State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD
State Office Building
1020 N Street, Room 102
Sacramento, CA
February 19, 1975
9:00 a.m.
AGENDA
Page
75-3-1 Approval of Minutes of January 22, 1975 Meeting.
75-3-2 Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Amendments to 1
Test and Approval Procedures for 1975 and Subsequent
Model-Year New Motor Vehicles.
75-3-3 Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Changes to the 56
Enforcement Regulations for New Vehicle Standards
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 3867,
75-3-4 Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Changes to the 63
Highway and Mandatory Inspection Exhaust Emission
Standards.
75-3-5 Consideration of Contignitron Company's Application 80
for Exempt Status of an NOx Device for 1966-70
Model-Year Class (a) Vehicles.
75-3-6 Consideration of AQP's Application for 117
Accreditation of its Pure Power-Electro-NOX
Device as an NOx Control Device for Certain 1966-70
Model-Year Class (a) Vehicles.
75-3-7 Consideration of STP Corporation's Application for 147
Accreditation of its Air Computer as an Exhaust
Emission Control Device for 1955-65 Model-Year
Class (b)-(f) Vehicles.
75-3-8 Draft of Report to Legislature Entitled "Comparison 148
of Costs and Effects of Separate California
Emission Standards."
75-3-9 Second Quarter 2% Quality Audit Report - Chrysler 166
Only.
75-3-10 Status Report on Control of Emissions from 181
Motorcycles.
75-3-11 Status Report on Control of Vehicle Evaporative 215
Emissions.
75-3-12 Other Business -
a. Seventh Quarterly Report on the Efforts and 222
and progress of Manufacturers in Meeting
Federal Statutory Vehicle Emission Standards.
ITEM NO.: 75-3-2
Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Amendments to Test and Approval
Procedures for 1975 and Subsequent Model-Year New Motor Vehicles.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution 75-1.
DISCUSSION
During the 1974 legislative session, two bills were passed by the
California Legislature which have a direct effect on the
procedures used by the Air Resources Board to approve new motor
vehicles for sale in California. Senate Bill 1478 defines and
establishes emission standards for 1975 model-year
limited-production vehicles. The staff proposes to incorporate
the legislative requirements into the Board's existing test
procedures and to establish the following standards for
limited-production passenger cars:
Hydrocarbons - 1.5 grams per vehicle mile
Carbon Monoxide - 9.0 grams per vehicle mile
Oxides of Nitrogen - 2.0 grams per vehicle mile
Assembly Bill 3868 revises California's requirements concerning
91 research octane number (RON) fuels. The staff proposes to
incorporate these revisions into the Board's existing test
procedures.
The staff additionally proposes several amendments to correct,
clarify and shorten the procedures. Only one of these amendments
is substantive; it would give the Executive Officer the authority
to waive the requirement that durability vehicles must meet
California emission standards.
ITEM NO.: 75-3-3
Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Changes to the Enforcement
Regulations for New Vehicle Standards Pursuant to Assembly Bill
3867.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution 75-7.
SUMMARY
This report presents background information leading up to the
legislative enactment of Assembly Bill 3867 which amended Section
39154 of the Health and Safety Code. AB 3867 deletes the present
one-model-year delay between violations of California emission
regulations and ARB enforcement actions. In addition, ARB
authority is defined regarding mandatory recalls to correct
nonconforming vehicles. An amendment of Section 2109(b) of
Chapter 3, Title 13, California Administrative Code is proposed
to bring the enforcement regulations for new vehicle standards
into conformity with AB 3867.
ITEM NO.: 75-3-4
Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Changes to the highway and
Mandatory Inspection Exhaust Emission Standards.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution 75-2.
SUMMARY
The staff has reviewed its surveillance data and has verified the
California Highway Patrol's findings that 1966-1967 Volkswagens
would be expected to fail the 1966-1970 idle exhaust emission
standards for the highway and mandatory inspection programs by a
higher than average rate. The staff thus proposes new standards
to correct this inequity.
In the attached staff report, Executive Officer authority is
requested to exempt vehicles which have tune-up specifications
incompatible with the highway and idle mandatory inspection
standards. The staff further proposes that Section 2176, Title
13 of the California Administrative Code be amended so that there
is a clear differentiation between the hydrocarbon and carbon
monoxide standards which may not be exceeded and the NOx
standards which serve only for screening malfunctioning NOx
control systems. A rotary engine classification and minor
language changes are also discussed.
ITEM NO.: 75-3-5
Consideration of Contignitron Company's Application for
Exempt-Status of an NOx Device for 1966-70 Model-Year Class (a)
Vehicles.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Executive Officer to exempt class (a) vehicles
equipped with the Contignitron Model 4-8 device from the NOx
device retrofit program.
SUMMARY
In an application dated January 3, 1975, Contignitron Company
requested an exemption from the prohibitions of Vehicle Code
Section 27156 for its Model 4-8 electronic ignition device to be
used with 1966-70 model-year class (a) vehicles equipped with
vacuum and centrifugal advance distributors, except Volkswagens.
Section 27156 prohibits the installation of a device which
reduces the effectiveness of required emission control systems.
The applicant requests that the evaluation of the device be made
relative to the technical requirements of the NOx device
accreditation procedures so that vehicles equipped with the
device will be exempt from the NOx device retrofit program.
The Board has previously granted the exemptions for the similar
model 46 and 48 devices for vehicle engine size classifications
(c through f).
The Model 4-8 is an ignition device which is limited in its
application to vehicles which have both centrifugal and vacuum
advance distributors. In addition to vacuum spark advance
disconnect (VSAD), the device electronically delays the spark
timing to a condition more retarded than VSAD. ARB Laboratory
tests have verified that the applicant's data has demonstrated
compliance with the NOx reduction standard and the steady-state
effectiveness requirement.
ITEM NO.: 75-3-6
Consideration of Air Quality Products, Inc. Application for
Accreditation of its Pure Power-Electro-NOx Device as an NOx
Control Device for Certain 1966-70 Model-Year Class (a) Vehicles.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution 75-3.
SUMMARY
Air Quality Products, Inc. has applied for accreditation of its
Pure Power-Electro-NOx device for 1966-70 model-year class (a
through f) vehicles. The evaluation of the complete application
is being delayed pending completion of the applicant's
accreditation test program. Air Quality Products has requested
that the engine size classes be evaluated as the data becomes
available. As reported at the January 22 Board meeting, the
Executive Officer acting under the Board's authority accredited
the Pure Power-Electro-NOx device for class (d, e and f) vehicles
on January 13, 1975. This report is the staff evaluation of Air
Quality Product's class (a) vehicle application for this device.
The Pure Power-Electro-NOx device is a VSAD-type device with an
air bleed. An electronic engine speed sensor and a solenoid
valve provide NOx control at speeds less than 57 mph by
preventing the distributor vacuum advance mechanism from
responding to carburetor vacuum and allowing bleed air to enter
the engine. The applicants data, confirmed by ARB laboratory
tests, show the device meets the accreditation procedures; the
staff recommends accreditation.
ITEM NO.: 75-3-7
Consideration of STP Corporation's Application for Accreditation
of its Air Computer as an Exhaust Emission Control Device for
1955-65 Model Year Class (b)-(f) Vehicles.
RECOMMENDATION
To be presented at Board meeting.
SUMMARY
The staff is presently conducting confirmatory tests and
evaluating data submitted by the applicant. A report of the
staff's findings and recommendation will be presented at the
Board meeting.
ITEM NO.: 75-3-8
Comparison of Costs and Effects of Separate California Vehicle
Emissions Standards.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve for transmittal to the Senate.
SUMMARY
The Senate adopted Concurrent Resolution 122 which in essence
requests the Board to compare California's stricter vehicle
emission standards with those of the other 49 states in terms of
fuel consumption and desirability.
This report addresses the past, present and future new motor
vehicle standards for light and heavy-duty standards as
established by California and the Federal government. These
standards are compared in terms of societal costs which include
fuel consumption, hardware and maintenance costs. Desirability
of stricter standards is discussed in the context of various
executive options on future standards for California since the
Federal Clean air Act standards are possibly going to be held in
abeyance or even relaxed and since California has a photochemical
smog problem far more severe than any other state in the nation.
The staff recommends continued executive authority to establish
appropriate vehicle emission standards.
ITEM NO.: 75-3-9
Second quarter 2% Quality Audit Report - Chrysler Only.
RECOMMENDATION
None, this is an informational item.
SUMMARY
Deficiencies in the quality audit test results for five engine
families were reported in Chrysler Corporations 1975 model year
second quarter and combined first and second quarter reports for
the period August 1, 1974 thru December 31, 1974 (copy attached).
Chrysler Corporation has been requested to take additional
actions to correct these deficiencies (letter dated January 31,
1975 attached) and to report on its program to bring the effected
vehicles into compliance. As of the time of the preparation of
the Board Book, the manufacturer's report had not been received.
ITEM NO.: 75-3-10
Status Report on Control of Emissions from Motorcycles.
RECOMMENDATION
None, this is an informational item.
SUMMARY
The 1974 Legislature, through Senate Bill 1750, has authorized
the Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt emissions standards for
motorcycles, which were previously exempted. The Federal Clean
Air Act has provisions, Section 202(a), which authorize emission
controls on any class of new motor vehicles, including new
motorcycles.
This report consists of a supplement plus a previous status
report presented at the May 1974 Board Meeting. The supplement
describes ARB and EPA activity in motorcycle emission control
since the May 1974 report. During this period ARB activities
included ordering motorcycle testing equipment, requesting funds
in the 1975-76 budget for personnel to operate the equipment, and
meeting with EPA personnel to discuss their plans for motorcycle
emission control. The EPA activity has primarily consisted of
continuing to work toward control of on-road motorcycles by 1977
or 1978.
The May 1974 report which is appended to the supplementary report
describes the overall motorcycle emissions problem. In this
report, the history of motorcycle emission control activity on
the State and Federal level is described. The contribution of
the motorcycle to total mobile emissions through 1980 is shown
graphically. A description of motorcycle types, their emission
characteristics and problems of control are discussed. Comments
from motorcycle manufacturers and staff conclusions complete the
May report.
ITEM NO.: 75-3-11
Status Report on Control of Vehicle Evaporative Emissions.
RECOMMENDATION
None, this is an informational item.
SUMMARY
California is preempted by the Federal government in the field of
evaporative controls for light-duty vehicles. The staff is
concerned about test results shown in EPA Report APTD-1544 which
indicate that evaporative emission controls are only 30%
effective rather than 95% as designed and certified. Evaporative
emission control systems are certified by the EPA's test
procedure using activated carbon traps. The SHED technique was
used in the EPA's surveillance tests.
The ARB staff has communicated with EPA, expressing concern over
the difference between these two test procedures and its effect
on control strategies. The staff has had informal discussions
with EPA, but a joint test program to resolve this problem has
not been worked out. The staff has decided to begin an
evaporative emission surveillance program at the El Monte
laboratory to test the validity of the SHED test results, to
collect information on the magnitude of evaporative emissions
from vehicles, and to investigate their impact on the total air
pollution control program.
A SHED has been installed and the associated instrumentation is
being checked and calibrated. Preliminary test runs on several
vehicles have been made. It is expected that the test program
will begin the second week in February.
ITEM NO.: 75-3-12a
Seventh Quarterly Report on the Efforts and Progress of
Manufacturers in Meeting Federal Statutory Vehicle Emission
Standards.
RECOMMENDATION
None, this is an information item.
SUMMARY
The Air Resources Board Staff has reviewed the vehicle
manufacturers' quarterly efforts and progress reports required
pursuant to Sections 39158 and 39159 of the California Health and
Safety Code. The reports provide updated information on the
manufacturers' efforts and progress in achieving the exhaust
emission goals promulgated by the Federal Clean Air Act and
referred to as the Federal statutory standards. A summary of the
manufacturer's reports must be filed with the Legislature and the
Governor. The Board has authorized the Executive Officer to file
the Summary reports as they are completed. This summary will be
forwarded by the Executive Officer unless instructed otherwise.
ATTACHMENTS: H&SC Sections 39158; 39159
Seventh Quarterly Report