1999 Accomplishments and Priorities

Air Resources Board

The Air Resources Board promotes and protects public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering the effects on the economy of the State

Accomplishments from First Half of 1999

1. Implementing Governor’s Executive Order to phase out MTBE from gasoline. In June, the Board approved changes to the cleaner burning gasoline regulations that: (1) rescind the minimum wintertime oxygenate requirement for gasoline sold in Lake Tahoe, clearing the way for year-round sales of MTBE-free gasoline in that region; and (2) require labeling of gasoline pumps that dispense fuel containing MTBE so consumers can make informed choices about the gasoline they purchase. In addition, we actively participated in the blue ribbon panel convened by U.S. EPA to study MTBE in gasoline. On July 27, the panel recommended that the federal requirement mandating oxygen content in reformulated gasoline be removed and that MTBE use be substantially reduced nationwide. Removal of the oxygen requirement would provide significant flexibility for refiners in California to phase out MTBE in a timely, cost-effective manner. Finally, in April, we began an assessment of ethanol in gasoline. The assessment will include a review of the potential health effects of incomplete combustion of ethanol in gasoline and of secondary transformation products resulting from the use of ethanol-blended gasoline. We expect to report our findings in December.
2. Fuel cell demonstration project. In April, we announced a five-year public-private partnership between the state government, auto companies and the oil industry to demonstrate the viability of fuel cell electric vehicles in California. We are working with the Partnership to place 50 fuel cell powered vehicles on the road in 2000-2003 to test under real world driving conditions.
3. Carl Moyer Incentive Program. We have taken several actions to implement the Carl Moyer Heavy-Duty Vehicle Incentive Program which provides $25 million in funding to reduce emissions from diesel-powered engines. In February, the Board approved guidelines for administering the program. In May, we approved applications from 16 air districts for program funding. The districts are now reviewing grant applications and awarding funds. Grants for private companies or public agencies operating heavy-duty engines in California will cover an incremental portion of the cost of cleaner on-road, off-road, marine and locomotive engines, either for new equipment and engines, or through repowering or retrofitting older engines.
4. Guidance for major power plant permits. In July, the Board approved guidance for major power plant permits. The guidance is intended to ensure that local districts require power plants to use the cleanest emissions control technology currently available. The guidance also provides that, as technology advances, districts will be expected to require the newer, cleaner control technology. With deregulation of the electric utility industry in 1996, 35 new power plants are currently proposed or anticipated.
5. Children’s Health Study. In February, the Board approved $6 million in funding for the final phase of the long-term Children’s Health Study. The groundbreaking study, started in 1991, is tracking about 5,000 children from 12 southern California communities over an eight-year period to determine how their lung growth and respiratory health are effected by particle pollution and gaseous pollution such as ozone and oxides of nitrogen. Early reports from this study are showing troubling trends regarding reduced lung function and increased illness among children living in the most polluted communities.
6. Study of exposure to pollutants within vehicles. In June, we announced the results of a study co-sponsored with the South Coast Air District to measure the concentrations of air pollutants inside vehicles during operation. The study revealed that exposure to some air pollutants and toxic air contaminants may be ten times higher inside vehicles than in ambient air. This is the first study to measure particulate matter concentrations inside vehicles.
7. Settlement reached in SIP lawsuit. Three environmental groups (Coalition for Clean Air, Communities for a Better Environment, and Natural Resources Defense Council) filed a lawsuit against ARB, the South Coast Air District, and U.S. EPA claiming the defendants did not meet certain obligations specified in the SIP. The settlement recognizes the significant air quality benefits of the measures ARB adopted last year, including the LEV II Program and emissions standards for marine pleasurecraft. It also identifies specific control measures to be developed for ARB’s consideration to provide additional emission reductions. U.S. EPA also settled its part of the lawsuit. Recent court order defines what the South Coast must do to implement the 1994 SIP until a revision to that SIP is approved by U.S. EPA.
8. Closure of public consultative process on federal control measures in the Ozone SIP. In June, we participated in a U.S. EPA-sponsored meeting to close out the public consultative process to identify how to achieve the emission reductions from mobile sources under federal control specified in the 1994 Ozone SIP. U.S. EPA discussed the status of its efforts, particularly with the ships/ports and aircraft/airports measures that were the focus of the consultative process. We discussed the need and opportunities for additional national measures to eliminate the remaining shortfall in emission reductions from federal sources. On July 1, U.S. EPA signed a Federal Register notice formally ending the consultative process as it agreed to do in a consent decree to settle its portion of the SIP lawsuit. However, stakeholder groups are continuing to meet to achieve reductions from aircraft and port related sources.
9. Asbestos Task Force findings. We participated in the Asbestos Task Force evaluating possible exposures to asbestos in El Dorado County. In March, the task force released a report summarizing its findings. Monitoring data collected to date do not indicate a widespread ambient asbestos problem in El Dorado County, but there is a potential for elevated concentrations near certain sources such as unpaved roads. The report also includes recommendations for managing potential asbestos risk. In April, the task force presented its findings to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors.
10. Grants for rice straw demonstration projects awarded. In April, the Board awarded a total of $2.25 million in grant money to fund four projects under Rice Straw Demonstration Project Fund. These projects would manufacture structural panels and fiber board from rice straw as well as produce citric acid from rice straw. The fund was established to encourage the development of commercial uses for rice straw and provides cost-sharing grants for projects showing the greatest potential for creating self-sustaining markets. This is the second and final year of the program.
11. Air quality conference for elected officials. In March, we sponsored an air quality conference for California’s local elected officials. The conference gave us an opportunity to provide information on emerging air quality issues and the role of local officials in the California’s air quality efforts as well as to strengthen the state and local partnership needed to attain clean air goals.

Priorities for Second Half of 1999

1. MTBE phase out/Phase III reformulated gasoline. We will continue to implement the provisions of Governor Davis’ Executive Order calling for the phase out of MTBE from gasoline. We will propose a third phase of our clean gasoline regulations to further reduce emissions and to help automakers comply with the LEV II program. The regulations will also provide additional flexibility in lowering or removing oxygenates from gasoline to further facilitate the MTBE phase out. The Board is scheduled to consider the proposal in December.
2. New mobile source emission standards. In 1999 and early 2000, we will propose new emission standards for: (1) heavy-duty off-road diesel engines; and (2) transit buses. The Ozone SIP calls for emission reductions from heavy-duty off-road diesel engines. Under terms of a 1996 agreement between ARB, U.S. EPA, and the engine manufacturers, emission standards for off-road diesel engines will phase-in beginning in 2001 – four years earlier than expected in the SIP. Emission standards for transit buses were not specifically identified in the 1994 SIP, but will provide additional emission reductions needed to make up shortfalls from other measures.
3. Portable fuel container control measure. We will address spillage from portable fuel containers by proposing spill-proof gas cans. These new containers will employ an automatic shut-off feature to eliminate refueling spillage. This statewide control measure is expected to provide 10-15 tons per day of ROG emission reductions in the South Coast in 2010. The Board is scheduled to consider the proposal in September.
4. Enhanced vapor recovery program. Current vapor recovery systems have substantially reduced emissions from refueling vehicles at service stations. We believe further emission reductions are possible from improved performance and reliability and will propose revisions to require installation of: vapor recovery systems on pumps that are compatible with the on-board vapor recovery systems on new cars and light-trucks; and in-station diagnostic systems that self-diagnose when repairs are needed. The Board approved changes to four certification procedures in June and will consider the other changes in December.
5. Consumer products control measures. We will propose additional consumer product regulations (informally known as mid-term measures II) which include new or tighter VOC emission limits for over 20 categories of auto and household cleaning products, adhesives, and insecticides. The new limits would become effective on December 31, 2002. These additional emission reductions are needed to meet our SIP commitments. The Board is scheduled to consider the proposal in October.
6. Health research – vulnerable populations initiative. We are pursuing a research initiative to better understand how pollution affects the most vulnerable segments of our population. One new project is a large-scale study to examine the role of air pollution in children’s asthma cases. The study will take place in Fresno to take advantage of expanded air monitoring funded by U.S. EPA.
7. Diesel risk management. After the Board identified particulate exhaust from diesel engines as a toxic air contaminant (TAC) in 1998, we initiated the risk management phase of our air toxics program. As part of this process, we are assessing the need for additional measures and opportunities to reduce public exposure to TACs from diesel engines and developing guidelines to assist risk managers evaluate the health impacts of exposure to TACs from diesel engines. We have convened an Advisory Committee to assist us with these activities.
8. Improvements to smoke management program. We are developing changes to improve the California agricultural burning regulations which govern growers who burn agricultural waste as well as land managers who use prescribed burning on rangelands and forests. We are proposing a locally controlled program that would consider the cumulative effects of all types of burning when districts decide how much can be burned each day. The Board is scheduled to consider the proposal in December.
9. Implement Fuel Cell Partnership. We will work with the California Fuel Cell Partnership to place about 50 fuel cell powered vehicles on the road in 2000-2003 and to test them under real world driving conditions. We expect to deploy ten fuel cell passenger cars and five fuel cell buses by 2001.
10. 1999-2000 particulate matter and ozone field study. In December, we will begin a 14 month field study to better understand the nature and causes of particle pollution in central and northern California as part of the California Regional PM10/PM2.5 Air Quality Study. This effort will provide the information on which to base our future strategies to meet the federal PM10 standards, the state PM10 standards, and any new federal particulate matter standards. We will also conduct the Central California Ozone Study in summer of 2000 covering nearly all of northern and central California. Data from this study will support the next round of State and federal ozone attainment plans and will provide additional information on pollution transport.
11. Advanced technology symposium. In October, we will host the second biennial Symposium on Exploring New Technologies for Clean Air, to identify technologies capable of achieving zero and near-zero emissions. The symposium will launch the development of the next set of SIP controls for ARB and the districts.
12. Mexican border issues. We are working with Mexican environmental agencies to address emissions from Mexican sources that impact air quality in California. This year, we are beginning a number of programs, including: developing a "border plan" to protect and improve the environmental conditions along the California/Mexico border; implementing a heavy-duty vehicle inspection program at the border; and conducting a study on emissions from the Mexican-registered vehicles crossing into California.
13. Rice straw burning phase down. ARB and the California Department of Food and Agriculture are required to report to the legislature biennially on the progress in phasing down rice straw burning in the Sacramento Valley. We are developing the 1999 phase down report which will include recommendations for developing alternatives to burning.

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