2000 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 during the Second Half of of 2000

1. MTBE phase-out. The Board approved technical adjustments to Phase III gasoline regulations to provide refiners with flexibility as they continue moving toward the elimination of MTBE in California’s gasoline by the end of 2002. The adjustments addressed specifics of ethanol blending and concerns of small refiners. California continues to await a decision from U.S. EPA on the request for a waiver from the Federal mandate requiring oxygenates in reformulated gasoline.
2. ZEV mandate upheld. The Board upheld the mandate requiring automakers to market at least four percent zero emission vehicles starting in 2003. The Board agreed to work with automakers to help bring down the price of ZEVs and increase ZEV penetration into California’s vehicle fleet. In December, they approved a grant program that will provide incentives of up to $9,000 for persons leasing or purchasing ZEVs.
3. Emission reductions from school buses. In December, the Board approved guidelines for implementing a program to replace older, high-polluting school buses with new, lower emitting buses or install PM retrofit devices on existing buses. The Governor and Legislature approved $50 million in FY 2000-2001 for the school bus program.
4. Diesel risk reduction plan passed. The Board approved the diesel risk reduction plan to cut the public’s exposure to toxic particulate matter (PM) from diesel engines by nearly 90 percent by 2020. As part of this effort, ARB held the first meeting of the Diesel Retrofit Advisory Committee, a group of 40 experts from around the world that will help identify the best technology to reduce diesel engine PM.
5. Asbestos control strengthened. In July the Board strengthened its air toxic control measure for asbestos by eliminating the use of asbestos-containing ultramafic rock for surfacing operations, such as road covering or landscaping. Asbestos has been known to cause lung disease. The Board’s action eliminated the future use of all ultramafic rock where public exposure could occur.
6. Control Technology Guidance for Stationary Internal Combustion Engines. ARB staff continues to work with industry and other stakeholders in developing guidance on control technology for stationary internal combustion engines. A draft report will be prepared by early Spring 2001.
7. Indoor Air Quality. ARB continues to develop its indoor air quality program and expects to incorporate indoor air quality research into ongoing projects such as its Neighborhood Assessment Program (NAP) and the Children’s Health Initiative.
8. Children’s Health Study. An ARB-funded Children’s Health Study showed that children in high-pollution areas were suffering up to a 10 percent reduction in the growth rate of their lungs. These were the most remarkable findings reported at the four-year mark of the 10-year study of more than 3,000 children from the fourth to twelfth grades in 12 California communities. The Board also identified six communities throughout the state to conduct increased monitoring to determine if air quality around schools and daycare centers is healthy for children, as required by law.
9. California Fuel Cell Partnership. On November 1 ARB participated in the grand opening of the California Fuel Cell Partnership’s Sacramento headquarters. ARB has been an active member of the Partnership’s efforts to put fuel cell cars and buses on the road in California between 2000 and 2003.
10. Carl Moyer Program. In November the Board passed modifications to strengthen the Carl Moyer diesel engine incentive program. The Carl Moyer Program has been a tremendous success, eliminating thousands of tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and toxic particulate matter from California’s air by paying businesses and government agencies to reduce emissions from diesel engines below levels required in regulations and agreements.
11. Not-to-Exceed (NTE) Test Requirements. ARB adopted measures to extend 2002-04 consent decree emission requirements for heavy-duty diesel vehicles. A coalition of 13 other states has agreed to adopt these requirements, instead of weaker federal standards that will be in effect nationally in 2005-06.
12. Worldwide Recognition. ARB continues to be recognized as the world’s leading air pollution control agency. This recognition manifests itself in the number of news media calls the Board receives from around the world and the number of foreign-government representatives who travel to California to meet with ARB officials. The ARB El Monte test lab recently conducted two half-day seminars entirely in Mandarin Chinese and another entirely in Spanish for foreign visitors.
13. Rice Straw Burning. The Board approved the conditional Rice Straw Burning regulations that require growers to document disease damage before they are allowed to burn rice stubble. Local government officials from the Sacramento Valley will meet on February 2nd regarding implementing the new requirements.

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Priorities for the First Half of 2001

1. ZEV Mandate. The Board intends to retain the 2003 mandate requiring that major automakers market at least four percent zero emission vehicles. However, the Board will also make adjustments to the mandate to help lower the cost to consumers who wish to buy or lease ZEVs and help these non-polluting vehicles make a greater penetration into the California market. 
2. Diesel Risk Reduction Plan Implementation. To implement the strategies outlined in the Diesel Risk Reduction Plan adopted by the Board in September, ARB over the next several years must adopt a dozen or more specific regulations and begin a statewide outreach effort. These efforts will begin in the first half of 2001. 
3. Fuel Cell Partnership. ARB will continue its leadership role in the California Fuel Cell Partnership. Fuel cells are considered the next significant step to be made (beyond battery electric vehicles) to bring to California motor vehicles that are free of harmful air emissions. 
4. MTBE Phase-Out. ARB staff throughout 2001 will continue working with the refining industry to assure a smooth transition, with as little price impact as possible, to MTBE-free gasoline. 
5. Marine Inboard Engines. ARB will look at new regulations to reduce harmful air emissions from gasoline-powered inboard boat engines. 
6. Children’s Health Initiative. ARB staff will continue to study the impact of air pollution on the health of children throughout 2001 in the Los Angeles area and in the San Joaquin Valley. 
7. School Bus Program. ARB will implement Governor Davis’ $50 million dollar program to bring cleaner school buses to the state.

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