Accomplishments & Priorities - Semiannual Report

Air Resources Board

July 2001 - December 2001

• Developing and Implementing New Strategies to Effectively Reduce Air Pollution
• Incorporating Environmental Justice (EJ) Principles and Children’s Health Issues into ARB Actions to Reduce the Impacts of Air Pollution on Communities
• Promoting the Development, Commercialization, and Use of Zero- and Near Zero- Emission Technologies
• Improving Technical Tools to Assess the Nature and Sources of Air Pollution and to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Air Quality Improvement Strategies
• Increase the Ability to Assess and Improve Air Quality in the California-Mexico Border Region

Mission: It is the mission of the Air Resources Board (ARB) to promote and protect 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.

Developing and Implementing New Strategies to Effectively Reduce Air Pollution

ARB is responsible for reducing emissions from motor vehicles, off-road equipment, fuels, consumer products, and air toxics. ARB also recommends pollution control measures for the industrial and commercial sources under the jurisdiction of California’s 35 local air districts.

Accomplishments

1. Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck Standards: In October 2001, ARB adopted tighter emission standards for new diesel engines similar to those adopted earlier this year by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). These limits, to be phased in between 2007 and 2009, are 90 percent below the current particulate matter limit and 95 percent below the current nitrogen oxides (NOx) limit.

2. Marine Inboard and Sterndrive Gasoline Engine Standards: In July 2001, ARB adopted regulations to establish emission standards for inboard and sterndrive gasoline-powered engines in recreational marine vessels. By 2010, this measure will reduce summer ozone precursors by 10 tons per day statewide.

3. Automotive Refinishing Toxics Measure: In September 2001, ARB adopted a measure to prohibit the use of hexavalent chromium and cadmium in automobile and mobile equipment coatings. ARB’s work at the community level has shown that small plating and auto refinishing operations are frequently located near residential and mixed-use areas. This measure is expected to reduce cumulative risks to residents in these neighborhoods as well as to all Californians.

4. Asbestos-Construction/Quarries Toxics Measure: In July 2001, ARB approved a measure for construction and quarrying in areas where naturally occurring asbestos is found or is likely to be found. The regulation requires the use of best dust mitigation practices whenever motorized equipment is used that disturbs asbestos-containing soils. This measure will protect nearby residents from asbestos exposure.

5. State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the San Francisco Bay Area: Emissions of ozone precursors have been on a downward trend in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1980 and are projected to continue declining through 2010. However, the Bay Area did not attain the federal ozone standard in 2000 and was required to update its SIP to demonstrate attainment by 2006. ARB worked with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and other stakeholders to assess the emission reductions needed, and in November 2001, the ARB approved a control strategy that is projected to bring the Bay Area into federal attainment by 2006.

6. Tijuana Smog Check Pilot Project: ARB staff have continued to work cooperatively with the project participants to design a heavy-duty vehicle testing station, develop and translate training materials, and present a training course for inspecting diesel vehicles. The pilot program for passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks began operation in November 2001. It initially applies to Tijuana’s fleet of 10,000 city-owned vehicles. If the pilot program is successful, Tijuana officials hope to expand testing to the city’s taxicabs and buses and ultimately to privately owned vehicles.

7. Distributed Generation: In November 2001, ARB adopted a certification program and uniform emission standards for electrical generation technologies that were exempt from district permitting requirements. State law requires that all electrical generation technologies either be certified by ARB or permitted by local air districts.

8. Truck Laboratory Constructed: ARB is currently in the process of extending its heavy-duty diesel truck smoke inspection program to include testing for NOx and particulate matter. This measure is expected to reduce NOx emissions by an estimated 10 tons per day and reactive organic gases (ROG) by 1 ton per day by the year 2010. The construction of a new testing lab for this measure, an important step towards reaching the measure’s goal, was completed in the second half of 2001.

9. Completion of Evaporative Emission Reduction Testing for Lawn Mowers: In November 2001, ARB completed a series of in-house tests to assess control technologies designed to reduce the evaporative emissions from walk-behind mowers. The results of this testing show that available control technology can reduce these emissions by up to 75 percent. The data will be used to support a new control measure aimed at reducing emissions from small off-road engines that are many times more polluting than automobile and pickup truck engines.

Priorities

1. ARB Clean Air Plan: ARB will consider approval of its 2002 Clean Air Plan to reduce ozone, particulate matter, and air toxics across California. The Clean Air Plan will include a comprehensive assessment of emission reduction opportunities for sources under State, federal, and local control. Selected strategies in the approved Clean Air Plan will then form the basis for new air pollution control strategies needed for upcoming revisions to the SIPs for the San Joaquin Valley, Bay Area, and South Coast Air Basin.

2. Update the SIP for South Coast: ARB will work with the South Coast AQMD, the Southern California Association of Governments, and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive revision to the South Coast SIP. The SIP revision will include new emission data, modeling based on the results of the Southern California Ozone Study, and an updated assessment of local, State, and federal strategies to reduce emissions.

3. Update the SIP for San Joaquin Valley: San Joaquin Valley failed to attain the federal ozone standard by its 1999 deadline and has been upgraded to “severe” classification with a 2005 attainment deadline. ARB will work with the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District and other stakeholders on a technical assessment of the feasibility of attaining the standard by 2005. If the 2005 deadline is not feasible, we will request that U.S. EPA reclassify the area to “extreme” with a 2010 attainment deadline.

4. Residential Waste Burning: ARB is currently working on an airborne toxics control measure that will prohibit the burning of residential waste, except vegetative materials. This measure will reduce dioxin emissions as well as many other airborne toxics.

5. Rice Straw Expo: Early in the summer of 2002, ARB will host a rice straw expo, creating an opportunity for communication between rice growers, producers of rice straw products, and consumers of these products. This event will serve as a forum for educating all parties on potential markets for rice straw and the cost-effectiveness of using rice straw for a variety of products.

6. Diesel Retrofit of Garbage Trucks: In June 2002, the ARB Board will consider a regulation to reduce diesel particulates from refuse haulers. The measure would require the addition of ARB-approved retrofit technology on existing truck fleets. This is a priority strategy to reduce health risks from diesel particulates in California communities.

7. M-17 Truck Measure Test Program: ARB is currently in the process of extending its diesel truck smoke inspection program to include testing for NOx and particulate matter. This measure would involve roadside screening and in-use compliance testing of heavy-duty diesel trucks of 6,000 pounds or more. The measure is expected to reduce NOx emissions by an estimated 10 tons per day and reactive organic gases (ROG) by one ton per day by the year 2010. The M-17 test program, an important step towards reaching this goal, will be implemented early in 2002.

Incorporating Environmental Justice (EJ) Principles and Children’s Health Issues into ARB Actions to Reduce the Impacts of Air Pollution on Communities

Over the last two decades, ARB policies and programs have helped to reduce the health risk from air pollution across California. However, ARB recognizes the need to address neighborhood-scale air quality issues. ARB will work to integrate EJ and children’s health issues into all of its programs, policies, and actions and to improve its outreach efforts.

Accomplishments

1. EJ Guidelines: On December 13, 2001, ARB approved environmental justice policies and associated action items. Policies were developed through an extensive public outreach process involving industry groups, business organizations, environmental organizations, community groups, local air districts, and other local agencies. The policies emphasize the incorporation of environmental justice considerations in all ARB program activities.

2. Recommendations for Districts on Penalty Assessments: On December 13, 2001, ARB approved a staff evaluation of air district enforcement activities at refineries and identified several areas for improvement. The report included a recommendation that minimum penalties should be increased to discourage repeat violations.

3. Air Monitoring at Schools: During the second half of 2001, air quality monitoring efforts were expanded to include schools located in the Fruitvale area in Oakland and the Wilmington area in Los Angeles.

4. Proposal For Stricter Particle Standards to Protect Children: On November 30, 2001, ARB and Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) staff proposed tighter ambient air quality standards for particulate matter to protect children’s health as described above. Reducing particle levels would cut the number of days that children experience respiratory illness as well as decrease premature death in adults with existing heart and respiratory ailments.

5. Cumulative Health Risk Mapping: In December 2001, ARB released cumulative risk maps based on available air toxics data for urban areas in California. The maps show the decreasing trend in health risks from key air toxics. The available data are regional, however, and not neighborhood.

Priorities

1. Improve Cumulative Health Risk Mapping: ARB will continue developing a GIS-based mapping capability with the goal of providing community access to air toxics data at the neighborhood level.

2. Finalize Particle Standards to Protect Children’s Health: In spring 2002, ARB will consider a joint ARB and OEHHA staff proposal to tighten the ambient air quality standards for particulate matter (dust, soot, and gases) to adequately protect children’s health. The current proposal would lower the existing daily standard for inhalable particulate matter by 30 percent and establish a new annual standard for the fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lung when inhaled. This is the first in a series of standards that ARB and OEHHA are reviewing to ensure that infants and children are adequately protected by California’s ambient air quality standards. ARB and OEHHA plan to review the ozone standard next.

3. Complete Field Research for the Children’s Health Study to Investigate the Effects of Long-Term Air Pollution Exposure on Children Lung Development: The Children’s Health Study researchers are evaluating 5,200 children over a ten-year period to determine the effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on lung function and asthma development. This research will help identify the specific smog components responsible for respiratory problems in children and the lowest effect levels over long-term exposure. Field research will be completed by June 2002, and analysis of the data collected will continue into 2004.

4. Air Monitoring at Schools: ARB will continue to conduct outreach meetings in Fruitvale and Wilmington regarding air quality monitoring efforts as well as the next areas to be monitored, Crockett and Fresno.

Promoting the Development, Commercialization, and Use of Zero- and Near Zero- Emission Technologies

Development of low-emission technologies has been essential to improving air quality while accommodating growth. However, health-based air quality standards in California have not been achieved. The development, commercialization, and use of zero- and near-zero emission technologies is needed to achieve and maintain these standards as well as to reduce health risk from air toxics.

Accomplishments

1. Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Sharing Program: To facilitate the placement of zero- and near zero- emission vehicles in transportation systems, ARB signed a partnership agreement with the California Department of Transportation and the California Energy Commission in which all parties committed to support initiatives such as shared-use vehicle transportation strategies linked to clean fuel vehicles. These “station car” projects will involve public agencies, vehicle manufacturers, private industry, and researchers.

2. California Fuel Cell Partnership: ARB has continued to be an active member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership, a collaboration of auto manufacturers, fuel cell developers, fuel providers, and other government agencies. The purpose of the partnership is to demonstrate the viability of fuel cell vehicles, increase public awareness of fuel cells, and explore how best to commercialize fuel cell technology. In October 2001, the partnership released its most recent study, “Bringing Fuel Cell Vehicles to Market: Scenarios and Challenges with Fuel Alternatives.”

3. Formation of the Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative: In June 2001, ARB brought together a group from industry, public entities, and private organizations to promote stationary fuel cell commercialization. The collaborative group includes an advisory committee of key stakeholders who will provide guidance in the siting and testing of fuel cells for stationary source applications, funding for demonstration projects, and technical assistance to organizations developing fuel cells for distributed power generation.

4. Support Technologies That Promote Emission Reductions with Innovative Clean Air Technologies (ICAT) Funds: In the fall of 2001, ARB approved eight new ICAT project grants. ICAT funding promotes pollution prevention and control technologies by providing capital for the demonstration phase of product development when few other sources of public or private funding exist. ICAT provides matching funds for prototype creation and field demonstrations of innovative technologies that can help reduce emission and control costs, promote new industries and jobs in California, and improve industrial productivity.

Priorities

1. Develop Guidelines for Fund Distribution: The latest State budget appropriated
$20 million to ARB for its ZEV program. In February 2002, ARB will present a set of guidelines to its board that outline how this money is to be used. Half of the money will be dedicated to subsidies for ZEV purchases by anyone, while the other half will be limited to subsidies for the purchase of ZEVs for fleets in nonattainment areas. ARB will give a priority to fleets serving low-income and minority communities.

2. Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative Goals: The mission of the collaborative is to facilitate the installation of at least 20 megawatts of stationary fuel cells by 2002. To this end, multiple fuel cell power generation units will be purchased and installed by California government agencies by early 2002. Units will be installed in the California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Building in Sacramento and the Fuel Cell Partnership Building. A number of portable units will be available for demonstration purposes.

Improving Technical Tools to Assess the Nature and Sources of Air Pollution and to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Air Quality Improvement Strategies

Key to the air quality progress California has made are the robust data and analytical tools underpinning its plans, initiatives, and regulatory strategies. ARB will continue to use the best science to answer the basic questions: to what pollutants and to what extent are people exposed? What are the sources of the pollution and how much do they emit? How does pollution move, react, and accumulate in the atmosphere?

Accomplishments

1. Develop the Atmospheric Modeling Capability Needed to Support Attainment Demonstrations for the Federal Ozone Standard: It has become clear that in order to continue to meet the demands of the Clean Air Act, ARB needs to improve its air quality modeling capability. The work of the Southern California Ozone Study and the Central California Ozone Study (CCOS) will give ARB the tools to assess more rigorously California’s clean air needs. To this end, ARB’s modeling team fast-tracked quality assurance on meteorology and air quality inputs for data collected in 2000 throughout the second half of 2001. This data will be modeled in an effort to validate ARB’s results from previous modeling efforts and will be used in the process of updating SIPs.

Priorities

1. CCOS Results will be Used in the Clean Air Plan (CAP): By April 2002, ARB will complete work with local air districts to incorporate the preliminary tools developed in CCOS into the CAP and district SIPs.

2. Better Understand Particulate Matter Pollution: In spring 2002, analysis of the data collected in the California Regional Particulate Matter Air Quality Study will begin. An expedited effort is underway to enable use of the best available data for the required revision to the particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) SIP for the San Joaquin Valley.

Increase the Ability to Assess and Improve Air Quality in the California-Mexico Border Region

ARB is working with United States and Mexican environmental agencies to develop the programs and technical tools needed to improve air quality in the California-Mexico border region. By spring 2002, at least four new continuous PM10 monitors will be installed near the Mexican border to help better understand transport issues between Mexicali and Imperial County. ARB is also participating in the Cal/EPA Border Environmental Program with the Resources Agency, Attorney General’s Office, Baja California Direccion de Ecologia (Department of Ecology), and other stakeholders to identify and resolve multimedia environmental and public health concerns.

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