State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD
Resources Building Auditorium
1416 Ninth Street
Sacramento, CA
November 14, 1973
9:30 a.m.
AGENDA
73-26-1 Approval of Minutes of October 17, 1973 Meeting.
73-26-2 Public Hearing - Proposed Regulations for Action to be
Taken if the ARB is Prevented From Conducting
Surveillance of Assembly Line Testing.
73-26-3 Public Hearing - Proposed Highway Emission Standards
for 1974 Model-Year Vehicles.
73-26-4 Public Hearing - Proposed Changes to Emission Standards
for 1975 Heavy-Duty Diesel and Gasoline Powered
Engines.
73-26-5 Consideration of Exhaust Emission Standards for 1975
Light-Duty Vehicles.
73-26-6 Consideration of Colspan's Application for
Accreditation of its Device for 1955-65 Model Year
Vehicles.
73-26-7 Progress Report on NOx Device Installations.
73-26-8 Report on Effect of Catalytic Converter Control Systems
on Emission of Sulfates.
73-26-9 Other Business.
73-26-10 Remarks From Audience - End of Morning and Afternoon
Sessions.
ITEM NO.: 73-26-2
Public Hearing - Proposed Regulations for Action to be Taken if
the Air Resources board is Prevented from Conducting Surveillance
of Assembly-Line Testing.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution 73-51.
DISCUSSION
The Air Resources Board (ARB) staff is now engaged in a worldwide
operation of physical plant inspections conducting surveillance
of assembly-line testing. It has come to the staff's attention
that public officials of some foreign countries object to visit
of manufacturing plants in their countries. Some countries have
either prevented Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff
members from entering their country or put many obstacles in the
way of entering the country. Notably, French officials refused
to allow EPA staff members to enter France, Italian officials
finally allowed entrance to Italy after much negotiating, and
Japan has expressed concern over a recent visit of EPA. We
expect the same objections will be made to visits by ARB staff.
Since the ARB's program of surveillance of assembly-line testing
includes plant inspections, it would not be consistent to visit
plants only in countries which did not object. In order to
provide an alternative solution, adoption of Section 2151 of
title 13 of the California Administrative Code is proposed. It
provides that, in any instance where the ARB is prevented from
conducting surveillance of assembly-line testing, the
manufacturers shall perform all assembly-line testing (all
functional tests, steady state inspection tests and quality audit
tests) within California, where surveillance shall be permitted.
If surveillance of assembly-line testing is not allowed where the
manufacturer's vehicles are assembled, and surveillance is not
performed pursuant to Section 2151, then Section 2152 provides
the ARB with the means of enforcement by withholding approval of
the following and all subsequent model years until inspection is
permitted.
A copy of the Public Hearing Notice and proposed Resolution 73-51
are appended to this report.
A minor amendment is recommended in the regulation, to make it
clear that when entry is permitted, after having been denied, the
entry will be assured for more than just one year.
ITEM NO.: 73-26-3
Public Hearing - 1974 Model-Year Passenger Vehicle Inspection
(PVI) Standards for Idle Hydrocarbons and Carbon Monoxide.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution 73-55.
SUMMARY
ARB surveillance and Highway Patrol PVI data for 1972 and 1973
model years were analyzed to obtain a basis for 1974 model year
PVI standards. 1974 model year standards may logically be
calculated from data for the 1972 and 1973 model years, since the
HC and CO certification standards are identical. The data
analysis suggests that all of the PVI standards should be
re-evaluated for consistency and fairness. Since only the 1974
standards were noticed for public hearing, it is recommended that
the 1972-73 standards be extended to the 1974 models without
change as an interim measure. The staff proposes to review the
entire set of standards for Board action in January.
ITEM NO.: 73-26-4
Public Hearing - Proposed Exhaust Emission Standards for 1975 and
Subsequent Model-Year Gasoline and Diesel Fueled Engines in Motor
Vehicles over 6,000 Pounds Gross Vehicle Weight.
RECOMMENDATION
No staff recommendation at this time. Manufacturers will present
data to ARB November 14 on possible changes to standards.
SUMMARY
The present standard for hydrocarbons plus oxides of nitrogen (as
NO2) is 5 grams per brake horsepower hour. The staff has
proposed to amend the regulations to provide some relaxation of
this standard (See attached Resolution 73-54). The Board
conducted a workshop on October 30 to consider arguments fro
recommended changes. Issues discussed in the workshop included
the following:
1. Heavy-duty vehicles currently contribute about 20 to 25% of
total vehicle emissions.
2. Heavy-duty vehicles carry more passengers or pay-load than
light-duty vehicles. Manufacturers claim this should be
considered in standard-setting.
3. Diesel Vehicle control to 5gm./BHP is more cost-effective
than light-duty vehicle NOx control to 2 gm./mile. Light
and heavy-duty gasoline vehicle controls are not greatly
different in cost-effectiveness.
4. Argument can be made for separate standards for medium vs.
Heavy trucks; gasoline vs. Diesel engines. It is probably
too late to change classifications for 1975 model year.
5. Manufacturers want assurance of "rounding" convention, test
procedure, and production engine requirements.
6. Manufacturers were invited to submit detailed cost and
application data by November 14, including engines which
would be offered for sale in California under NOx and HC
Standards of 5, 7.5, and 10 gm./BHP.
ITEM NO.: 73-26-5
1975 Model-Year Light-Duty New Vehicle Standards.
RECOMMENDATION
Confirm the emergency regulations for hydrocarbons and oxides of
nitrogen for passenger cars; return the carbon monoxide standard
for passenger cars to 17 grams per mile; adopt by emergency
regulation EPA's standards for light-duty trucks.
SUMMARY
This is a continuation of the hearing on October 30, 1973 on the
confirmation of the emergency regulation of June 20, 1973
adopting EPA's California passenger car exhaust emission
standards.
ITEM NO.: 73-26-6
Consideration of Colspan's Application for Accreditation of its
Device for 1955-65 Model Year Vehicles.
RECOMMENDATION
Deny accreditation.
SUMMARY
Colspan Environmental Systems, Inc., submitted an application for
accreditation of its "Automix II" exhaust emission control system
for 1955 through 1965 model vehicles in engine size classes (e)
and (f).
The staff has reviewed Colspan's application and related data and
conducted tests at the ARB laboratory. The applicant's fleet
vehicles which were tested at high altitude in Colorado, barely
met the emissions standards as required by the board's test
procedure. However, each of the five vehicles tested at low
altitude by ARB personnel exceeded at least one emission
standard. Based on an overall evaluation, the staff cannot
recommend that the Board grant accreditation of the "Automix II"
exhaust emission control system. The staff will be receptive to
new tests of a revised system if improvement to the hardware,
installation and adjustment procedures are developed and proven
by Colspan.
ITEM NO.: 73-26-7
Progress Report on NOx Device Installations.
RECOMMENDATION
None. For informational purposes only.
SUMMARY
This report summarizes the present state of the 1966-70 NOx
control program. The current configurations of the approved
devices are presented, as are reports on installation and
production schedules. In addition, the present status of the two
field experience programs requested by the Legislature (SCR 70
and SR 52) are described.
ITEM NO.: 73-26-8
Report on Effect of Catalytic Control Systems on Emission of
Sulfates.
CONCLUSION
Oxidation catalysts will increase exhaust sulfate concentrations.
Not all atmospheric sulfate is due to exhaust emissions. The
amount of sulfate from catalysts will be dependent upon the
number of cars equipped with these devices and sulfur content of
gasoline. Consideration of the limiting cases indicates little
risk involved in proceeding with catalytic controls for at least
one year, while further investigating the sulfur problem. No
alternative systems could be applied to 1975 model vehicles to
meet the 1975 EPA interim standards for California. Should the
sulfate problem be important, alternative remedies, such as fuel
sulfur control, could be considered.
If catalysts are not used in 1975 model vehicles, it would
probably be necessary to revert back to the emission standards
for the 1974 model year.
SUMMARY
The report consists of four sections:
1. Emissions data from ARB and other laboratories.
2. Ambient air data for sulfur dioxide and particulate sulfate.
3. Health effects information.
4. Legal implications.
Existing data indicate that oxidation catalysts tend to change
the oxidation state of fuel sulfur emissions from sulfur dioxide
to sulfur trioxide, the anhydride form of sulfuric acid. Non-catalytic
exhaust contains about 10% of its sulfur as sulfur
trioxide. Catalytic treatment of the exhaust increases the
concentration of sulfur trioxide by a factor of two to five.
Emissions data and the ambient air consequences of the altered
sulfur emissions are not yet well defined. The highest monthly
average of sulfate concentrations measured in the South Coast Air
Basin in 1970 was 25 micrograms per cubic meter. It is estimated
that the concentration would increase to 35 if all cars were
equipped with catalytic controls and if all the sulfur in
gasoline were emitted in the sulfuric acid or sulfate form.
Ambient air standards exist for sulfur dioxide but have not yet
been established for sulfate compounds.
ITEM NO.: 73-26-9
Fees for conducting assembly-line surveillance--personnel costs.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Executive Officer to proceed with the adoption of
amendments to the Administrative Code as previously noticed.
DISCUSSION
On October 1, 1973, the Executive Officer proposed the adoption
of an amendment to the Administrative Code which would clarify
the board's intent to include the salary of personnel in fees to
be charged manufacturers under the assembly-line testing
surveillance program. A copy of the notice is attached.
At the October 17, 1973 Board meeting Donald Schwentker, attorney
for the Automobile Importers of America, raised the issue of
whether the Executive Officer is the appropriate person to amend
regulations concerning fees for surveillance of assembly-line
testing, in particular, the addition of the word "personnel" to
13 California Administrative Code Section 2150. The Board
submitted the matter to the Executive Committee (the Chairman and
the Vice-Chairman).
On October 29, 1973, the Executive Committee discussed the matter
with the Executive Officer, who advised them that there was
little that could be done as personnel for the program have been
budgeted out of the fees imposed. The Committee therefore
recommends that the Executive Officer proceed with the adoption
of the regulation.
However, the Executive Committee recommended reviewing the entire
assembly-line surveillance program to determine if the program is
appropriate for the costs involved and the benefits gained. This
should be the subject of a later Board meeting.
The board has already recommended that the costs of surveillance
be paid out of state funds, and that the fees be dropped
entirely. This can best be accomplished by a change in the
legislation which authorizes the fees. If the Board concurs, the
staff will submit a legislative proposal to delete the Board's
authority to charge the fees.
Attachment