Initiative #1. Modernization of the Emission Reduction Credit System. Ensuring the future availability of emission offsets under federal and state new source review requirements presents a looming crisis for air agencies around the country. South Coast has a lengthy tradition for serving as the think tank and proving grounds for new and innovative air quality policy.

Replacement of today’s outdated emission reduction credit program with a 21^st century program should be among the agency’s highest priorities. Attaining clean air and providing for a strong economy require full attention to this problem before it becomes a true crisis.

Initiative #2. Petition U.S. EPA to Review Outdated Policy Interpretations of the Clean Air Act. The U.S. EPA has established numerous interpretations of the Clean Air Act in the last 20 years, some of which are quite significant and don’t appear to reflect the underlying statutes. A select number of these policies are severely limiting AQMD’s flexibility in the area of attainment planning and the permitting of new facilities or equipment.

As this Board has done in recent years relative to recordkeeping requirements, and building upon the previous work of the Home Rule Advisory Group, this initiative calls for a review of these policies through a working group and the formation of alliances to seek appropriate changes in policy by the Bush Administration. The working group will have representation from U.S. EPA, CARB, business, environmental and community groups, and will submit its recommendations to the full Board before requesting changes by the Bush Administration.

Chair Glover emphasizes her intention here: "This Board, and this agency, will not recommend actions which will degrade the air, but rather, will be seeking ways to increase the overall effectiveness of our clean air programs."

Initiative #3. Creation of a Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership. Under this initiative AQMD will spearhead the formation of a strategic alliance comprised of vehicle and engine manufacturers, air and energy agencies, fuel providers, transit and refuse hauler associations, and other interested parties to facilitate the advancement of NGV technology and deployment.

This effort can be modeled after the California Fuel Cell Partnership, go hand in hand with AQMD’s fleet vehicle rules, and help natural gas fulfill its potential as a low emission displacement or augmentation to petroleum fuel where economically feasible. One of the activities of this group will be to hold an NGV Summit to assemble high level policymakers from around the nation to share knowledge, plan joint projects, and discuss the interface between an NGV strategy and national energy policies. Another activity will entail efforts to expand engine and vehicle platform development for NGVs.

Initiative #4. Formation of a Multi-Regional Alliance for Clean Air. Several major metropolitan non-attainment areas, such as Houston, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; New York City; and Boston, Massachusetts are making clean air a priority. Each area can benefit by sharing information and pooling technical and political resources to combat common air pollution problems.

This effort will include seeking federal funding for the demonstration of advanced clean air strategies that may ultimately prove applicable to other non-attainment areas.

Initiative #5. Strategic Alliance on Advanced Air Pollution Research. Every Air Quality Management Plan and rule that the AQMD Board adopts must be based on sound science. The Board also understands that scientific knowledge changes over time and that new questions and issues arise. This initiative recognizes that this agency should build upon its strong foundation in the area of scientific research through new partnerships with others to help explore and address some of the new and pressing issues faced in air pollution control.

For example, there is increasing interest in nanoparticles and their potential health effects. There are also many issues to be resolved related to toxic air emissions, including an acceptable method for better assessing cumulative risk from multiple sources. These are just two of the areas where AQMD should be more involved and make funding or staff time available for the basic research.

The Chair will be appointing an Ad Hoc Committee of the Board to convene a meeting with scientists from academia, government, community-based organizations and the private sector to develop a three-year Agency-wide Research Plan for Board consideration to enhance AQMD’s research activities.

Initiative #6. Strategic Alliance on Environmental Justice for Calendar Year 2002. When the Governing Board approved its environmental justice initiatives nearly five years ago, AQMD was the first agency of its kind to do so. Others have followed with their own sets of policies and proposed actions, including the California Air Resources Board just last month (Dec., 2001).

The Chair believes that it is time for AQMD to embark on some new activities in this area, including better targeting of monetary penalties from rule violations to address the air quality concerns of impacted communities, among other items.

AQMD staff will conduct a program review over the next 90 days, with input from the Board, and better lay out the agency’s environmental justice-related activities for the next year. In the future, such a review should occur on an annual basis. This initiative will serve to strengthen the District’s partnership with the general public and community groups.

Initiative #7. Strategic Alliance on Clean Fuel Vehicle Funding. AQMD’s fleet vehicle regulations, while still in the early stages of implementation, are beginning to yield great results. For the first time, this agency has given alternative fuels a real chance to succeed. The District has also helped to pressure the automotive and fuels industries to lower emissions from diesel engines, and they are responding with some significant improvements. However, long-term funding for fleet operators to use low emission technologies, especially local government, is still needed.

Therefore, it is proposed that AQMD form new alliances with fleet operators, including local governments, to secure long-term funding for implementation of the District’s fleet vehicle program. This effort should include federal funding opportunities from Congress, the Department of Energy, and CMAQ, in addition to other options.

Initiative #8. Negotiated Rulemaking Pilot Program. For four years the U.S. EPA has periodically and selectively conducted development of new regulations through a formal negotiated rulemaking process. The process has included various stakeholder groups, agency staff, and a facilitator. The process has produced mixed results at the federal level.

Nonetheless, consistent with the industry testimony on Rule 1178 last month, the Chair suggests that the Board consider experimenting with such a process for a single, non-state implementation plan rulemaking, possibly in the area of air toxics. If the negotiated rulemaking process proves successful, then the Board can consider expanding the program in the future.

For an initial attempt, the Chair requests that the Executive Officer be directly involved and do his best to facilitate a positive outcome that can be forwarded to the Board for final approval. Legal counsel will also have to ensure that all statutory requirements for rule adoption are met.

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This page updated: March 01, 2004
URL: http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/Strategic_Alliance_Initiatives.htm