, can relocate and improve if they relocate to an 24 area with better air quality. So it's still not quite 25 absolutely clear about that statement. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 15 1 But on the other hand, to their credit, the 2 investigators at USC are looking into that question. So 3 they have a separate ongoing study looking at kids they 4 followed past 18 years old. So that should be very 5 revealing and really clinch that particular statement. 6 One aspect I've always wondered about is the 7 investigators found epidemiologically, statistically, that 8 ozone was not implicated, statistically at least. I've 9 always kind of wondered about that. Is that, do you 10 think, an issue of study design? Or is it basically -- 11 are we saying ozone is not a problem for lung growth? 12 POPULATION STUDIES SECTION MANAGER WELLER: Well, 13 the investigators were very careful to say that they don't 14 think that indicates ozone is not a problem. One of the 15 things that they were concerned about is miscalculation of 16 exposure. One of the things they found in this study is 17 that when they looked at children who were exercising 18 heavily out of doors and received a higher dose of ozone, 19 those children were more likely to have initiation of 20 asthma. So, obviously, there are effects of ozone that 21 were seen in this study. 22 However, it does not seem to be from the way the 23 study was set up that ozone is linked with the lung 24 function changes. That doesn't mean that ozone isn't 25 having an effect. And it doesn't mean it didn't have an PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 16 1 effect in this study. It's just that it didn't seem to be 2 particularly linked with those changes. But they are 3 looking at potential confounders to that, the fact that, 4 you know, maybe they're not getting as much of the ozone 5 exposure in some of the children as they are in others. 6 So they're looking at time out of doors, for example, and 7 trying to look at this question more thoroughly. 8 DR. GONG: The other aspect I thought was 9 interesting, they purposely targeted middle-income 10 children. So you have socio-economic factors involved. 11 And do you think these results are generalizable to lower 12 socioeconomic areas as well? 13 POPULATION STUDIES SECTION MANAGER WELLER: One 14 of the reasons, obviously, that that they target the 15 middle income is they want to try to get the stable 16 population base to be able to follow them over time. But, 17 obviously, socioeconomic factors we know have an effect on 18 children. And I think if you're seeing effects in 19 children that are at a higher socioeconomic level, then 20 that would potentially make you be even more concerned 21 about children that may be at a lower socioeconomic level. 22 So I think the thing that's important is that 23 they're seeing effects in those children, not in the 24 absolute most sensitive, not particularly even in the 25 asthmatic. Because when they're looking at the lung PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 17 1 function growth changes, they're seeing those changes in 2 non-asthmatic children. So I think that's something we 3 want to look at and say, okay, if we're seeing this in 4 just the normal population of children, there may be even 5 other groups which are more sensitive. 6 One of the things that the Children's Health 7 Study 2 is going to look at is to look at children who may 8 be sensitive for other reasons. One of the things they're 9 going to look at is genetics, for example, and dietary 10 effects. But they're going to look at children who may be 11 even more sensitive than the general population and see if 12 they do have greater effects. 13 DR. GONG: Perhaps the staff could keep the Board 14 informed about future findings of CHS 2, even though the 15 ARB is not directly funding it. But I think it reminds us 16 of this study, this landmark study, and what it actually 17 showed us later. Thanks. 18 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Couple of questions. I 19 think, my colleagues on the Board, next year staff will 20 bring to us a proposed new One-Hour ozone standard -- 21 well, and Eight-Hour ozone standard. Already we're 22 getting some feedback that the proposed number of .07 is 23 really very close to background and that there's -- this 24 would make it very difficult, probably unacceptable to 25 some of the stakeholders. I think it's very important for PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 18 1 this study as we look at that, you can see it has direct 2 relevance. So I was going to ask what role is this study 3 playing in that standard setting? 4 HEALTH AND EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT BRANCH CHIEF BODE: 5 Dr. Lloyd, the results of the Children's Health Study are 6 being used in that ozone review. And as you mentioned, 7 right now we're considering establishing a new Eight-Hour 8 Standard for ozone for California as well as retaining the 9 current One-Hour as well. 10 But there are quite a few ozone results, as 11 Barbara Weller just mentioned, in the Children's Health 12 Study. They are very supportive. And a lot of that 13 information, in addition, for standard setting, is also 14 very important for health advisory information, how to 15 tell schools and parents when your kids should play 16 outdoors and when they should be inside. 17 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: It shows a direct linkage 18 between how we utilize those. 19 The other part of it, in talking to some 20 Europeans recently, they are very concerned with their 21 ambient NO2 levels. And I think their standard is more 22 strict than at least the federal standard. Can you 23 comment on that? And where I know also we're looking at 24 revising our ambient NO2, which hasn't been done for quite 25 a while, it's interesting possibly over there because of PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 19 1 the increase in dieselization and the higher NOx, and also 2 they also have a significant number of trap equipment, and 3 that also could be an issue as well. But I thought it 4 pretty interesting that's one of their top issues. 5 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: This is Bart 6 Croes with the Research Division. 7 We're also reviewing the NO2 standard, which will 8 be brought to the Board late next year. The issue with 9 NO2 is there have been studies that have seen -- attribute 10 effects on asthmatic children to NO2. But the concern is 11 whether or not NO2 is just a co-pollutant and not actually 12 the cause of the health concern. We've funded some human 13 exposure studies that have exposed adults, both healthy 14 and asthmatic, to levels of NO2 near our current One-Hour 15 Standard of 2.5 PPM and don't see the effects that have 16 been found in some of the epi studies at lower levels of 17 NO2. So that's an issue we're grappling with in the 18 standard review. 19 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: I guess the European 20 standard, they've got one of 40 micrograms per cubic 21 meter -- four-zero micrograms per cubic meter. 22 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: The Europeans 23 have an annual standard. We do not. The U.S. EPA has an 24 annual standard of 100 -- 25 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: That's right. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 20 1 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: -- micrograms per 2 cubic meter. 3 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: That's what I'm saying. The 4 Europeans actually have a tighter standard, which 5 surprised me a little bit. I guess as we look at the 6 data -- 7 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: I'm a little 8 surprised, too, that they would set a lower standard based 9 on the current data. Because most of the current studies 10 are based on short-term health effects, which would 11 support the need for a One-Hour standard, not an annual 12 standard. 13 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: We should be looking at what 14 their database is and taking a look at that. 15 Questions or comments from my colleagues? 16 Mayor Loveridge. 17 BOARD MEMBER LOVERIDGE: Much of what we do, it 18 seems to me, is related to good science. And I guess 19 Henry identified this is not just another study. This is 20 really a kind of landmark research effort. 21 Let me sort of take a slightly different 22 direction, in part because I represent one of the 23 communities identified and live next door to a second. 24 And as a member of the South Coast Board, represent most. 25 Just sort of three comments. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 21 1 One is that this particular study is not 2 something that's simply academic circulated in the 3 journals and talked to themselves. The study had a great 4 deal of attention and media, great deal of conversation. 5 So it is an important part of the conversation in Southern 6 California in ways that -- I can't remember another study 7 having quite the media attention sort of popular 8 understanding as this study. 9 As a consequence of that, I think it's brought 10 increased attention to diesel. It's brought increased 11 attention to the dairy farms. We've been developing 12 measures both in district, and I know I'm trying to figure 13 out what to do with the many distribution sites. 14 Miraloma, for example, which was cited, the Board of 15 Supervisors of Riverside County said no more distribution 16 centers. Clearly, the gateway communities under the ports 17 are asking questions about what impacts it has on health 18 and what can be done. 19 But I just wanted to emphasize in addition to the 20 scientific importance of this, it has policy -- I think 21 very important policy consequences for Southern California 22 and for air quality regulation. So when I solute the good 23 science here, but the good science in this case is also 24 translated to, I think, public policy that would not be 25 there without this study. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 22 1 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you very much. 2 Thank you, staff. 3 Since this is not a regulatory item, it's not 4 necessary to officially close the record. We will move 5 on to our next item. 6 The next item on the agenda is 04-9-7, Status 7 Report of the Lake Tahoe Atmospheric Deposition Study. 8 This project is an example of the multi-media 9 nature of pollution and one of the reasons why the 10 California Environmental Protection Agency was created. 11 The primary objective of this ARB study is to support the 12 Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board and the Nevada 13 Division of Environmental Protection in their development 14 of the Lake Tahoe nutrient and sediment total maximum 15 daily loading plan. This bistate plan is being developed 16 with the objective of restoring Lake Tahoe's renowned 17 water clarity to about 100 feet, the average visual depth 18 observed when mid-lake sampling began in late 1960s. We 19 look forward to an update of what that number has changed 20 to. 21 And I'd like to turn it over to Ms. Witherspoon 22 to introduce the item. 23 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: Thank you, Dr. 24 Lloyd. 25 They're all really quiet today. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 23 1 Through the Lake Tahoe Atmosphere Deposition 2 Study, staff will provide updated estimates of the 3 deposition of nitrogen, phosphorus, and particulate matter 4 directly to Lake Tahoe. 5 With that background, let me introduce Dr. Eileen 6 McCauley. Dr. McCauley is the Manager of the Atmospheric 7 Processes Research Section, which is spearheading ARB's 8 efforts and supporting the development of the Lake Tahoe 9 Water Clarity Plan. Dr. McCauley. 10 (Thereupon an overhead presentation was 11 presented as follows.) 12 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 13 McCAULEY: Thank you, Ms. Witherspoon. Good morning, 14 Chairman Lloyd and members of the Board. 15 As you heard in the introduction, this morning I 16 will present an overview of the Lake Tahoe Atmospheric 17 Deposition Study, or LTADS. This study was undertaken at 18 the request of our sister environmental agencies, the 19 Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the 20 Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. As these agencies move 21 forward in crafting regulations to protect the lake and 22 the environment around the lake, they need improved 23 information regarding the contribution of air pollutants 24 to some of the environmental challenges facing the lake. 25 --o0o-- PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 24 1 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 2 McCAULEY: Today, I will first present some background 3 information on the concerns about and plans to protect 4 Lake Tahoe and reasons why atmospheric deposition is 5 believed to play an important role in its declining water 6 clarity. I will then summarize the objectives, design, 7 and products of LTADS. 8 In November, staff will provide the water clarity 9 modelers with our estimates of the annual atmospheric 10 deposition of nitrogen, phosphorous, and particulate 11 matter to the lake. 12 The third section of this presentation will 13 present some of our preliminary findings. 14 Lastly, I will go over the work that will 15 continue through next spring. 16 --o0o-- 17 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 18 McCAULEY: Lake Tahoe has long been famous for the 19 exceptional clarity of its waters. Early visitors 20 including Mark Twain commented on it. In "Roughing It," 21 Twain wrote, "So singularly clear was the water, that 22 where it was only 20 or 30 feet deep, the bottom was so 23 perfectly distinct that the boat seemed to be floating in 24 the air. Yes, even when it was 80 feet deep." 25 Twain appreciated the unique setting of Lake PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 25 1 Tahoe, as he also wrote, "Three months of camp life on 2 Lake Tahoe would restore an Egyptian mummy to his pristine 3 vigor and give him an appetite like an alligator. I do 4 not mean the oldest and driest mummies, of course, but the 5 fresher ones." 6 While this picture was obviously taken at a 7 shallow depth in the middle of the lake, a white disc, the 8 secchi disc, was visible to a depth of 100 feet in the 9 late 1960s. 10 --o0o-- 11 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 12 McCAULEY: But as you can see in this figure, the depth at 13 which the disc can be seen had decreased from about 31 14 meters, or about 100 feet, in 1968, to 22 meters, or about 15 73 feet, and the data reported in 2004. 16 This 27 percent decline, almost one foot per 17 year, is a concern not only for people who live near the 18 lake, but for everyone who might visit the lake. In his 19 environmental agenda, Governor Schwarzenegger specifically 20 listed the need to keep Tahoe blue as one of the issues he 21 will pursue. 22 The Tahoe Research Group, TRG for short, from the 23 University of California Davis has been studying Lake 24 Tahoe for many years. Collecting the data shown here is 25 one of many projects they've conducted over the years. In PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 26 1 an effort to understand the sources to the lake of the 2 algal nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous, TRG has 3 maintained a limited number of atmospheric deposition 4 sampling buckets in the basin, including on the lake. 5 --o0o-- 6 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 7 McCAULEY: Data from the deposition bucket sampling 8 program lead to a paper by Jassby which was published in 9 1994. The paper's conclusion was that atmospheric 10 deposition was responsible almost for 60 percent of the 11 total nitrogen input to the lake and almost 30 percent of 12 the total phosphorous. Lake modelers believe the 13 phosphorous is the nutrient to which algal growth is most 14 sensitive at the present time. While the Jassby paper did 15 not estimate deposition of particulate matter to the lake, 16 PM does contribute to the loss of clarity, and the team of 17 lake modelers at U.C. Davis would like information on the 18 amount of PM deposited into the lake from various sources, 19 including the atmosphere. 20 --o0o-- 21 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 22 McCAULEY: As a national treasurer which straddles the 23 California/Nevada state line, regulatory interests in 24 Tahoe are complex, ranging from citizen groups to the 25 federal government. Because the California/Nevada boarder PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 27 1 transects the lake, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, or 2 TRPA, was created with Board members from both states. 3 TRPA is responsible for providing and implementing a 4 regional plan, which will protect the natural environment 5 of the area, while recognizing the need for ongoing human 6 activity. 7 The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board 8 is the California agency responsible for protecting the 9 water quality of the lake. At the Nevada Division of 10 Environmental Protection, staff in both the air and water 11 quality sections are involved in Tahoe issues. And, of 12 course, the federal government with both the Environmental 13 Protection Agency and the Forest Service is also a 14 stakeholder. All of the stakeholders listed on this slide 15 contributed to the success of LTADS. 16 --o0o-- 17 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 18 McCAULEY: TRPA is currently reviewing its environmental 19 thresholds or standards for the nine areas of 20 environmental quality, including water quality as a 21 prelude to updating its 20-year regional plan. Obviously, 22 water quality is one of the most important environmental 23 issues in the Lake Tahoe region. 24 The mechanism established by the federal 25 government to address water quality issues is the total PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 28 1 maximum daily load, or TMDL. Lahontan is the lead agency 2 for Lake Tahoe's TMDL. A TMDL is composed of two parts. 3 A technical TMDL, which sets allowable loads of nutrients 4 to the water body, determines the sources of pollutants to 5 the water body, and sets the required reintroduction. The 6 allowable loads in the technical TMDL will be set using 7 the lake clarity model. The technical TMDL will be 8 completed in the summer of next year. The second part of 9 the TMDL, the final TMDL, will outline options for 10 reducing the various pollutants and will contain a plan 11 for implementing the reduction. 12 --o0o-- 13 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 14 McCAULEY: The goal of LTADS is to meet the needs of 15 Lahontan and TRPA for information related to atmospheric 16 processes effecting environmental quality in the basin. 17 As the title of the study makes clear, the main focus of 18 LTADS is atmospheric deposition. 19 --o0o-- 20 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 21 McCAULEY: Atmospheric deposition occurs under both wet 22 and dry conditions. Because of the greater uncertainty 23 associated with dry deposition estimates and Tahoe's 24 relatively dry climate, LTADS focused almost entirely on 25 dry deposition. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 29 1 For the TMDL, wet atmospheric deposition will be 2 estimated from wet deposition bucket measurements that 3 have been intermittently collected in the basin and more 4 routinely over the last decade. 5 Information about sources of nitrogen, 6 phosphorus, and PM within the basin will be useful for the 7 TMDL's determination of sources of inputs to the lake. 8 Another question concerns the relative 9 contributions and sources from outside the basin compared 10 to in-basin sources. Ozone pollution is a concern in the 11 Tahoe basin, particularly with respect to the impact of 12 ozone on forest health. Therefore, LTADS also includes a 13 study on this subject. 14 --o0o-- 15 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 16 McCAULEY: Dry deposition can be thought of as the product 17 of ambient concentration and a parameter called 18 "deposition velocity," which is strongly dependent on 19 metrology. Our field study collected ambient 20 concentration data for nitrogen and PM species and 21 meteorologic data, such as wind speed and direction, 22 temperature and relative humidity. 23 LTADS used samplers that collected integrated 24 samples for two weeks so that the contribution of nitrogen 25 and PM species on every day of the year could be captured. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 30 1 Thus, LTADS was unlike most of ARB's field studies, which 2 collect data on a limited number of days associated with 3 episodes of high pollution. 4 We also deployed samplers that can provide hourly 5 PM mass since the finer temporal resolution can be very 6 valuable in identifying sources of pollutants. For 7 example, not surprisingly, at a site located in South Lake 8 Tahoe between the highway and the lake, PM concentrations 9 were much higher during the morning and afternoon commute 10 periods. The field study ran from late fall of 2002 11 through December of 2003. Data review and analysis were 12 ongoing throughout the field study and will continue 13 through next spring. 14 The domain of air quality modeling that will be 15 done for the central California studies will include the 16 Lake Tahoe basin. We included several projects to improve 17 the emissions inventory and arrange with the University of 18 California to have the LTADS products peer reviewed by 19 several U.C. professors. 20 --o0o-- 21 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 22 McCAULEY: This figure is somewhat cluttered, but we 23 wanted to give a sense of the spacial coverage of the 24 LTADS monitoring network. Since it was not possible to 25 have all of the cites measure all of the parameters of PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 31 1 interest, the color of the stars intended to provide a 2 guide to what parameters were measured at each site. To 3 address the question of transport of pollution from areas 4 west of the basin, a monitoring site was established at 5 Big Hill. Big Hill is an isolated hill approximately 10 6 miles north of Highway 50 and is an excellent location for 7 investigating transport into the Sierra Nevada towards 8 Lake Tahoe. 9 Since the quantity of interest is deposition to 10 the lake, it was vital to collect some measurements on the 11 lake itself. TRG and NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory have 12 several buoys on the lake, and we were able to place small 13 battery-powered samplers which collect particulate matter 14 for 24 hours on two of the buoys. 15 --o0o-- 16 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 17 McCAULEY: As can you see from these photographs, there 18 were special challenges associated with monitoring in the 19 sierras that we do not counter in other areas of the 20 state. In addition to difficulties finding sites with 21 suitable exposure, size, and power, we needed to have 22 power lines installed at several locations. 23 Sometimes the weather was a challenge. Wind 24 speeds of over 100 miles an hour during one of the first 25 storms of the winter season blew our trailer over at Big PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 32 1 Hill. Happily, the equipment inside sustained very little 2 damage. During the winter, we lost electrical power 3 during some storms and frequently had unstable voltages 4 that compromised some of our more sensitive measurements. 5 --o0o-- 6 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 7 McCAULEY: The LTADS estimates of atmospheric deposition 8 are based on ambient pollutant concentrations and 9 meteorological data. But the emissions inventory's an 10 important component of air quality modeling and planning. 11 As TRPA and Lahontan develop control measures to reduce 12 the impact of deposition to the lake, the inventory will 13 provide insights into sources of pollutants in the basin. 14 LTADS included contracts with U.C. Riverside and 15 the Desert Research Institute to improve estimates of key 16 emission categories and sources. Source samples were 17 collected for prescribed fires, residential wood burning, 18 and road dust. Work was also performed to improve our 19 understanding of activities that generate emissions within 20 the basin, including driving patterns, the mix of vehicle 21 types, and the amount of wood burning. 22 --o0o-- 23 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 24 McCAULEY: Throughout both the planning process and the 25 field study, ARB staff met frequently with staff from PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 33 1 Lahontan and TRPA to ensure everyone had the best possible 2 idea of what was needed and what ARB could produce. The 3 LTADS data will produce estimates of both annual and 4 seasonal dry deposition of nitrogen phosphorous and PM 5 directly to the lake. 6 Because of limits in both funding and time and 7 the fact that many sources of interest do not have 8 specific chemical markers, we are not able to provide 9 specific information about the contribution of various 10 sources as the scientists and planners would like. For 11 example, in planning load reduction strategies, it would 12 be very helpful for the planners to know the amount of 13 deposition to the lake due to unpaved road shoulders. 14 Ratios of different elements in PM allow us to 15 estimate the fraction of soil in PM mass, but not to 16 identify the different local sources of the soil or dust. 17 We will be able to provide estimates of the relative 18 contribution of transport from outside the Lake Tahoe 19 basin to ambient concentrations of ozone, gaseous nitrogen 20 species, and fine and coarse PM in the basin. 21 Lastly, the project to assess the impact of ozone 22 on Forest Hill has been completed, and the results are 23 available. 24 --o0o-- 25 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 34 1 McCAULEY: Peer review of the LTADS products is an 2 important part of the study. Four U.C. professors 3 selected by the U.C. Office of the President agreed to 4 review the LTADS work plan, interim and final reports, and 5 reports produced by our contractors. These professors are 6 experts in the fields of multi-media impacts on water 7 quality, atmospheric chemistry, deposition modeling, and 8 aerosol physics. The reviewers provided guidance on the 9 study design and are now reviewing the draft technical 10 memorandum on our analytical approach and deposition 11 estimates. 12 --o0o-- 13 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 14 McCAULEY: While the technical TMDL is not due to be 15 released until next spring, the researchers at UC Davis 16 who were responsible for the lake clarity model are 17 currently performing preliminary model runs to validate 18 the model. After validation of the model, they will 19 incorporate the atmospheric deposition estimates from 20 LTADS along with inputs from other researchers studying 21 run off and groundwater to identify the relative 22 contributions of the various sources of material 23 contributing to degradation of water quality. 24 --o0o-- 25 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 35 1 McCAULEY: Thus, we have developed initial estimates of 2 dry atmospheric deposition. These estimates are upper and 3 lower bounds for annual deposition of nitrogen, 4 phosphorous, and PM to the lake. We make some 5 conservative assumptions and believe that the actual 6 deposition rates are probably in the bottom half of the 7 range you see. 8 As you can see in the table, we estimate that dry 9 deposition contributes somewhere between 100 and 200 10 metric tons of nitrogen to the lake annually. Since wet 11 deposition is not included in our estimate, our numbers 12 agree reasonably well with the total nitrogen deposition 13 estimates from the Jassby work where wet deposition was 14 comparable to the amount of dry deposition. 15 Phosphorous is not an element which is usually of 16 interest to the air quality community, and there are 17 difficulties detecting phosphorous at low concentrations. 18 Unfortunately, out of the almost 600 samples collected 19 during LTADS, fewer than 30 had phosphorous concentrations 20 above the uncertainty of the measurement. So the lower 21 and upper bounds for phosphorous are based on the limited 22 detection for the lower bounds, and the phosphorous 23 concentrations observed in samples collected in other 24 areas of California for the upper bound. The upper bound 25 is very conservative, and we expect our final number to be PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 36 1 closer to one, than seven metric tons per year. 2 We have a contract with Lawrence Berkeley Lab to 3 analyze a sub-set of samples using an enhanced analytical 4 method that we expect to improve our detection of 5 phosphorous. These initial results will be refined for 6 our final report next spring. 7 Our estimate of dry PM deposition to the lake is 8 an approximate agreement with ARB's estimate of PM 9 emissions for the California portion of the Lake Tahoe 10 basin when the lake fraction of the basin and reasonable 11 estimates of the Nevada emissions are considered. 12 --o0o-- 13 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 14 McCAULEY: Of course, dry deposition will be less than the 15 total amount of deposition. But it would be valuable to 16 have a clearer idea of how the LTADS dry deposition 17 estimates compare to the estimates of total deposition. 18 The Tahoe Research Group has been collecting 19 deposition data, including wet deposition data, for many 20 years. They estimate that wet deposition is responsible 21 for approximately one half of the total nitrogen 22 deposition. There are also other sources of data on wet 23 and dry deposition. For example, ARB managed the 24 California Acid Deposition Monitoring Program. That 25 program measured wet and dry deposition at several remote PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 37 1 rural locations in the state from 1985 to 1994. If data 2 from the three rural sites is extrapolated to Lake Tahoe, 3 total nitrogen deposition would be 50 to 100 metric tons 4 per year. These data also found that wet and dry 5 deposition of nitrogen were roughly comparable. Thus, the 6 LTADS initial estimates of dry deposition of nitrogen is 7 reasonably similar to both TRG's estimate and the CADMP 8 results. 9 --o0o-- 10 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 11 McCAULEY: The terrain and micro-meteorology around Lake 12 Tahoe is very complex. However, for how much of the year, 13 one observed three routine wind flow patterns. Before 14 dawn, the air flows down the mountains and out over the 15 lake. After the sun rises and warms the land, the winds 16 reverse, now flowing from the lake to the shore. Since 17 much of the human activity in the basin is located around 18 the edge of lake, it is obvious that down slope flows will 19 carry pollutants from the land out over the lake. On the 20 other hand, a wind which blows from the lake to the land 21 will carry pollutants away from the lake. 22 To document this behavior, we made several 23 enhanced meteorological measurements and conducted several 24 on-lake experiments with an instrumented boat. This slide 25 shows the results from one of the on-lake experiments. On PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 38 1 the map, the green circles represent NOY concentration, 2 and the red circles, particulate counts of PM 2.5. 3 On this occasion we saw strong down slope flows 4 carrying pollutants from the shore areas onto the lake in 5 the evening. In the late night, a completion of 6 pollutants resulted in clean drainage flows. 7 The next morning, we observed that influx to the 8 lake picked up as human activity began. First, we saw NOY 9 from motor vehicle exhaust and measured particles made 10 from chimney smoke. 11 --o0o-- 12 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 13 McCAULEY: You may be wondering about the more traditional 14 aspect of air quality for the Lake Tahoe basin. For 15 example, do they have an ozone problem? The Lake Tahoe 16 air basin meets both the national One- and Eight-Hour 17 Ozone Standards. It is also in attainment of the more 18 strict state One-Hour Ozone Standard. 19 ARB is currently reviewing the state's ambient 20 air quality standard for ozone. In June of this year, the 21 ARB and OEHHA staff completed a review of the health 22 effects of ozone and release a draft report recommending 23 establishment of a new Eight-Hour Average Ozone Standard 24 of 0.070 PPM. Existing data collected around the lake 25 show the maximum Eight-Hour Average for a year regularly PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 39 1 exceeds the proposed new standard. The draft 2 recommendations will undergo peer review before final 3 recommendation is brought before the Board in 2005. 4 Lake Tahoe meets the state CO One-Hour Standard 5 of 20 PPM and the Eight-Hour standard of 9 PPM. However, 6 Lake Tahoe has a stricter Eight-Hour standard of 6 PPM and 7 that standard is violated. 8 --o0o-- 9 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 10 McCAULEY: PM levels in Lake Tahoe are among the cleanest 11 in the state. The basin is in attainment of the state and 12 federal PM standard exceeding only the state 24 hour PM 10 13 standard. Data collected in the last few years indicate 14 that the air basin is in attainment for the state PM 2.5 15 standard. 16 --o0o-- 17 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 18 McCAULEY: The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is 19 interested in protecting the health of the forest around 20 Tahoe. In fact, forest health is one of the areas they 21 consider when setting environmental thresholds. To help 22 answer questions about the impact of ozone and nitric acid 23 on forests, ARB funded a research study by the Forest 24 Service. They used passive samplers to measure ambient 25 concentrations and also conducted surveys looking at trees PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 40 1 for signs of oxygen damage. The study concluded that 2 about 23 percent of the pines showed slight amounts of 3 damage due to air pollution. 4 --o0o-- 5 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 6 McCAULEY: ARB staff is still analyzing data, so we do not 7 have our final conclusions about the contribution of out 8 of basin sources to air pollution in the Lake Tahoe basin. 9 But we do have some preliminary findings. 10 Professor Ron Cohen at U.C. Berkeley was funded 11 as part of LTADS to measure nitrogen species at Big Hill 12 and to also write a summary of the current understanding 13 of transporting of nitrogen species to the Lake Tahoe 14 basin. He concluded that based on meteorology, chemistry, 15 and transit time, it is unlikely that significant amounts 16 of NOx are transported to the basin from the central 17 valley. 18 Local sources are probably dominant for coarse 19 PM. There are certainly local sources of fine PM, such as 20 wood smoke, motor vehicle exhaust, and some road dust. 21 However, it is possible that a regional background of fine 22 PM contributes to deposition around the lake. This is an 23 area we're still investigating. We are also still looking 24 at the extent of transport of ozone to Lake Tahoe. 25 --o0o-- PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 41 1 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 2 McCAULEY: The patterns of activities and air pollutant 3 emissions in the Lake Tahoe basin are different from most 4 areas of the state. Therefore, many of the standard 5 assumptions in emission models may not be appropriate for 6 the Tahoe basin. LTADS sought to address some of these 7 differences so as to improve emission estimates for Tahoe. 8 Some of the different features in the Tahoe basin 9 include a large fraction of trucks and SUVs in the fleet, 10 a high fraction of tourist traffic, a high fraction of 11 non-California vehicles in a doughnut pattern around the 12 lake, rather than a smoke pattern of motor vehicle 13 emissions ringing out from an urban core. Other 14 differences are a significant amount of residential and 15 prescribed wood burning and a significant amount of road 16 sanding. 17 --o0o-- 18 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 19 McCAULEY: A lot of staff work remains to be done. In 20 September, we provided a technical memorandum with our 21 preliminary deposition estimates to the U.C. peer 22 reviewers -- 23 --o0o-- 24 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 25 McCAULEY: -- as well as staff at Lahontan, TRG, and TRPA. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 42 1 We have received their comments, and staff are working to 2 address them. 3 Next month, the final version of the technical 4 memorandum will be shared. Staff will continue to work on 5 further data analysis to refine the deposition estimates, 6 develop source identification, and an assessment of 7 transport. These items will be addressed in a final 8 report which is due next spring. 9 --o0o-- 10 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 11 McCAULEY: In summary, the Lake Tahoe Atmospheric 12 Deposition Study is the most comprehensive study of air 13 quality and atmospheric deposition in the Lake Tahoe basin 14 to date. Analysis of the data collected during the study 15 is still underway, but preliminary results suggest that 16 dry deposition is a significant source of nitrogen into 17 the lake and that local sources of NOx and coarse PM are 18 important. 19 --o0o-- 20 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 21 McCAULEY: While ARB's Research Division was the lead on 22 LTADS, the study could not have been a success without the 23 contribution from everyone listed on this slide. ARB's 24 Monitoring and Laboratory Division devoted two full-time 25 staff for two years to this project. Staff at TRPA PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 43 1 Lahontan and the Tahoe Research Group were extremely 2 helpful, often collecting samples on the land and on the 3 lake, expediting permits, and pitching in whenever there 4 was a need. 5 --o0o-- 6 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 7 McCAULEY: This concludes my presentation. We would be 8 happy to answer any questions. 9 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you very much. 10 I have a couple of questions. How does the 11 maximum ozone level in Tahoe compare to the San Bernardino 12 mountains? 13 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 14 McCAULEY: It is much lower. 15 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Factor of 2 or what? 16 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 17 McCAULEY: Yes. We think it's about a factor of 2. 18 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: I didn't quite understand 19 slide 19 when you talk about the field study when you 20 talked about wood burning in July. Is that a common 21 practice? 22 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 23 McCAULEY: Yes. The mornings in Tahoe, even in the 24 summer, are relatively cool. 25 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: So it's common? PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 44 1 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 2 McCAULEY: Some people will burn some wood. 3 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: What about the other end of 4 the day barbecuing? Did you look for any markers of food 5 cooking and whatnot? 6 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 7 McCAULEY: On the boat on the on-lake measurements, we 8 couldn't see chemical markers at the time. What we could 9 see was PM counts. 10 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Okay. Questions or comments? 11 Dr. Gong. 12 DR. GONG: Just a couple quick things. I guess 13 in terms of the wood smoke, I guess you could look for 14 markers. Is that what you're referring to chemical -- 15 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: No. I'm aware of that. I 16 was just saying that I didn't know that in the summertime 17 they were burning much wood there, but I stand corrected. 18 DR. GONG: Very good. 19 Okay. I was actually interested in the carbon 20 monoxide. We heard some discussion yesterday about 21 boating issues, and carbon monoxide was considered a 22 very -- health issue, very bad health issue in that 23 regard. Was boating -- is boating part of your model? In 24 other words, the more boats that are used, the more 25 emissions from that? PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 45 1 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 2 McCAULEY: Certainly, that's something that people in the 3 basin are concerned about emissions from boats and the 4 impact. The LTADS study was not focusing on carbon 5 monoxide so we weren't attempting, for example, to model 6 carbon monoxide in the basin. But people up there are 7 very aware of it and are looking at it. 8 DR. GONG: Okay. It was just part of your slide, 9 and I was just wondering. 10 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 11 McCAULEY: Yes, it's part -- 12 DR. GONG: But you're saying it's not part of 13 this particular study that you're doing? 14 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 15 McCAULEY: Correct. This is to provide more general air 16 quality information to the Board. 17 DR. GONG: Well, it's still a boating health 18 issue. 19 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES RESEARCH SECTION MANAGER 20 McCAULEY: Yes, you're correct. 21 DR. GONG: Thank you. 22 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: I think the Board is 23 sufficiently concerned about this issue. And, clearly, we 24 need to have a site visit to inspect it. 25 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: CAPCOA has a PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 46 1 meeting up there every spring. You can go up there and 2 take their boat tour. 3 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you very much for your 4 presentation. 5 We have two people to testify, John Reuter and 6 Harold Singer. So I'd like to call them up. 7 MR. SINGER: We'll make the short walk over to 8 this side. 9 Dr. Lloyd, members of the Board, my name is 10 Harold Singer. I'm Executive Officer for the Lahonten 11 Regional Water Quality Control Board. We're here to say 12 thank you. This study is really, really important to our 13 efforts to protect the water clarity of Lake Tahoe. And, 14 frankly, I don't think we could move forward in some of 15 our regulatory efforts that we plan on taking in the next 16 couple of years without this information. So a really big 17 thank you to you and your staff for supporting this effort 18 and working collaboratively with us to get the results of 19 this information. 20 And, again, I think it was pointed out here, this 21 is not just the Lahontan Regional Board's effort. This is 22 a real collaborative effort with the Tahoe Regional 23 Planning Agency and the Nevada Division of Environmental 24 Protection. We're all in this together, and we're really 25 happy you're a partner to this effort. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 47 1 What I also want to mention here, and I guess 2 from our perspective it's real important, and again to 3 thank you, that this is not really a health-related issue. 4 This is a water quality issue. And we know a lot of your 5 focus is on health-related issues. So, again, I think 6 this is a real great achievement here to put some effort 7 into a study that maybe doesn't have a huge implication on 8 public health, but clearly is in support of something 9 we're trying to do to protect the water quality. 10 I guess just going on further, these kinds of 11 efforts are really impossible without two major resource 12 commitments. One being to get the money to fund the 13 study. And I think there was a huge effort on our part, 14 but Bart Croes I think really helped from your staff's 15 perspective to support the effort and develop the work 16 plan and work with his staff on that. That was the first 17 thing. Without Bart's effort, we wouldn't be here today 18 talking about the results of the study. 19 And then, secondly, the people that actually 20 performed the work. And I think you heard a very good 21 presentation from your primary research person, Eileen 22 McCauley. And, again, a big thank you to her and her 23 staff for all of their effort on this. 24 And we hope this is a good example of some future 25 collaborative efforts. I think this is a really good PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 48 1 working partnership we could have. And we think there may 2 be other efforts we can work together between the Air 3 Boards and the Water Quality Boards in the future. 4 So thank you. Happy to answer any questions you 5 have. I think John may want to talk a little bit more 6 about the technical aspects. 7 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: I have one question. 8 Thanks for coming over and providing us with that 9 input, and it's always great to hear the cooperation. 10 Several years ago there was a tremendous amount 11 of publicity and federal dollars being dangled before us. 12 Given the commitment, how many have actually come forward? 13 How many dollars have actually come forward? 14 MR. SINGER: Right now in the basin there's a 15 $900 million effort to try to deal with the threshold 16 issues, one of which, and the primary one, is clarity, 17 even though there is some of the money going to some of 18 the other thresholds. 19 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: So $900 million? 20 MR. SINGER: $900 million total. That's a 21 combination of federal money, both states contributing 22 money, local government, and the private sector. So there 23 is a huge effort. It was based on an environmental 24 improvement program put together by the Tahoe Regional 25 Planning Agency, and that was a snapshot in time a number PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 49 1 of years ago. We're learning a lot more now. We know 2 that effort to save Lake Tahoe, both the water clarity and 3 the other thresholds, is going to be more expensive than 4 the 900 million. But that's the commitment to date. Most 5 of the entities have put forward a significant effort 6 towards that commitment. We're supposed to be in a place 7 where that commitment is made by 2008. So we still have a 8 number of years to go. But -- 9 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: That's what I'm trying to get 10 a handle on. How many dollars have actually been 11 committed? How many is being promised and how many 12 committed? There's a difference, obviously. 13 MR. SINGER: The promise is about 900 million. 14 I'm going to guess here. I think the commitment to date 15 is around 600 million. So it's a pretty big amount. 16 Unfortunately, some of the research and monitoring 17 commitment is lagging behind some of the capital 18 improvement commitment. But I think that happens, and you 19 know that also. So we're moving ahead on this more. 20 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Still pretty good. Thank you 21 very much. 22 Any other questions from my colleagues on the 23 Board? 24 MR. REUTER: Hi. My name is John Reuter. I'm a 25 researcher at U.C. Davis with the Tahoe Research Group. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 50 1 And I'm also the scientific coordinator for the TMDL 2 program. 3 And as Harold said, I would like to share my own 4 appreciation to Eileen and her staff. We've had some very 5 interesting and sometimes heated but always productive 6 conversations. As Eileen said, we had originally done a 7 study now ten years ago, and it's been really great to 8 have some air quality experts come in and give an update 9 of that. 10 I think the technical aspects, they've scratched 11 the surface on this thing. In essence, they probably did 12 a five-year job over the last two years. Anybody with any 13 type of planning would have said this is probably going to 14 cost twice as much and take at least twice as much time. 15 So I think all of our hats go off to them for this. 16 They are bringing up a lot of important new 17 issues, like what is the atmospheric contribution of 18 particulate matter. It's sort of a question we raised our 19 hands and said, "How do we do it?" So it really came up 20 to them. I think one of the big questions we'll be 21 hearing down the road is the contribution of in-basin 22 versus out of basin, as Harold was saying. You know, our 23 job in the basin is trying to control as much pollution as 24 we can. In some respects, it's better if it is in basin 25 because at least we have some control over it. But up in PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 51 1 the basin, you know, a lot of people like every place, 2 it's not our problem. It's somebody else's problem. 3 Research there will be an important thing. 4 And, finally, I think one of the big challenges 5 that we have and we hope that your team will be involved 6 is that, as Harold said, as the 600 million, $900 million 7 are being spent to protect the lake, you know, how can we 8 come up with an indicator for improvement in air quality 9 in the deposition of the lake so that the Epic program can 10 have a graph showing how has the money been spent and how 11 has the deposition to the lake changed. So those are all 12 challenges. And, again, we thank the Board for their 13 effort on this. 14 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you very much, indeed. 15 Any questions? 16 Thank you again. It's great to see the teamwork 17 amongst all the agencies and entities here. So thank you, 18 staff. Appreciate it very much. 19 It's not necessary to officially close the 20 record, so we'll move onto the next item. This agenda 21 item is 04-9-8. And it's the Board's air pollution 22 research plan for fiscal year 2004-2005. And I want to 23 take this opportunity to welcome members of the Research 24 Screening Committee at this, our annual joint meeting. So 25 we will have an opportunity for all the members to PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 52 1 introduce themselves individually. I don't know whether 2 there's any significance this year, Bart, in choosing 3 Halloween for the visit of the Research Screening 4 Committee. 5 Again, I think the Board and I personally want to 6 express our gratitude for the long and dedicated 7 commitment to California's air quality programs. Having 8 served on the RSC, I know how valuable this is. I also 9 know how much effort this is. I think sitting on this 10 side of the bench, so to speak, we really value your 11 input. If it's gone through the RSC, then I have very 12 little concern about the viability of the program. So I 13 really thank you very, very much indeed. 14 Our Research Program has a long and distinguished 15 history, and I think we heard today one of the landmark 16 programs on the Children's Health Study. And I was on RSC 17 when that came through. We also had people like Professor 18 Pitts on the acid deposition program. And we had some 19 strong debates on whether we should be monitoring acids. 20 And, fortunately, I think that Professor Pitts prevailed, 21 and we added some stuff to that. So, again, the 22 contributions from the Screening Committee I think is 23 very, very important. 24 I think as some examples contributed by the RSC, 25 providing recommendations and the appropriate levels for PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 53 1 air quality standards are sometimes more protective than 2 federal standards. We had given one example earlier for 3 ozone and then we look forward to NO2 coming up, 4 conducting the only epidemiological study of its kind, and 5 that is obviously the children's health. That links 6 long-term air pollution exposures and retarded lung 7 function growth, asthma exacerbation, school absenteeism. 8 Establishing the only long-term monitoring 9 network of ultra fine particles in the world to address 10 issues concerning traffic related pollutants and 11 concluding the control of nitrogen oxides is necessary to 12 reduce California's ozone and PM pollution. 13 I think that's one of the hallmarks of the ARB, 14 that long before a lot of other people recognized it, the 15 combined control of nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons was 16 key. 17 This Committee, which was established by laws, 18 advises of the Board as we develop and maintain our 19 Research Program and recommend for approval the research 20 proposals designed to meet the objectives that we 21 establish. This planned research is developed annually to 22 ensure that it reflects the Board's current priorities. 23 And at this point, I think I'd like to turn it 24 over to Ms. Witherspoon to introduce the item and begin 25 the staff presentation and say great welcome to you all, PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 54 1 and I know you'll all say something here. 2 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: Thank you, Dr. 3 Lloyd. 4 Today, staff will present an overview of the 5 Research Program and where we'll focus our efforts for the 6 next several years. We'll also highlight some of the key 7 findings from prior studies and anticipated results from 8 ongoing modeling work. Following that, we'll present for 9 your consideration the Board's proposed research for this 10 fiscal year. The Research Screening Committee has guided 11 the success of our Research Program, and we are very 12 appreciative of the assistance they provide. And at this 13 time, I'd like to introduce and welcome Professor Hal 14 Cota, Chairman of the Research Screening Committee, who 15 will present the Committee members to us and provide 16 comments on this year's research highlights. 17 Professor Cota. 18 PROFESSOR COTA: Thank you, Mr. Witherspoon, 19 Chairman Lloyd, and members, good morning. It's a 20 pleasure to join you. 21 I don't know if this is on or not. Okay. We'll 22 try. 23 Anyway, before I make a few comments, I'd like to 24 have the Board introduce themselves, and I'll begin the 25 process. I'm a Professor of Environmental Engineering at PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 55 1 Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. My main interest is the 2 engineering aspects of air pollution control. I also am 3 the Director of the Cal Poly EPA Air Pollution Areawide 4 Training Center, whose basic mission is to provide 5 professional development for people that work for control 6 agencies, industry, and consulting firms. 7 MR. LIU: My name is Chung Liu. I'm the Deputy 8 Executive Officer and Chief Scientist for the South Coast 9 AQMD. My scientific interest is in the atmospheric 10 process and technology. 11 DR. BALMES: Hi. I'm Dr. John Balmes. I'm a 12 Professor of Medicine at UCSF, Professor of Environmental 13 Health Sciences at U.C. Berkeley. I do air pollution 14 health effects research, both with controlled human 15 exposure studies at UCSF and epidemiologic studies, 16 population-based studies through my appointment at U.C. 17 Berkeley. 18 MR. DEVLIN: I'm Bob Devlin. I'm Chief of the 19 Political Research Branch at U.S. EPA. Our group looks at 20 the affects of air pollutants on humans with an effort 21 towards understanding the harmful effects as well as 22 factors which make people susceptible to air pollutants 23 and the mechanisms underlying those effects. 24 DR. LIPSETT: Hi. I'm Dr. Michael Lipsett. I'm 25 the Chief of the Exposure Assessment Section of the PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 56 1 Environmental Health Investigations Branch of the 2 Department of Health Services. And I've done a number of 3 air pollution epidemiologic studies for many years. I was 4 with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment 5 and produced a number of the recommendations for the 6 ambient air quality standards which the Board was kind 7 enough to accept and promulgate. Thank you. 8 MR. THATCHER: Hi. I'm Tracy Thatcher. I'm a 9 scientist with Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. And our 10 group works on indoor air quality and the transport of 11 pollutants into and out of the environment. 12 MS. FINLAYSON-PITTS: My name is Barbara 13 Finlayson-Pitts. I'm the lesser-known half of the Dr. 14 Pitts that Dr. Lloyd referred to. I'm Professor of 15 Chemistry at the University of California Irvine. And my 16 interests are in atmospheric chemistry, particularly 17 heterogeneous processes. I'm also Director of the new 18 Environmental Molecular Science Institute that was 19 recently funded by the National Science Foundation at UCI. 20 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Great also to see, I think, 21 each agency from EPA, from South Coast, from DHS 22 participating in this. I think congratulations, I think, 23 in providing that broad perspective. 24 PROFESSOR COTA: We have four members who weren't 25 able to join us today, and I'd like to just highlight PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 57 1 their work. Steven Japar is a retired Supervisor of the 2 Environmental Impacts Group and the Research Lab at Ford 3 Motor Company. Dr. Japar's areas of expertise are in 4 atmospheric chemistry and motor vehicle emission testing. 5 Rachel Morello-Frosch is an Assistant Professor 6 at the Center of Environmental Studies and the Department 7 of Community Health School of Medicine at Brown 8 University. Her research examines race and class 9 determinants of the distribution of health risks 10 associated with air pollution among diverse communities in 11 the United States. 12 Forman Williams is a Professor of Engineering 13 Physics and Combustion at the University of California, 14 San Diego. He has conducted extensive research in the 15 areas of combustion and flame theory and is an 16 internationally-recognized expert these fields. 17 And, finally, Michael Prather is Chair Professor 18 in the Air Science Systems Department at the University of 19 California Irvine. His research interests include the 20 simulation of the physical, chemical, and biological 21 processes that determine atmospheric composition and 22 developed detailed numerical models of photo chemistry and 23 atmospheric radiation and global chemistry transport 24 models that describe ozone and other trace gasses. We 25 have, I think, a very balanced group, and we're fortunate. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 58 1 A few other things. We do want to say it's been 2 a privilege to work with Bart Croes and the entire staff 3 of the Research Division on California's air quality 4 Research Programs. They're really an usually talented 5 group of people. The Research Division has done an 6 outstanding job in identifying key knowledge gaps critical 7 for Board decisions. 8 Ideas for research come from in-house, from 9 leading science and engineers, and the general public via 10 the Research Division's open workshops. The staff has 11 encouraged the best researchers in California and across 12 the country to do this research. 13 I believe that the ARB Research Program is very 14 important to the state of California. Finding the best 15 scientific answers to questions before the Board is the 16 goal. Questions such as what levels of air pollution will 17 protect the most sensitive in our population based on 18 total exposure? You've heard a little bit about that this 19 morning. Basically, how California should respond to 20 global environmental challenges and strengthen 21 California's economy all require research. In a moment, 22 you'll hear more about some of our work and some of our 23 planned work from Annmarie Mora. 24 I'd like to thank each of the Committee for the 25 great amount of time they spend reviewing research plans, PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 59 1 research proposals, final reports, and really making good 2 suggestions for further research here at the state of 3 California. And, finally, I'd like to thank you, 4 Mr. Chairman, and the Board for supporting the Research 5 Program. 6 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you very much, Hal. 7 PROFESSOR COTA: I think now we will sit back on 8 the first row, if that's correct. 9 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you. I know we'll get 10 a chance to get some of your firsthand perspective at 11 lunchtime. And please remember we've got three new Board 12 members here, so I hope you get a chance to share with 13 them some of the history and some of the work that you're 14 currently doing. 15 One thing I'd like to ask staff since we do this 16 for a lot of things, do we know the cost effectiveness of 17 each of our RSC members? Do we get a lot for $100? 18 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: Priceless. 19 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: So thank you very much and 20 we'll see you shortly. 21 (Thereupon an overhead presentation was 22 presented as follows.) 23 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Good morning, 24 Chairman Lloyd and members of the Board. I thank you for 25 the opportunity to share with you the history of ARB's PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 60 1 Research Program along with some notable research efforts 2 and some groundbreaking ongoing work. 3 --o0o-- 4 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Today's 5 presentation will include an overview of the Research 6 Program's history and structure. I'll take you through 7 our strategic plan for research, which establishes our 8 long-term vision and highlights landmark projects, as well 9 as a sample of our major ongoing research. The final 10 section will be a presentation of our annual research plan 11 where I'll present the research projects we're proposing 12 to initiate this year. Staff will recommend that the 13 Board accept and approve the planned air pollution 14 research for fiscal year 2004-2005. 15 --o0o-- 16 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The Legislature 17 created the Board's Research Program in 1971 and 18 identified it as an integral part of an effective air 19 pollution control program. With the mandate as its 20 foundation, the program encompasses all aspects of air 21 pollution. The program has and continues to sponsor 22 relevant research of the highest scientific quality that 23 accordingly serves as the foundation for effective 24 regulatory decisions. 25 Based on the complex nature of California's air PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 61 1 pollution problem and solutions and in order to make 2 effective decisions, research requires a comprehensive 3 look at the interrelationships among air pollution issues. 4 To assist the Board in managing a technically 5 sound Research Program, the Legislature created the 6 Research Screening Committee to oversee the program. 7 ARB's scientific technical staff serve as contract 8 managers and closely monitor and manage the work performed 9 by outside contractors. 10 --o0o-- 11 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The 12 Board-appointed Research Screening Committee oversees the 13 ARB's extramural Research Program. It assists the staff 14 in the evaluation of research concepts and in identifying 15 knowledge gaps. It provides technical guidance on the 16 development of research plans, reviews all research 17 proposals received by the Board, and makes funding 18 recommendations to the Board. The Committee also reviews 19 and comments on all research reports before they are 20 released to the public. 21 The Committee meets approximately six times a 22 year usually for one day to fulfill its obligations with 23 respect to reviewing research projects and final reports. 24 The Committee also meets annually with the Board, as they 25 are today, to discuss the Board's policies with respect to PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 62 1 research and to receive overall guidance. 2 --o0o-- 3 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The Board's role 4 in the Research Program is to appoint RSC members, review 5 and approve the long-term and annual research plans, and 6 consider funding the research proposals that have been 7 reviewed and approved by the Research Screening Committee. 8 --o0o-- 9 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Next I'd like to 10 discuss the history of the research budget. This slide 11 shows the budget history in constant 2004 dollars. One of 12 the reasons for the fluctuation is that in addition to our 13 base line extramural research budget, we have initiated 14 and completed programs that we call special fund programs. 15 These programs have a specified dollar amount for a 16 focused research effort approved by the Legislature, such 17 as children's health, indoor air, PM 10, and Lake Tahoe. 18 However, as you can see in this slide, the research budget 19 has slowly been declining. And the primary reason is the 20 shortfall of the state's budget and the constant erosion 21 of inflation. 22 --o0o-- 23 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: To compensate for 24 some of the lost funds, we've made a concerted effort to 25 find co-funding opportunities. We have always tried to PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 63 1 collaborate with other research organizations to make the 2 state's dollars stretch a little further. But the 3 undertaking becomes even more necessary as budget cuts 4 affect the Research Program more and more. This slide 5 shows the research organizations who we actively work 6 with. 7 --o0o-- 8 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The Research 9 Program's mission since its onset has been to provide the 10 highest quality scientific information and technology 11 possible for actions to protect the health of the people 12 and the environment of California from the effects of air 13 pollution. The Extramural Research Program is our most 14 active method for conducting research, but we also perform 15 complimentary in-house research and work with industry on 16 developing and demonstrating air pollution control 17 technology. 18 The mechanism for generating the needed 19 information and technology is a three-prong approach that 20 includes our extramural research efforts, in-house 21 research, and sponsorship of technology development. 22 These three components of research are integrated into a 23 systematic plan to fill the most critical knowledge gaps. 24 Since most of the presentation focuses on our Extramural 25 Research Portfolio, I won't go into too much detail at PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 64 1 this point. But I would like to highlight some of our 2 in-house research efforts. 3 --o0o-- 4 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: We have developed 5 procedures to estimate the avoided death and disease from 6 major pollution regulation and the resulting economic 7 value. You just heard about our work on Lake Tahoe water 8 clarity. We've had major efforts to characterize 9 in-vehicle and other near source exposures, which we will 10 report in the health update in a few months. We reported 11 previously on emissions from CNG and diesel-fueled 12 vehicles, both with and without aftertreatments, as well 13 as transport of air pollution from Asia. Peer reviewed 14 publications from these and other studies are listed in 15 the handout that's part of your package. 16 --o0o-- 17 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The third prong 18 in the research mechanism is a program called Innovative 19 Clean Air Technologies, or ICAT. The ICAT Program 20 provides about a million dollars annually to assist in the 21 development, demonstration, and commercialization of 22 technologies designed to reduce air pollution within the 23 state as well as create jobs with related industries. 24 Over the ten years of ICAT's existence, 22 companies have 25 received co-funding for pilot scale studies, development PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 65 1 of prototypes, or application demonstrations. I'll 2 highlight some of the success stories later in the 3 presentation. 4 Through this program, we collaborate with 5 industry to fund demonstrations of technologies. We 6 require the participants match at least half of what the 7 state contributes, and we look for technologies that 8 provide the most benefits to the state. 9 To conclude my description of our research 10 mechanism, the three methods, extramural and in-house 11 research and our technology development efforts, represent 12 the systematic and integrated approach we utilize in 13 answering critical air pollution questions and advancing 14 the knowledge necessary to improve California's air 15 quality. 16 --o0o-- 17 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Next, I'll be 18 discussing our strategic plan for research. We updated 19 the plan in 2003 and plan to update it again next year. 20 --o0o-- 21 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The plan is our 22 vision for scientific endeavors and was designed to 23 anticipate and prioritize the Board's research needs for 24 supporting upcoming regulatory efforts. In addition, the 25 plan provides stakeholders and research funding PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 66 1 organizations with targets for possible collaboration with 2 the ARB and inform university researchers and private 3 consultants about our research needs. 4 We surveyed a long list of established research 5 plans as we developed our plan. The Research Screening 6 Committee, experts within the ARB, and other regulatory 7 and research organizations provided thorough reviews and 8 insightful comments. As a result, we believe that we have 9 developed a comprehensive plan that focuses on the most 10 important aspect of air pollution in California. 11 --o0o-- 12 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Based on our 13 analysis of the research needs of the Board's regulatory 14 programs over the next decade, the plan has three primary 15 objectives: To reduce emissions and exposure to 16 particulate matter; to characterize and reduce community 17 exposure to air pollutants; and to promote continued 18 advancement of zero and near zero emission technologies. 19 These themes are found throughout the plan and serve as 20 the underlying basis for each research area. 21 Because the nature of environmental protection is 22 complex and involves many disciplines, we realize that the 23 plan must be flexible enough to adapt to changes in 24 regulatory priorities, advances in scientific information, 25 and new environmental and energy concerns. It is our PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 67 1 intention to adjust research activities as new or better 2 information becomes available. 3 --o0o-- 4 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: This slide shows 5 the five programs that are the key policy drivers for the 6 strategic plan. 7 --o0o-- 8 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: This next slide 9 lists the research categories of the plan. These 10 categories were chosen because they define the natural 11 sequence of research. They identify the impacts of air 12 pollution under health and welfare effects, characterize 13 exposures in the exposure assessment area, and facilitate 14 the application of effected exposure reduction strategies, 15 is covered under technology advancement and pollution 16 prevention. 17 Finally, we have designated global air pollution 18 as an area of high interest. It not only encompasses all 19 three of the above categories, but also contains elements 20 that extend well beyond their individual components. 21 To explain the plan, I will provide an overview 22 of each category, the research areas within that category, 23 some of the key research questions we've identified, as 24 well as highlight a few landmark projects that have 25 provided some answers to the questions in these areas. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 68 1 I'll also show you some of our major ongoing projects in 2 the respective section. 3 --o0o-- 4 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The first 5 category in the plan is health and welfare effects. The 6 major drivers in this area are the health effects of air 7 pollution, especially particulate matter and environmental 8 justice concerns. It is important for the ARB to 9 establish clean air targets that protect the health of all 10 Californians, including sensitive groups, and those living 11 in disadvantaged communities. We also want to protect 12 California's ecosystems. The knowledge gained from our 13 health effects research supports many programs, including 14 the establishment of ambient air quality standards, the 15 assessment of community health, effective public health 16 intervention programs, and the assessment of the 17 consequences of long term exposure to air pollution. 18 --o0o-- 19 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The specific 20 research areas that fall under health and welfare are 21 human health effects, Lake Tahoe and other sensitive 22 ecosystems, regional haze, and the benefits and costs of 23 air pollution control. 24 --o0o-- 25 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Some of the key PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 69 1 research questions under health and welfare are, what are 2 the key components and characteristics of PM that 3 contribute to adverse health effects? What members of 4 society are most vulnerable to air pollution's harmful 5 effects? And what are the health effects of long term 6 exposures? 7 --o0o-- 8 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: I'll now 9 highlight some landmark projects in this area that have 10 provided answers to some of the questions. These projects 11 represent areas where ARB has made a significant 12 contribution to addressing informational needs on the 13 impacts and effects of air pollution. As discussed 14 earlier today, the Children's Health Study is one of our 15 most notable projects, and there are several others as 16 well. 17 --o0o-- 18 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: During the '80s 19 and '90s, considerable research efforts were made to 20 determine what pollutant levels were needed to protect 21 human health, how these pollutants cause adverse health 22 impacts, and which people might be most sensitive to them. 23 The results of these studies serve to fine tune the 24 scientific basis of existing air quality standards. 25 In studies performed with ozone or nitrogen PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 70 1 dioxide, the mechanism of injury samples of blood and lung 2 fluids were collected and biochemical and cellular markers 3 of cellular inflammation, damage, and repair were 4 evaluated. In the case of sulfur dioxide, it was 5 established that asthmatics were at special risk. Studies 6 determined that air standards should be reduced far below 7 those in place at the time. Controlled studies employing 8 carbon monoxide confirmed that people with heart problems 9 that suffer from angina pain were at special risk and that 10 existing air standards should be retained, even though the 11 results of pivotal initial studies were questioned. 12 --o0o-- 13 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Next, I'd like to 14 highlight our Acid Deposition Program. Our Acid 15 Deposition Program authorized by the Legislature in 1982 16 and 1988 was one of the first multi-year efforts to 17 investigate the potential for nitrogen containing acids to 18 cause long-term human health and ecological impacts. 19 Results determined that due to absent certainty over the 20 long term chronic health effects of nitric acid vapor, 21 there was no immediate need to establish an air quality 22 standard to protect human health. 23 Researchers also found that given the generally 24 minor to moderate levels of acid, sulfur, or nitrogen 25 related to human health and ecosystem effects in PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 71 1 California, the control measures or ozone, PM 10, and NOx 2 adopted by this Board and previous ones appear to have had 3 an added benefit in terms of mitigating acid deposition 4 related impacts in California. 5 The Board's Acid Deposition Program generated a 6 large volume of information and nitrogen-derived acid 7 affects and atmospheric chemistry, evidenced by the large 8 numbers of scientific publications, final reports, and 9 presentations at national and international meetings. 10 --o0o-- 11 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: We've also 12 sponsored important projects focused on regional haze. A 13 statewide standard for visibility reducing particles was 14 first adopted in 1969 requiring ten-mile visual range in 15 dry air. At Lake Tahoe, a more stringent equivalent to 30 16 miles was also adopted. 17 Research was performed to define the state of 18 visibility in California and assessing the economic 19 impacts of poor visibility on real estate values and 20 military flight test operations. The visibility reducing 21 particles standard was updated in 1989 to permit 22 instrumental monitoring. Based on instrumental records, 23 Lake County became the first air basin to attain the state 24 standard, and we estimate that most areas in the state 25 will attain the standard if they attain the California PM PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 72 1 10 standard. 2 --o0o-- 3 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: We also have a 4 strong economics Research Program. The ARB supported the 5 development of a model of the California economy. The 6 model referred to as E-DRAM is used to assess the impacts 7 of regulations on the California economy. The model is 8 used to characterize the potential impact of major 9 regulations on the economy and has been a fundamental tool 10 in the ARB's assessment of air quality programs. 11 Another landmark economic study evaluated the 12 contribution of air quality regulations to California's 13 economy. The state found that the California air 14 pollution control industry, which includes businesses 15 producing clean air technologies, generated $6.2 billion 16 in revenues in 2001 and supported 32,000, jobs in the 17 state. 18 --o0o-- 19 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: We were also able 20 to determine by obtaining the PM and ozone standard 7,000 21 premature deaths and 7,000 hospital admissions could be 22 prevented. By attaining the ozone standard, 3.3 million 23 school absences could be avoided. 24 Some of the areas of research for our ongoing 25 health and welfare projects include long-term health, PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 73 1 ultra fine PM, and health benefits. 2 Under long term health, we're looking at the role 3 of air pollution in the development of cardiovascular, 4 cardiopulmonary disease, stroke, and total mortality by 5 studying a cohort of female teachers. As part of our 6 vulnerable populations program, we're looking at the 7 effect of the Fresno environment on children with asthma 8 and how various environmental factors influence the way 9 the child's asthma progresses over time. We also have a 10 couple of projects that are investigating the effects of 11 ultra fine PM. Specifically, contractors are developing 12 an exposure facility that is designed to create 13 concentrated particle atmospheres from ambient air and 14 determine health effects using cellular acids and animal 15 studies. 16 In the second ultra fine particle study, 17 investigators in Southern California are researching the 18 health impacts of ultra fine particles on the 19 cardiovascular and respiratory health of the elderly and 20 those with heart and lung diseases. This latter project 21 is part of a larger study sponsored by the National 22 Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. 23 We also have a health benefits project that is 24 investigating trends in the occurrence of major 25 respiratory and cardiovascular health end points in the PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 74 1 South Coast air basin since 1980. 2 --o0o-- 3 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The second 4 category of the strategic plan is exposure assessment. 5 Advancing our understanding of air pollution and 6 characterizing exposures is the impetus for this research. 7 The information gained from our exposure research helps 8 ensure that our regulatory activities focus on reducing 9 exposures that represent the greatest health concerns. 10 --o0o-- 11 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Specific research 12 areas under this section include personal and indoor 13 exposure, emission inventory, atmospheric processes, and 14 multi-media effects. 15 --o0o-- 16 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Some of the 17 exposure assessment research questions that we believe 18 need to be addressed include, how do indoor and outdoor 19 sources of air pollution affect indoor and personal 20 exposures? And are people at the lower end of the 21 socioeconomic scale exposed to higher levels of 22 pollutants? How are emissions transformed in the 23 atmosphere, and how do these reaction products impact 24 atmospheric processes? 25 --o0o-- PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 75 1 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Based on these 2 questions, I'd like to highlight some of our landmark 3 projects in the exposure assessment area where ARB has 4 made a significant contribution to addressing 5 informational needs on the understanding of exposures to 6 air pollution. 7 --o0o-- 8 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: A recently 9 completed project was a study of the environmental health 10 conditions in California's portable classrooms conducted 11 jointly with the Department of Health Services. Results 12 showed that formaldehyde levels were too high in many 13 classrooms exceeding health-based guidelines and noise 14 levels exceeded guideline levels in all classrooms and 15 ventilation was inadequate during 42 percent of classroom 16 hours. Also moisture and mold levels were high due to 17 water leaks and condensation. 18 The researchers concluded that many schools 19 require improvements. Some solutions are relatively low 20 cost and have already begun through actions by school 21 districts and state, federal, and local agency task 22 forces. However, much remains to be done. The report on 23 the finding was approved by the Board and submitted to the 24 Legislature a year ago. 25 --o0o-- PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 76 1 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Another project 2 that has received considerable interest by schools is the 3 Children's School Bus Exposure Study. It was conducted to 4 characterize the rate of children's exposures to diesel 5 vehicle related pollutants and other vehicle pollutants 6 during their commutes to school by school buses. It was 7 the most comprehensive school bus exposure study ever 8 conducted. 9 Measurements indicated that, for some buses, 10 significantly higher exposures of vehicle related 11 pollutants occurred during the bus commutes that roadway 12 pollutant concentrations alone would indicate. The high 13 commute concentrations were a function of several 14 influences: The high concentration of pollutants already 15 present on roadways, especially if traffic was heavy; the 16 direct influence of other vehicles being followed; and the 17 contribution of the buses' own emissions. 18 The results have been disseminated to schools and 19 school districts, and we are conducting a follow on study 20 to further investigate the results and possible mitigation 21 measures. 22 --o0o-- 23 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Another area 24 where we've made some significant advances is improving 25 the emission inventory. The ARB develops and maintains PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 77 1 emission inventories in California. This slide shows some 2 of the work we've done in this area, and I'll briefly 3 describe important results. 4 Our Caldecott Tunnel Study found between 1994 5 through 1997 light-duty emission factors decreased for 6 carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and NOx. The introduction 7 of reformulated gasoline decreased benzene by more than 8 half. 9 Another notable project involved the 10 demonstration of the capability of remote sensing 11 detection to identify high-emitting vehicles. Remote 12 sensing detention proved to be a potential adequate 13 adjunct to smog check. ARB and the Bureau of Automotive 14 Repair are continuing the evaluation of the technology as 15 a means for improving the effectiveness and reducing the 16 cost of smog check. 17 We have also funded a number of projects to 18 improve the emissions inventory for biogenic hydrocarbon. 19 Inputs in validation databases for ARBs biogenic emission 20 inventory through geographic information systems model 21 came from various research studies we supported. 22 --o0o-- 23 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Next, traditional 24 VOC regulations treat all compounds equally. But as the 25 chart shows, there are large differences in their ozone PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 78 1 forming potential, or reactivity as it is commonly known. 2 ARB researchers coordinated with auto, oil, and coating 3 industries and peer reviewed by the Board's Reactivity 4 Scientific Advisory Committee led to an ozone formation 5 scale for 772 compounds and, for dozens, validation with 6 air quality model applications in Central and Southern 7 California. Uncertainty estimates have also been 8 developed and peer reviewed. 9 The reactivity scale was adopted as part of the 10 Board's 1990 low emission vehicle and clean fuels 11 regulation to allow alternative fuels to compete on a 12 level playing field with gasoline and, more recently, in 13 the aerosol coating regulation to set reactivity-based 14 product limits. 15 Other source categories under consideration for 16 reactivity based regulations include consumer products and 17 architectural coatings. ARB was the first regulatory 18 agency to use a reactivity scale for VOC control, and the 19 U.S. EPA and the European Union are now considering 20 reactivity as part of their programs. 21 --o0o-- 22 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: This slide shows 23 some of the major field studies we've been involved in. 24 Each of the studies were funded in the multi-million 25 dollar range, with over three-quarters of the funding PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 79 1 coming from outside sources. Findings from these studies 2 have strongly supported state implementation plan efforts. 3 --o0o-- 4 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Some of the 5 ongoing research we have in the exposure assessment area 6 are listed in this slide. The California Energy 7 Commission has provided $2 1/2 million to fund three 8 research projects. These research projects deal with 9 ventilation characteristics in new homes, emissions from 10 office machines, and classroom ventilation and air 11 quality. 12 Other projects in this area include improved 13 reactivity estimates for architectural coatings where 14 investigators are developing and applying procedures to 15 reduce the uncertainties in ozone reactivity estimates in 16 architectural coatings. 17 Another project is source apportionment of fine 18 and ultra fine particles in California where particle 19 samples collected during several major ambient field 20 monitoring and source sampling studies will be analyzed 21 and a new ultra fine particle source library will be 22 developed. 23 --o0o-- 24 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The next section 25 is technology advancement and pollution prevention. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 80 1 Through this section, the ARB will continue to be engaged 2 in several activities to advance the development and 3 demonstration and commercialization of technologies 4 associated with zero or near zero emissions. Further, the 5 ARB will also take steps to enhance emission monitoring 6 and measurement methods to advance pollution prevention 7 alternatives. Specific research areas will focus -- 8 --o0o-- 9 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: -- on clean air 10 technologies and distributed generation. 11 --o0o-- 12 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Key research 13 questions in this area include, how can we provide better 14 monitoring methods and increase the accuracy of our 15 measurements and interpretation of data? In what areas do 16 we need to support the development of new and innovative 17 technologies? And what can be done to facilitate the 18 development and deployment of zero and near zero emission 19 distributed generation technology? 20 --o0o-- 21 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: I'll highlight 22 some landmark projects in the technology advancement area 23 where ARB has advanced zero or near zero emission 24 technologies. 25 --o0o-- PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 81 1 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: We sponsored an 2 electric vehicle charging station developed by ETEC 3 Corporation. About 35 percent of ground support equipment 4 in California are diesel powered. The projects 5 successfully demonstrate that electric ground support 6 equipment can replace fossil fueled equipment in normal 7 operations at the Sacramento Airport. 8 As a result of the successful demonstration, 9 Southwest Airlines has replaced additional internal 10 combustion equipment at the airport with battery powered 11 equipment. Furthermore, Southwest Airlines has installed 12 the system at the Ontario Airport. ETEC is now offering 13 the system as a commercial product for the airline 14 industry. 15 --o0o-- 16 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The second 17 project is a diesel emission control system called RYPOS 18 trap. The RYPOS trap is a highly effective self-cleaning 19 diesel exhaust filter that can be retrofitted and 20 customized to meet the needs of a large diesel engine 21 industry. It is an active regeneration system with high 22 efficiency and soot handling capacity and is regenerated 23 independently of the exhaust temperature. 24 The completion of the demonstration program 25 showed that the RYPOS trap is a viable solution to the PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 82 1 problem of particulates in the exhaust of diesel engines 2 operated under low exhaust temperature or high sulfur fuel 3 conditions. During this demonstration program, the RYPOS 4 trap maintained consistently low back pressure under a 5 variety of engine loads and stayed within the target for 6 regeneration efficiency. 7 --o0o-- 8 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The third project 9 is from S.T. Johnson, and it's an ultra low NOx burner. 10 The objective of this project was to demonstrate the 11 feasibility of applying laboratory proven combustion 12 technology to commercially available gas burners for the 13 purpose of reducing NOx emissions. The successful results 14 of this project have led to the manufacturing of 15 combustion equipment utilizing the technology and a 16 considerable amount of interest from California industries 17 to provide quotations for the installation of the 18 equipment. 19 California Dairies, Incorporated, has expressed 20 interest in converting two 500-horsepower boilers, and a 21 contract to provide another 500 horsepower system has been 22 received for a boiler conversion in the San Diego area. 23 A small scale demonstration system was fabricated 24 and displayed at the International Air Conditioning, 25 Heating, and Refrigerating Exposition in Anaheim last PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 83 1 January. And an honorable mention was received at the 2 exposition for the most innovative new product. 3 --o0o-- 4 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Some of our major 5 ongoing research include projects that focus on solar crop 6 drying, which displaces combustion of natural gas. 7 Another is an auto thermal cyclic reformer, which produces 8 hydrogen without NOx emissions, and, lastly, a school bus 9 which uses battery technology that eliminates diesel 10 exhaust. 11 --o0o-- 12 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Our final 13 category in the strategic plan is global air pollution. 14 Changes in the global climate in response to increases in 15 carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses are expected to 16 create regional changes in temperature, humidity, and 17 precipitation. Research is needed to determine the impact 18 of these changes on regional air quality and, in turn, on 19 existing and future control strategies. An understanding 20 of the sources of global climate changes is also needed 21 before effective mitigation methods can be determined and 22 assessed. 23 Another aspect of the global air pollution 24 concerns the transport of pollutants far beyond their 25 point of origin. Dust and other pollutants can be PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 84 1 transported from Asia and the Sahara Desert to the western 2 United States contributing to an increase in regional 3 background levels for PM and ozone within California. We 4 need to determine how global transport effects statewide 5 air pollution distribution and the contribution it has as 6 well as increasing industrialization and decertification 7 has on PM and ozone control needs in California. This 8 slide showed air pollution transports pattern over the 9 Pacific Ocean using carbon monoxide as a tracer. 10 --o0o-- 11 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Major research 12 questions in this area include, how can greenhouse gas 13 emission inventory be improved? What is the role of 14 aerosols in climate change? And what contributions does 15 global transport play in California's air quality? 16 Global climate change is one of the most pressing 17 issues facing the world today. It is imperative that as 18 much research as possible be done to accurately assess the 19 potential effects this impending pending change may have 20 on our environment. Evaluating climate change issues and 21 developing a statewide control policy requires the 22 coordinated input of many agencies. The ARB will seek out 23 appropriate coordination opportunities. 24 --o0o-- 25 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Although we've PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 85 1 been looking at areas related to global air pollution, we 2 haven't had a dedicated effort until recently. And, 3 therefore, we don't have a history of landmark projects as 4 of yet. 5 As you know, the action that the Board took last 6 month in response to AB 1493 was a significant step to 7 address climate change emissions. AB 1493 refers to 8 greenhouse gasses, including carbon dioxide, methane, 9 nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons. These four identified 10 global climate change pollutants are clearly associated 11 with motor vehicle use in California. 12 Several research projects, including in-house 13 efforts, are underway to improve the mobile source 14 inventories for nitrous oxide and hydroflourocarbons. One 15 specific area of significant concern is that black carbon 16 from combustion sources can also absorb solar radiation, 17 thereby warming the atmosphere. ARB is sponsoring a 18 research project to estimate the relative climate forcing 19 of carbon dioxide, black carbon, sulfate, nitrate, and 20 organic particle emissions from different motor vehicle 21 fleets on both short and long time scales. 22 Later today, I will present a funding resolution 23 to you which will include a research project to clarify 24 the role of different combustion processes in determining 25 emission rates of black carbon and organic carbon to the PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 86 1 atmosphere. 2 --o0o-- 3 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: In addition to 4 the four research areas I've just discussed, there's also 5 the area of environmental justice research. ARB's 6 environmental justice policy and action require all ARB 7 programs, including research, to incorporate environmental 8 justice to the extent possible. Historically, we have 9 sponsored many projects that include aspects of 10 environmental justice. But it wasn't until recently that 11 we have deployed projects specifically aimed at addressing 12 EJ. When we revise the strategic plan in the next year or 13 so, we will expand it to include an environmental justice 14 section. 15 --o0o-- 16 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Historically as 17 part of ARB's planned research, a number of studies 18 incorporate methods and objectives that conform to the 19 ARB's approach for addressing environmental justice. A 20 completed study performed in Huntington Park, East Los 21 Angeles County, was designed to evaluate the relationship 22 of the daily occurrence and severity of asthma to volatile 23 organic compounds exposure among 26 Hispanic asthmatic 24 school children. 25 Investigators chose Huntington Park because it is PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 87 1 a highly industrial area flanked by freeways and trucking 2 routes. The study results show that ambient VOCs 3 including benzene and criteria pollutants showed an 4 association with asthma symptoms. Another project 5 measured children's health status and indoor air quality 6 as part of the neighborhood assessment program in three EJ 7 communities. We also have several ongoing projects that 8 are either directly addressing an EJ issue or have an EJ 9 aspect included. 10 ARB has initiated three ICAT projects to develop 11 low cost, easy to use air quality monitors to be used by 12 concerned communities. Finally, a study will use a 13 database developed from the East Bay Children's 14 Respiratory Study which examines air pollutant including 15 particulate matter, black carbon, and nitrogen oxides in 16 an epidemiological study to examine respiratory health 17 among children living and attending schools at varying 18 distances from traffic roads in Alameda County. 19 --o0o-- 20 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: This concludes 21 the overview presentation of this strategic plan. I will 22 now present the planned air pollution research for fiscal 23 year 2004-2005. 24 --o0o-- 25 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The core PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 88 1 objectives of the strategic plan are reflected in the plan 2 air pollution research for fiscal year 2004-2005, which 3 we'll recommend you accept and approve at the end of the 4 presentation. 5 --o0o-- 6 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The process for 7 developing the plan starts with the public solicitation 8 inviting and encouraging the public to contribute ideas 9 for project consideration. Members of the public, the 10 academic community, and ARB staff submit these ideas. 11 To aide in the evaluation, the Board's Executive 12 Officer established an internal committee to review 13 research ideas. Proposed projects are examined for 14 relevance to regulatory questions facing the Board and 15 modified as necessary. 16 RSC members then review projects and provide 17 technical comments for the Executive Research Review 18 Committee, whose members are the Executive Officer, her 19 three Deputies, and the Chief of the Research Division. 20 The RRC reviews all of the proposed projects and 21 establishes project priorities. RRC reviews the selected 22 projects and recommends the plan to the Board. 23 --o0o-- 24 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: There are 22 25 recommended projects that have been categorized in the PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 89 1 same areas as the strategic plan with the addition of an 2 environmental justice category. There are also four 3 projects that are included in a recommended if funding 4 becomes available category. I'll show you the breakout of 5 funding for each category and highlight one individual 6 project from each section. 7 --o0o-- 8 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: This slide 9 denotes the categories of the annual plan along with a 10 number of recommended projects in each section. 11 --o0o-- 12 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The total budget 13 we're expecting this year is a little over $6 million, and 14 we expect to be able to fund all 22 recommended projects 15 and perhaps additional ones. 16 --o0o-- 17 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: I'll present the 18 plan by introducing each of the five categories and list 19 the number of projects under each of them. I'll then 20 highlight and describe one project from each category and 21 conclude by recommending that the Board accept and approve 22 the proposed plan. 23 --o0o-- 24 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: First, in the EJ 25 section, there are three projects. In summary, the PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 90 1 projects will look at the cumulative impact and 2 socioeconomic vulnerability of population characterizing 3 exposure in disadvantaged neighborhoods and the affects of 4 aircraft ultra fine particles on local air pollution. 5 --o0o-- 6 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: One of the 7 specific projects from this section that I'd like to 8 highlight will investigate the affects of aircraft 9 emissions on local air pollution. 10 The Los Angeles International Airport is the 11 third largest airport in the world. It handled more than 12 56 million passengers and 1.9 million tons of goods in 13 2002, via more than 1200 aircraft carriers per day. These 14 aircraft carriers released large quantities of emissions, 15 particularly ultra fine soot particles. The objective of 16 this project is to comprehensively investigate ultra fine 17 soot particles emitted from aircraft at LAX. 18 Investigators will monitor the particles in the 19 areas around the airport and those under aircraft landing 20 pathways. They will also differentiate the particles from 21 those emitted from nearby roadways with those from 22 aircraft. The results of this study will contribute to 23 our understanding of the scope of environmental impacts of 24 aircraft ultra fine particles in neighborhoods downwind of 25 major airports. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 91 1 --o0o-- 2 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Next, in the 3 health and welfare section, there are six projects. These 4 projects will help to assess community health and the 5 consequences of long-term exposures to air pollution. 6 Three projects are focused on the impacts from specific 7 sources, such as wood smoke, indoor sources, and traffic. 8 And three focus on the affects from specific pollutants, 9 such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide. 10 --o0o-- 11 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The project I'd 12 like to highlight from this section is entitled 13 "Assessment of the Health Impacts of Particulate Matter 14 From Indoor Sources." Ambient PM levels in California 15 have been estimated to result in thousands of excess 16 premature deaths and serious adverse health impacts. 17 Indoor sources of particles, such as combustion, smoking, 18 wood burning, cooking, burning candles, and incense and 19 dust resuspension are only indirectly accounted for in 20 ambient PM epidemiology studies. 21 PM from indoor sources, such as combustion 22 appliances and products, are comprised of a variety of 23 components known to be very toxic and can result in 24 elevated indoor PM mass concentrations. Consequently, PM 25 of indoor origin may cause additional impacts not PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 92 1 quantified in studies of outdoor PM. The objective of 2 this project is to identify and quantify the impacts of PM 3 of indoor origin on human health. The results may 4 identify whether new epidemiology studies are needed and 5 enable risk reduction approaches to focus on the sources 6 most responsible for PM impacts. 7 --o0o-- 8 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The next section 9 is exposure assessment. In this section, projects are 10 focused on understanding the atmospheric processes that 11 impact the behavior of pollutants and characterizing 12 personal exposure to pollutants from indoor and outdoor 13 sources. There are seven recommended projects. Three 14 projects will quantify and characterize exposure to air 15 pollutants. One project will improve our modeling 16 capabilities related to the weekend effect with a focus on 17 power production. The weekend effect is the tendency for 18 peak ozone levels to occur on weekends in certain 19 locations in California. The last three projects will 20 focus on improving the current inventory. 21 --o0o-- 22 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The project we'll 23 highlight from this section is entitled, "Determination of 24 the Spacial and Temporal Variability of Size Results PM 10 25 Composition and Mixing State in Multiple Regions in PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 93 1 California." 2 In order to develop effective control strategies, 3 we must further understand the major source of particles 4 in different regions in California. An understanding of 5 the major sources contributing to PM 2.5 in California is 6 limited to several major areas over short time periods. 7 The objective of this project is to perform particle 8 characterization, as well as measure other criteria 9 pollutants in a number of regions in California impacted 10 by PM 2.5, including major cities, agricultural areas, and 11 transport sites. 12 The preliminary results should be available by 13 early to mid-2007 for use in the PM 2.5 state 14 implementation plan development for 2008. A more complete 15 picture will be obtained of the major sources impacting 16 annual average PM 2.5 violations in California, allowing 17 better control strategies to be established. 18 --o0o-- 19 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The next section 20 is technology advancement and pollution prevention. This 21 section supports projects that advance the development and 22 commercialization of technologies associated with reducing 23 emissions. Through these projects, staff will closely 24 work with industry representatives to ensure advancement 25 and acceptance of zero and near zero emission PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 94 1 technologies. There are a total of five projects in this 2 area: Four related to agricultural issues and one that 3 will improve the architectural coatings test method. 4 --o0o-- 5 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The one project 6 from this section I'd like to highlight is entitled, 7 "Methods to Reduce Fumigant Pesticide Emissions." 8 Fumigant pesticides are the largest contributors to the 9 pesticide volatile organic compounds inventory. 10 Additionally, exposures to elevated levels then lead to 11 adverse health effects. 12 The objective of this project is to develop 13 application techniques to reduce overall emissions of 14 fumigants. Reduction in fumigant emissions will 15 significantly decrease VOC emissions in several 16 non-attainment areas like the San Joaquin Valley, Ventura, 17 and the Southeast Desert. This will also reduce exposure 18 to air contaminants. 19 --o0o-- 20 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Our last section 21 has one recommended project entitled, "Long Range 22 Transport Impacts of Background, Ozone, and PM." 23 International and intercontinental transport of both 24 particulate and gaseous pollutants has been documented to 25 impact California. The presence of these pollutants PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 95 1 defines a floor which limits the potential air quality 2 improvements possible for in-state pollution controls. 3 The objective of those projects are to better 4 assess the current impact of intercontinental pollutant 5 transport across California, and through the coordinating 6 research council, link to the global pollutant modeling 7 community, develop a clear understanding of the transport 8 pathways impacting California, and identify the major 9 emission sources responsible. Validated test results will 10 facilitate estimating long-term trends due to evolving 11 emission patterns in the source regions, primarily East 12 Asia. 13 --o0o-- 14 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: The research that 15 is sponsored by the Board is crucial to the Board's 16 mission. We think that the projects outlined in the plan 17 strongly support ARB's mission and, therefore, recommend 18 that you approve the planned air pollution research for 19 fiscal year 2004-2005. In doing so, you are approving our 20 plans to work with researchers to develop detailed 21 proposals for each of the 22 recommended projects. These 22 detailed proposals would, in turn, be considered by the 23 RSC and brought before you for consideration during the 24 next several months. 25 --o0o-- PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 96 1 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: That concludes 2 the presentation. Thank you for your attention, and be 3 happy to answer any questions. 4 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you very much. And I'm 5 impressed with your stamina. That was a very good 6 presentation. Also, again, it gives us a comprehensive 7 review of what's encompassed in the program. Great job. 8 I guess I'll open it up to questions of my 9 colleagues, Ms. Kennard, then Supervisor Patrick, and 10 Mayor Loveridge, and Dr. Gong, everybody. 11 BOARD MEMBER KENNARD: Thank you for your very 12 comprehensive and interesting presentation. I'm, of 13 course, most interested in the aircraft and air pollution 14 item. And I just urge you as you put your proposal 15 together -- because I used to be at that big airport. 16 And, anecdotally, we had heard so many commentaries from 17 residents about soot on their cars and soot on their lawn 18 furniture. And we never really understood where that air 19 pollution was coming from. Obviously, we had a hunch it 20 was coming from the aircraft. But that airport is also 21 located adjacent to the intersection of two major 22 highways, and I think it's very important to understand 23 the difference sources of that ultra fine PM. So I'm very 24 happy to see that you're moving in that direction. 25 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Supervisor Patrick. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 97 1 SUPERVISOR PATRICK: Thank you. 2 I, too, would like to compliment all of you on 3 the very comprehensive report. And it seems that our 4 research just keeps honing in on some of these issues that 5 still remain to be of great concern to this Board and to 6 the people. 7 I did want you to go back to slide number 25, if 8 at all possible, talking about major ongoing projects. 9 You mention a cardiovascular disease study in a teacher's 10 cohort. Is that the California Teacher's Study? 11 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Yes. 12 SUPERVISOR PATRICK: I've been a part of that for 13 over a decade, so now I know why. Now I know what we're 14 trying to do there. 15 You know, when FACES first started off, we had 16 some trouble getting folks to be involved in it. And 17 people didn't want their children to be involved in it. 18 Is that on a more positive track now than it was for a 19 while? 20 HEALTH AND EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT BRANCH CHIEF BODE: 21 This is Richard Bode. And it is on a very good track, 22 that the investigators actually did quite a bit of 23 outreach with the people in Fresno, both the medical 24 community and local leaders. And they've increased the 25 number of kids in that study quite a bit. They're now in PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 98 1 close to the over 300 mark. 2 SUPERVISOR PATRICK: Great. 3 HEALTH AND EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT BRANCH CHIEF BODE: 4 So they have done quite a bit of adding to the number of 5 kids. And I think the real positive part about that 6 study, too, is the children who are in that study stayed 7 in that study. And they haven't dropped out. Some 8 studies have had high dropout rates. But since the kids 9 have been, and their parents, so supportive that it's 10 stayed as a strong study. 11 SUPERVISOR PATRICK: Wonderful. And what's the 12 time frame on that one? 13 HEALTH AND EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT BRANCH CHIEF BODE: 14 The plan right now is we hear some of the first analyses 15 will be coming out right after the beginning of the year 16 in January, February. And there is an Extramural Advisory 17 Committee that will hear from the investigators on their 18 preliminary analyses, as well as some of the methodology, 19 make some suggestions. They'll go back, and then we're 20 hoping probably in spring to get some of our first draft 21 reports. 22 SUPERVISOR PATRICK: Great. Thank you very much. 23 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Mayor Loveridge and 24 Ms. D'Adamo, and then Dr. Gong. 25 BOARD MEMBER LOVERIDGE: I join my colleagues in PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 99 1 underscoring the comprehensiveness in the presentation in 2 terms of goals and studies. I thought really brilliant. 3 If you listened, you felt you need to applaud when you 4 concluded. 5 Two kind of questions. I recognize research is 6 cumulative. And if you try to cut in, you are not sure 7 what has been done. But just two things. 8 One is the focus on the effect of diesels and 9 particulates, what happens in land use next to freeways 10 seems to be important. We're making decisions all the 11 time to put residential housing right next to freeways. 12 Or just in our city we're putting fairly major apartment 13 complexes right next to freeways. We put schools next to 14 freeways. We sometimes put parks and places where kids 15 play next to freeways. 16 And maybe there's a whole list of studies that 17 people that have looked at the effect of freeway traffic, 18 diesel effect, tire effect, and so on, so forth, but I 19 didn't see that here and maybe you could help me out. I 20 don't need you to do it today, but I think for local 21 elected officials when we're looking at land use choices 22 to know the consequences of -- health consequences of 23 living next the freeways would be very helpful. And I 24 don't know what that information is. I know other local 25 officials don't know what it is. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 100 1 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: This wasn't a planted 2 question, by the way. 3 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: I think I'll ask 4 Bart Croes to summarize the research that's been done, 5 some of which was just published in the newspaper last 6 week, the week before. And then have Lynn Terry talk 7 about the policy response that we're working on, both the 8 Air Resources Board and CalEPA. 9 BOARD MEMBER LOVERIDGE: I don't want to take 10 time. 11 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: We should talk 12 about it. 13 BOARD MEMBER LOVERIDGE: It does seem to me it is 14 important. 15 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: Bart, why don't 16 you start. 17 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: You bring up a 18 very good point, and that has been a point of active 19 investigation. We have done several emission studies near 20 freeways looking at exposures on the freeway itself and 21 near the freeway. And then we're also conducting health 22 studies near freeways, both freeways dominated by 23 gasoline-fueled vehicles as well as those dominated by 24 diesel-fueled vehicles. The studies are occurring in the 25 South Coast air basin on both the 405 and the 710 freeway. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 101 1 And some of the major findings that we've seen is 2 that, yes, you do get very high exposures on the freeway 3 and near the freeway but that those exposures drop off 4 exponentially to where you're near background levels 5 within about 2- or 300 meters from the freeway. And those 6 findings have actually influenced some legislation on new 7 school construction, how close those can be to freeways. 8 The health studies are ongoing. And we should have 9 results reported over the next year from both the 710 and 10 405 freeways. 11 DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER TERRY: Briefly, Alan 12 was making his witty repartee. And we are right in the 13 midst of trying to address this very issue as part of our 14 environmental justice program in a land use handbook we've 15 been working on for some time. 16 On October 4th, we had a public meeting with a 17 broad representation from environmentalists, and certainly 18 the issue of exposure near freeways was definitely in the 19 top ten, if not the top one or two, of issues that we're 20 working on. And we made a commitment to go back as ARB 21 staff and pull together what we know today about exposures 22 near various sources of air pollution to try to get at 23 this land use issue. So certainly freeways are very high 24 on the list. We hope to be back early next year in front 25 of the Board with that. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 102 1 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Okay. Early next year. I 2 thought it was by the end of the year. Anyway, we can 3 talk about it. 4 DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER TERRY: I tried to slip 5 that one by. 6 BOARD MEMBER LOVERIDGE: The second is I don't 7 want to in any way make judgments about the panel review 8 of the proposals. But just one questionary comment, and 9 this is the one on environmental justice, which is the 10 integrated indicators, cumulative impact, and 11 socioeconomic vulnerability into regulatory decision 12 making. 13 The causalities seem to be very complex, and I 14 guess -- and I assume it's been done. But before doing it 15 for the entire state, it seems to me one ought to -- maybe 16 it has been done -- test it out on particular areas to see 17 if this causality, indeed, can be dealt with in terms of 18 available indicators. I was caught by the comment that 19 it's going to create a risk scape for all of California 20 and maybe we know enough to do that now. But -- 21 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: That particular 22 proposal I think caused -- it was both one of the ones 23 that was the most important priority for the Air Resources 24 Board to move into the environmental justice arena and do 25 some new research in that area and commit more dollars to PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 103 1 it. But also a lot of angst from the technical staff 2 about whether the questions were being framed 3 appropriately, whether the right data sources were going 4 to be used, whether it would answer questions in 5 California. 6 When some of the researchers first came in, they 7 were looking at federal toxics data sources, which we 8 didn't think were that robust or meaningful. So we've 9 shifted more to California emission data. And it is an 10 attempt to grid multiple emission sources geographically 11 and then draw some conclusions about that and cumulative 12 risks and what possible responses should be made in 13 permitting programs and other program areas. And we won't 14 know until we get into the thick of it whether the 15 hypotheses leads you to the same conclusions that some 16 people in the environmental justice community have already 17 reached. But we think it's very important work to do, and 18 there will be a lot of fingers in that pot. And your 19 district will be very deeply involved, because they're 20 wrestling with the same questions with permitting updates 21 currently underway at South Coast. So we expect to gain 22 from those dialogues as well. 23 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Ms. D'Adamo and Dr. Gong. 24 BOARD MEMBER D'ADAMO: I'd like to follow up on 25 the first point that Mayor Loveridge brought up regarding PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 104 1 the sources of outdoor pollution, kind of keying it into 2 the indoor question. And looking at slide 28, key 3 research questions, how do indoor and outdoor sources of 4 air pollution affect indoor and personal exposure? When 5 this came up, I thought of the same issue that Mayor 6 Loveridge did, and then in addition, the lawn and garden 7 issue and the problem with these high concentrations 8 almost being trapped indoors. So a couple of questions on 9 this point. 10 First of all, what is the research division doing 11 with regard to these specific questions? And also how is 12 the guidance document able to move forward if there's 13 these ongoing topics? Do we have sufficient information 14 to move forward on the guidance document in the interim? 15 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: Which guidance 16 document do you mean? 17 BOARD MEMBER D'ADAMO: The guidance document that 18 will be coming to us. 19 DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER TERRY: The land use. 20 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: The land use is 21 just outdoor exposures. It's not indoor. So that's all 22 we'll cover in that document. If we need to revisit it 23 and adjust it to consider indoor penetration, that it 24 changes the risk and makes them even worse, we can do that 25 later. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 105 1 BOARD MEMBER D'ADAMO: Okay. Then if it doesn't 2 relate to indoor, what are we looking at as far as this 3 combined indoor and outdoor sources, key research 4 questions? Is there anything pending we're looking at? 5 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: We do have a 6 comprehensive report that is coming to the Board early 7 next year on sources and risks posed by indoor air 8 pollutants, which was something that the Legislature 9 directed us to do a couple of years ago and has been going 10 through an extensive workshop and peer review process. 11 The research staff is talking about here going a 12 step beyond that. We've catalogued outdoor exposures. 13 We've catalogued indoor exposures. Now we're trying to 14 pin down more concretely what is going on with the 15 combination of the two in the indoor environment and 16 personal exposures, because we make a presumption 17 generally that outdoor air penetrates into the home, 18 especially with particles. I think ozone we can make the 19 same presumption. And we have a similar presumption that 20 consumer product emissions vent to the outdoors and add to 21 ozone formation. And this is to get at much finer levels 22 of analysis for how much of that is true in both 23 directions and which pollutants is the most true for. And 24 Bart, perhaps, can even expand on my answer. But that's 25 my understanding of this level. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 106 1 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: Yeah, that's 2 correct. What we found in studies that occurred in the 3 '80s was that perhaps one-half to two-thirds of the 4 particle levels that you see indoors come from the 5 outdoors and that the remainder is from indoor sources. 6 And one of the key questions that came up in the 7 development of our report to the Legislature that you'll 8 hear in a few months is what are the health effects of 9 those indoor sources relative to outdoor? So that's why 10 we have a research project specifically to look at the 11 health effects of indoor particles. 12 In the past, we've also funded quite a bit of 13 work on the activity levels for people and how much they 14 spend indoors, at work, and at schools. And we used that 15 information in a variety of exposure estimates for diesel 16 exhaust, for instance, and for environmental tobacco smoke 17 that you'll be hearing next year. So we are using that 18 information now. 19 BOARD MEMBER D'ADAMO: So would these be two 20 separate reports, the one on indoor that's looking at PM 21 as compared to the one that you're just now describing, 22 indoor and outdoor sources? And if so, when should we 23 expect to hear more? 24 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: The first report 25 you'll see is the comprehensive report on indoor air PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 107 1 pollution, and that's early next year. 2 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: February. 3 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: February. And 4 then you'll hear back on individual research projects as 5 the results are gathered. 6 BOARD MEMBER D'ADAMO: What about on the other 7 issue, indoor and outdoor? Is that more of a broad 8 question? 9 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: Those are the 10 individual research projects that will flow from the 11 question. 12 BOARD MEMBER D'ADAMO: Well, maybe I'm confused. 13 I'm only seeing that there's the one study, the health 14 impacts of PM from indoor sources. And then my question 15 is, what about the broader issue of indoor and outdoor 16 sources? Is there anything pending, or that's just a 17 priority that you'll be looking for future research 18 projects to answer that questions? 19 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: Yes. 20 Specifically on this first research question, we are 21 actually going to do a health update on this in a few 22 months and focus primarily on the effects of in-vehicle 23 exposures on your overall exposure to air pollution. And 24 then as part of that health update, we'll try to separate 25 the influence of indoor sources, sources that you PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 108 1 experience during your commute, and just ambient outdoor 2 sources. 3 So it will just be a small report as part of the 4 health update. But it's just part of our whole exposure 5 assessment methodology, so we've incorporated this 6 research question into how we deal with the toxic air 7 contaminants, and it will be part of our PM presentation 8 to the Board next month as well. So it's just an integral 9 part of our whole research and other programs at ARB. 10 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: You're going to 11 see a growing focus on indoor air over the next several 12 years. The Legislature highlighted it and was ready to 13 launch a control program. And that bill was amended back 14 to research only, because there wasn't enough 15 understanding and sort of distribution of the underlying 16 technical information. So that's why we now have a 17 comprehensive report that summarizes every piece of 18 research we have so far. And while we're doing that 19 report, we realized this needed to be an integral part and 20 expanding part of our research going forward. So it's 21 going to be a growing area and ultimately will flow into 22 regulatory actions as well. 23 BOARD MEMBER D'ADAMO: And then shifting over to 24 some of the ag issues. I know that the Dairy 25 Subcommittee, in particular, has been working on some of PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 109 1 the dairy issues. And I'm assuming that there's been 2 dialogue with the Subcommittee on protocols and whatnot. 3 But perhaps if you could comment on that and then also on 4 the pesticide issue. 5 DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER TERRY: Well, Annmarie 6 spent some quality time with us in Fresno on this very 7 issue of coordination of research. And it had already 8 been raised as an important issue because of the central 9 California ozone study and particulate study. So we were 10 already in the process of consolidating the different 11 forms for research, the Ag Tech Group in the valley, our 12 Ag Advisory Committee, our Research Program here in our 13 Research Division. So we sat down to work through a 14 process for coordination as we move forward. But we also 15 took each of these projects, sent them all out to our Ag 16 Advisory Committee, got input back and forth, and of 17 course worked with DPR on the pesticide one as well. 18 BOARD MEMBER D'ADAMO: And then on technologies, 19 Lynn, you and I have been talking about this lately, but 20 the catch 22 the dairy industry is in right now with some 21 promising technologies that are out there right now but we 22 don't have sufficient information that we need. Just 23 wondering how that issue interfaces with the research. It 24 looks like you're just looking at impacts only from what I 25 can tell, for example, on the lagoons and digesters. And PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 110 1 is it the ICAT grants? If there are any dairy 2 technologies in particular that you're looking at on those 3 grants. 4 DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER TERRY: At this point, 5 we're still in the research phase. ICAT has taken it 6 towards the next step of commercialization. We haven't 7 gotten any projects that our technical staff feel fall in 8 that category. 9 But this proposal actually came from ARB staff to 10 start working on the dairy issue, take the digesters. And 11 that's a technology that there are some facilities out 12 there we can begin testing relatively quickly. And then I 13 think the dairy collaborative project you talked about 14 yesterday is something that if we can work with EPA and 15 others to generate additional funds, since our funds are 16 so limited, that we can start to test other technologies 17 in the same way. 18 BOARD MEMBER D'ADAMO: Thank you. 19 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Dr. Gong. 20 DR. GONG: Just briefly. I really have more 21 comments than questions. 22 I want to compliment Ms. Mora for an excellent 23 report. Great overview and very diverse plan. And also 24 Bart as well. Also like to compliment the Research 25 Screening Committee, Professor Cota, the Chairman, and his PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 111 1 colleagues. I know this is a very top-notch Committee. I 2 know at least half of the people. And I participated in 3 their meeting last month, I believe. And they are not 4 just good, they're tough. Anyway, I think all the Board 5 members should be assured that all these research projects 6 that are being brought to us are well reviewed and 7 evaluated and critiqued. 8 Just other comments, slide 6, the Research 9 Program budget history. I commented on this during my 10 briefing, but this roller coaster budget history scares me 11 a little bit. I'm not -- reminds me of the stock market 12 or something like that. And I expressed a little concern 13 or anxiety about the capability of the Research Division 14 to have capability to produce research projects. And I 15 don't know whether it's, again, something you can predict 16 a year ahead of time or whatever. But it's hard to run a 17 business, let alone a research organization, I think if 18 you're not sure of your income. But that's just a 19 comment. I know there's a lot of factors involved, 20 including the state economy and the budget. 21 Thirdly, even though I'm a scientist, I actually 22 would like to hear in the future in a health update about 23 the benefits and costs on air pollution control. And I 24 know you have several projects ongoing. But that, to me, 25 is very important, not just for scientists, but also PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 112 1 policy makers and elected officials to actually quote some 2 numbers or refer to some numbers about the benefits that 3 are accrued from air pollution control. And, of course, 4 it's been brought up before about environmental justice. 5 Perhaps somewhere down the line next year an environmental 6 justice topic could be reviewed succinctly in a health 7 update. I think I'll stop there. Thank you. 8 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you very much. 9 Any comments from staff? 10 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: We would be happy 11 to do that. In fact, we just had an update on particulate 12 itself which is roughly 80 percent of the cost and the 13 impacts of what we're seeing from air pollution in the 14 state. And that will be part of a Board presentation next 15 month that is preparatory for the adoption of a list of 16 readily available particulate matter control measures. 17 And so we can also add to that in the future health 18 updates. 19 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you very much. 20 Bart. 21 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: We also planned a 22 health update on the East Bay Children's Study that 23 Michael Lipsett was involved in. And that's a study of 24 environmental justice communities in Oakland. So they 25 have some results we'd like to report in a few months. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 113 1 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: All right. One thing I 2 mentioned to Bart at the beginning, it might be useful to 3 maybe invite some other staff to brief the Research 4 Screening Committee at an appropriate time of some ongoing 5 relevant research or activities going on at CalEPA, such 6 as the global climate change initiatives there that might 7 be of interest to the Committee in terms of getting a 8 perspective on some of the things going on, even the 9 nitrogen highway network and succeeding pieces on that. 10 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: That's a good 11 point. We'll be glad to do that. 12 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you. 13 Seeing no more questions, I guess we have a 14 resolution before us which is essentially approving the 15 planned research activities. So -- 16 SUPERVISOR PATRICK: I'd make a motion, Mr. 17 Chairman, to approve Resolution 04-30. 18 DR. GONG: Second. 19 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: All in favor say aye. 20 (Ayes) 21 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you very much. 22 Excellent job. And I guess so now we'll move on to the 23 next item, which is consideration of two of the proposals, 24 and we already started some discussion on that with Dr. 25 Loveridge. Agenda Item 04-9-9, two research proposals PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 114 1 that staff is recommending for funding today. The first 2 proposal focuses on black carbon and climate change. The 3 second proposal is our environmental justice project. 4 Although, I think they're in reverse order. 5 (Thereupon an overhead presentation was 6 presented as follows.) 7 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: There are two 8 projects we'll present to the Board today. The first 9 project is one I discussed in the previous presentation, 10 and the other is a carry-over project from last year's 11 research plan. 12 --o0o-- 13 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Attempts to deal 14 with issues on of environmental justice in air quality 15 regulation have been hampered by difficulties of 16 characterizing air quality on a neighborhood scale and 17 identifying neighborhoods that, for socioeconomic reasons 18 and existing air pollutant burdens, may be especially 19 vulnerable to further burdens. 20 --o0o-- 21 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: This first 22 project's entitled, "Air Pollution and Environmental 23 Justice Integrating Indicators of Cumulative Impact and 24 Socioeconomic Vulnerability into Regulatory Decision 25 Making." The proposed project's overall objective is to PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 115 1 recommend a scientifically derived approach for 2 integrating cumulative impact and risk from air pollution 3 with measures of socioeconomic vulnerability. The results 4 will help to detect excesses of air quality burdens in 5 some neighborhoods, explain the reasons for the excesses, 6 characterize the populations that bear the excesses, 7 provide information on the need to change siting and 8 permitting rules to address total local exposure and 9 sensitive populations, and provide an analytical approach 10 to permitting that could be used if new rules were 11 adopted. 12 --o0o-- 13 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: Next, one of the 14 most important issues facing us today is global air 15 pollution. 16 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Annmarie, on that one, you 17 didn't mention, but is that being co-funded? 18 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: It's being 19 considered for co-funding by the Energy Commission. And 20 I'm cautiously optimistic. We've also approached the Bay 21 Area for a possible small contribution, and we plan to do 22 the same with the South Coast because the study takes 23 place in both those air basins. 24 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: On the global air 25 pollution, absorption of light by black carbon is expected PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 116 1 to lead to heating of the atmosphere since the light 2 energy is converted to thermal energy. Results of limited 3 studies suggest that black carbon may be the most 4 important component of global warming next to carbon 5 dioxide. 6 --o0o-- 7 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: This proposed 8 project will examine results from laboratory tests and an 9 ambient air field study of particulate carbon sampling 10 using optical and thermal optical methods and clarify the 11 role of different combustion processes in determining 12 emission rates of black carbon and organic carbon to the 13 atmosphere. This project will result in an improved 14 understanding of the effect of different combustion 15 sources and their particle emissions, in particular, black 16 carbon and organic carbon on air pollution and climate 17 change and will provide reliable emission factors for use 18 in development of a California emission inventory of 19 climate-active carbonaceous particulate matter. 20 --o0o-- 21 AIR POLLUTION SPECIALIST MORA: We recommend you 22 accept these proposals and approve them for funding. This 23 concludes the presentation. Do you have any questions? 24 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: I have a couple of comments. 25 One, I'm delighted to see the proposal on EJ with some of PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 117 1 the respected researchers. I know it's going to be a 2 tough issue. But on the other hand, I think it follows 3 through on the Board's EJ policy getting to researchers. 4 And I think we'll learn a lot from that whole project. 5 And the other one, of course, we've talked a lot 6 about climate change and the role of black carbon. And 7 this also gives us a handle looking at diesel particulate 8 and other combustion sources for black carbon. So I 9 strongly endorse them. 10 Any other comments? With that, I guess we have a 11 resolution before us which would basically approve both of 12 these research proposals. 13 Clearly, to Bart, I would hope that CEC -- and I 14 know I've talked to a number of people over there. And I 15 would also be bitterly disappointed if they didn't come 16 through with significant commitment of dollars. You don't 17 see any problem? 18 RESEARCH DIVISION CHIEF CROES: No, I don't. 19 We've actually got some encouraging signs, and we're 20 working directly with the staff on trying to refine the 21 project. Obviously, they can't make a commitment until 22 it's gone through their Energy Commissioners. 23 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Let me know, because I don't 24 think we want no for an answer. So thank you. Okay. 25 All in favor. I guess -- PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 118 1 SUPERVISOR PATRICK: Motion. 2 BOARD MEMBER D'ADAMO: Seconder. 3 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: All in favor say aye. 4 (Ayes) 5 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Discussion? 6 BOARD MEMBER LOVERIDGE: Just before voting aye, 7 on these, do we, as Board members, if we ask, do we 8 receive copies of these studies? In addition to hearing 9 the ones that are proposed for next year, do we have 10 access to past studies? 11 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Of course. 12 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: We're happy to 13 provide you with anything else you want, drown you in 14 paper. Also we bring in results as they flow out of 15 projects before they're even published. But we'd be happy 16 to provide you with any materials that you would like. 17 You can call me, Bart Croes, or Charlyn Frazier, and we'll 18 assemble those materials. 19 BOARD MEMBER LOVERIDGE: The causality and the 20 cumulative one is very complex, and we've talked a lot 21 about it. I particularly was interested in the 22 description which says "broad databases will be validated 23 through micro-scales study incorporating community-based 24 researchers utilizing positioning devices to incorporate 25 local emitters and local perceptions." I would be PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 119 1 interested to see the results of that as you move from the 2 state region to look at exactly how these factors relate 3 to more a specific community. 4 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: I think what's 5 meant by that convoluted sentence is they intend to take 6 direct measurements within the community. They also 7 intend to pole residents about what they perceive the 8 greatest impacts are and to see if they can find them with 9 scientific methods. And part of environmental justice 10 research is establishing credibility in the community that 11 you address the problem that they think is happening. And 12 so it means doing a little bit more work than some of us 13 might have started off with to just confirm the negative, 14 that it's not, in fact, coming from the battery plant or 15 the shipping yard. But is instead, as we found in Barrio 16 Logan as one example, a very poorly maintained chrome 17 plating facility that was creating the most risk. 18 So that sentence means there'll be an iterative 19 process in the community of sampling and return sampling 20 and isolating down what the major source of emissions are. 21 Source attribution will still be a problem. There is not 22 a marker to date for diesel emissions as distinct from 23 other combustion products. This will come up in the LAX 24 study as well. So being able to tease those out as your 25 district has attempted arduously, we'll confront the same PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 120 1 problem. These researchers will confront the same problem 2 in distinguishing from mobile and stationary and what kind 3 of mobile emissions they're picking up. 4 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: I think one of the key things 5 we've seen in interacting with the community, Mayor 6 Loveridge, is the fact that they want -- the community 7 themselves are most interested in having researchers who 8 are familiar with some of the problems or complexities and 9 not just take researchers and then adapt them to their -- 10 it's a similar distinction between the environmental 11 community at large and those people who are representing 12 environmental justice communities. And to make the 13 assumption they're the same, we've found that is not a 14 good assumption. 15 BOARD MEMBER LOVERIDGE: I was interested -- if 16 these were case studies, which I assume is what is being 17 called out, I'd be interested in seeing these specific 18 case studies. 19 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Well, I think I can speak for 20 staff they do a great job if you want an in-depth briefing 21 on anything here -- and this goes for all the Board 22 members -- just let them know. They're very happy, do a 23 great job of scheduling that. Go down to your offices or 24 whatever. Certainly be happy to do that. 25 I guess we have now an open session here. So, PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 121 1 finally, though no formal Board action may be taken, the 2 Board will allow an opportunity to address the Board on 3 items of interest within the Board's jurisdiction but that 4 do not appear in the agenda. Each person will be allowed 5 a maximum of five minutes to ensure that everyone has a 6 chance to speak. And we do have one person signed up 7 today on this issue. And I think it's Jorge Gutierrez. 8 So call him forward, and I think we have a written 9 presentation. 10 (Thereupon an overhead presentation was 11 presented as follows.) 12 MR. GUTIERREZ: Good morning, Chairman and Board 13 members. My name is Jorge Gutierrez, and I'm representing 14 ClearInnovation. I have designed and tested a product 15 that saves gas on automobiles, especially on trucks. 16 --o0o-- 17 MR. GUTIERREZ: If you forward to slide number 18 four, I'll get down to the point. It saves .002 to .006 19 gallons per mile. And this is a measurement that was on 20 different vehicles. Not just small cars with four 21 cylinders. We're talking about four, six, and eight 22 cylinders. So for every 10,000 miles that a vehicle 23 drives on a highway, it would obviously save -- if you 24 multiply the 10,000 by the two measurements, you would get 25 20 to 60 gallons of gasoline that would not go into the PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 122 1 atmosphere based on the burn ratio of the engine. 2 Based on the kind of research that we've done, we 3 estimate that one-third of the 300 million vehicles on the 4 road can be modified to work with this product. There's a 5 few slides in which one of them -- 6 --o0o-- 7 MR. GUTIERREZ: -- shows what the air fuel ratio 8 is at various RPMs. 9 --o0o-- 10 MR. GUTIERREZ: What I'm trying to portray here, 11 bottom line -- 12 --o0o-- 13 MR. GUTIERREZ: -- is that the product installed 14 stays with the stoichiometric ratio, which is the best 15 burning ratio gasoline in a combustion engine. The 16 critical factor is basically that it does not increase 17 more emissions on the vehicle. It's easy to install, does 18 not damage the engine, does not decrease the performance 19 of the engine. And it has been tested in high humidity, 20 high altitude, and high dry temperatures. 21 The two last pages that -- 22 --o0o-- 23 MR. GUTIERREZ: -- are not on the slide are smog 24 checks. And you can see that the odometer for the first 25 page and second page is about 14,000 miles difference. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 123 1 And based on the smog check, the emissions on the later 2 one are a little bit lower. 3 The AirBoz has been submitted to the lab in 4 El Monte and is still waiting to be processed. And the 5 reason why I'm here is because I would like to know what 6 the interest of the Board is in prioritizing an 7 application like this one in the future, once one 8 application has been approved and tested versus the other 9 applications that are in que which are mostly for increase 10 of horsepower. 11 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Well, I think clearly we're 12 interested in anything that decreases air pollution. As 13 you know, we've got an important process going through in 14 El Monte to make sure that any devices there don't lead to 15 deterioration of emissions over a period of time. And so 16 I guess from my perspective, it would be a little bit 17 premature, but maybe Mr. Cackette and Ms. Witherspoon have 18 some more general comment there on how we would approach 19 this, how we would proceed. 20 CHIEF DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER CACKETTE: I think 21 the one factor that takes the longest in reviewing these 22 applications for what we call embedder devices or fuel 23 economy or emission improvement devices is getting all 24 that's necessary. And I know in this device we just got, 25 for example, the installation instructions. Mr. Gutierrez PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 124 1 just recently -- and as soon as we've got that and looked 2 it over, we will issue him a letter that explains exactly 3 what testing would be required to demonstrate that the 4 device, in this case what he has applied for, does not 5 increase emissions. And that is not the smog check type 6 information that he presented, but is the, unfortunately, 7 more expensive federal test procedure that would have to 8 be run. So it's happening. It's in the que, but it's 9 getting all the information that's necessary that causes 10 some delay. 11 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: But we also look at, in this 12 case, if it would be lower operating costs for the device. 13 CHIEF DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER CACKETTE: Well, 14 there are two different approaches for these types of 15 devices. One of them has to do with -- since it's a 16 modification to a vehicle that his device would cause, 17 that has to be okayed by us under state law. And the 18 criteria there is not to show what the device will do, but 19 to show what the device will not do, which is not to make 20 emissions worse. 21 And the testing to make that demonstration is 22 actually less than the testing that would be required to 23 validate on our part whether the .006 -- or the 20 to 60 24 gallons of fuel saved for 10,000 miles, for example, was 25 an accurate estimate. His first hurdle, though, is to get PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 125 1 over the prohibition in state law that says you cannot 2 modify an emission controlled vehicle, no matter what, 3 unless you come in and show that your modification won't 4 hurt emissions. That's the step he's at right now. 5 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Will you also comment on the 6 fuel economy piece? 7 CHIEF DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER CACKETTE: Yes, we 8 could. But that is much more of a define this kind of a 9 change in fuel economy, which is relatively small, takes a 10 lot of testing. 11 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: One of the things -- again, I 12 think Mr. Cackette summarized that. We appreciate you 13 coming. 14 One of the things, though, we have to be very 15 careful, because we are still living with some of the 16 issues which were raised in early '90s and testing a 17 device -- 18 MR. GUTIERREZ: Yes. I understand. Sorry to 19 interrupt you. I understand there's a delicate balance 20 between the modifications that will make improvements that 21 in the long run will bring certain benefits and also the 22 fact that it could be counteractive and create more 23 emissions. And I understand that there is a process, and 24 I'm following the process. 25 All I'm saying is that the application that I PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 126 1 submitted was done in June. And the person that was 2 assigned -- the technician, I talked to him at least twice 3 every month. And I have requested to know what the status 4 of the application is. And when I first talked to him, he 5 told me there was six applications in front of me, but 6 with 14 different pending correspondences between him and 7 the aftermarket manufacturer. 8 And I have no problem waiting. I have no problem 9 going through the process of being tested. All I'm saying 10 is in the future based on the fact that if this product 11 does get approval and it does get tested by somebody else, 12 a magazine, a newspaper, somebody with the credentials to 13 say, yes, this does do what it claims, then would this be 14 prioritized based on some kind of a -- like the scenario 15 of the emergency room where you have somebody that comes 16 in and has a broken finger versus somebody that has 17 internal bleeding, which one has more priority? That's 18 it. I'm not trying to get preferential treatment. I'm 19 just saying for the Board to understand where things are, 20 you know, basically make sure the left hand knows what the 21 right hand is doing. That's all. 22 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: All right. Appreciate you 23 coming. 24 EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITHERSPOON: On the general 25 question of priorities, we operate mostly under first PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 127 1 come, first serve system, because there are multiple 2 inventors. I get letters almost every day claiming the 3 attributes of one device or fuel additive or another and 4 they move through the process. However, we do accelerate 5 our review of technologies that are essential to meeting 6 regulations this Board has established that we believe 7 have a high potential for reducing emissions or we know 8 that they do and they need to be certified, for example, 9 in our diesel risk reduction plan, so they can get on to 10 vehicles and engines. So we have our very highest 11 priority at the moment for diesel cleanup devices which 12 would tend to push anything else backward. 13 Mr. Gutierrez didn't raise this question, but I 14 think he was hinting at it, whether or not beyond jumping 15 the que the Board might ever mandate the use of a 16 particular device, such that it would be more successful 17 to the marketplace. And this Board does not do that. 18 This Board establishes performance-based emission 19 standards, which then the auto manufacturers, engine 20 manufacturers, et cetera, are free to choose the 21 technologies that they would like to employ. 22 However, at times they do converge. For example, 23 the premier technology which coats the outside of 24 radiators to reduce ozone was first certified in our 25 device verification process and was picked up by auto PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 128 1 makers and used in part for compliance with our fleet 2 average emission standards. So that can happen. But it 3 would need to be auto makers who wish to use this device 4 as their partial compliance with the greenhouse gas 5 regulations, for example, you adopted last month. It 6 wouldn't be something the Board itself would dictate 7 happen. 8 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Thank you very much. 9 MR. GUTIERREZ: The other thing like she just 10 mentioned, I was not aware that diesels were a priority. 11 Because if diesels were a priority, I would have already 12 tried and researched the fact that I could try to 13 implement this device to work with diesels. So it's 14 shortcoming of information. 15 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Are you based in California? 16 MR. GUTIERREZ: Yes. I'm in Redwood City. 17 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: In Riverside? 18 MR. GUTIERREZ: Redwood City. 19 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Redwood City. 20 I think that, clearly, I think you've been 21 following what we're doing the last few years. Diesel has 22 been a high priority and continues to be. I'm sure staff 23 will be happy to get you all the relevant information on 24 that piece of it. 25 MR. GUTIERREZ: I appreciate it. PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 129 1 CHAIRPERSON LLOYD: Not on the light-duty diesel 2 side, because we don't have any, but the heavy-duty side. 3 Thank you very much for coming. We appreciate you taking 4 the time. Thank you. 5 Wrapping up, I'd like to, again, reflect on 6 yesterday's meeting in Fresno and thank Supervisor Patrick 7 and the staff down at San Joaquin, Dave Crow, who was 8 excellent. And I'd also like to compliment 9 Ms. Witherspoon and the staff for both today and yesterday 10 for great staff presentations, the clarity. And I think 11 the presentation was wonderful. And also I saw some new 12 draft picks yesterday particularly, and I thought they 13 were excellent. At least I wasn't aware that they made 14 presentations before us before. So I thought a great job. 15 So unless my colleagues have any closing 16 comments, then I'll officially bring the October 29th, 17 2004, meeting of the Air Resources Board to a close. And 18 I guess we'll wait for further directions. Thank you. 19 (Thereupon the California Air Resources Board 20 adjourned at 12:01 p.m.) 21 22 23 24 25 PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345 130 1 CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER 2 I, TIFFANY C. KRAFT, a Certified Shorthand 3 Reporter of the State of California, and Registered 4 Professional Reporter, do hereby certify: 5 That I am a disinterested person herein; that the 6 foregoing hearing was reported in shorthand by me, 7 Tiffany C. Kraft, a Certified Shorthand Reporter of the 8 State of California, and thereafter transcribed into 9 typewriting. 10 I further certify that I am not of counsel or 11 attorney for any of the parties to said hearing nor in any 12 way interested in the outcome of said hearing. 13 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand 14 this 9th day of November, 2004. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 TIFFANY C. KRAFT, CSR, RPR 24 Certified Shorthand Reporter 25 License No. 12277 PETERS SHORTHAND REPORTING CORPORATION (916) 362-2345