State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD
State Office Building
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Room 1194
San Francisco, CA
November 21, 1972
9:30 a.m.
AGENDA
1. Approval of Minutes of November 8, 1972 Meeting.
2. Public Hearing Concerning Proposed Changes to Assembly-Line
Test Procedures.
3. Adoption of Installation Schedule for Exhaust Control
Devices for 1966-70 Model Year Vehicles.
4. Public Hearing Confirming Emergency Regulation Deferring NOx
Control Devices Beyond February, 1973.
5. Report of ARB Implementation Plans and Compliance Committee
on Non-Conformity with Assembly-Line Test Procedures.
6. Investigation of Installations of the General Motors' Used
Car Device.
7. Adak Products Inc., Appeal of Denial of Exemption from
prohibitions of Section 27156 of the Vehicle Code.
8. Evaluation of Short-Term Vehicle Emissions Controls and
Control Strategy for South Coast Air Basin.
9. Summary of Vacuum Spark Advance Disconnect Studies - Options
for Board Consideration.
10. Consideration of Proposed Legislation to Implement
Recommendations of Governor's Task Force on Vehicle
Inspection and Maintenance.
11. Consideration of Petition by Stop Smog Committee for ARB
Investigation of Bay Area Air Pollution Control District's
Rule on Upsets and Breakdown.
12. Discussion of Hearing of State Water Resources Control Board
Regarding Construction of Waste Water Treatment Facilities
in Areas where Air Quality Standards are Exceeded.
13. Other Business
a. ARB Meetings for 1973
b. Report on Discussion with Attorney General Regarding
Fossil Fuel Power Plants
c. Report on NOx from Power Plant Peaking Units
14. Remarks from the Audience - End of Morning and Afternoon
Sessions.
ITEM
Proposed Revisions to Assembly-Line Test Procedures.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution 71-104D.
SUMMARY
While reviewing the 1972 model year quarterly reports, certain
deficiencies were noted in the current assembly-line test
procedures. The revisions, as presented to the Air Resources
Board at its October 25, 1972 meeting, were intended to correct
these deficiencies.
Upon reviewing portions of the first quarterly reports received
for 1973 model year vehicles, it was found necessary to have
additional changes made to those presented at the October 25,
1972 Board meeting. These additional changes are double
underlined in the proposed procedures.
A public hearing is scheduled for today's meeting. A copy of the
Hearing Notice and Proposed Assembly-Line Test procedures are
attached.
ITEM
Public hearing on regulation deferring installation of 1966-1970
NOx devices.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution 72-111A, unless 72-111B is adopted and as
adopted amends Section 2006 Title 13 (see agenda item on NOx
device installation schedule).
DISCUSSION
On September 27, 1972, the Board adopted Resolution 72-111
(attached), while added Section 2006 to Title 13, California
Administrative Code, deferring for at least one year the
requirements that certificates of compliance for oxides of
nitrogen devices be required upon renewal of registration for the
year 1973.
This regulation was adopted as an emergency without a thirty day
notice, and under the law a public hearing must be held within
120 days to confirm the action taken. Resolution 72-111A will
meet this legal requirement.
However, if Resolution 72-111B, which would establish the NOx
device installation schedule, is adopted as proposed, Section
2006 would be amended, and no action would be required on
Resolution 72-111A.
AGENDA ITEM 5 TO BE PRESENTED AT BOARD MEETING.
ITEM
Investigation of Allegations of Improper Installations of General
Motors' Used Car Device.
RECOMMENDATION
ARB pursue the deficiency with the Departments of Consumer
Affairs and Motor Vehicles and with General Motors.
SUMMARY
The attached report presents the status of the staff's
investigation of improper installation of General Motors Used Car
Devices on 1955-1965 model year vehicles. The preliminary
findings support the claims of improper installations.
ITEM
Appeal of Staff Action Concerning Denial of Adaks' Request for
Exemption from the Prohibitions of Vehicle Code Section 27156.
SUMMARY
Adaks Products, Inc. filed an application for approval of the
sale of a device to be installed on vehicles for the purpose of
saving gasoline. This in effect constituted a request for
exemption from the prohibitions of Vehicle Code Section 27156.
The Executive Officer on the recommendation of the staff denied
Adaks' request. The staff's recommendation was based on an
opinion that the device was not in compliance with that part of
Vehicle Code Section 27156 which states: "No person shall sell,
offer for sale, or advertise any device, apparatus, or mechanism
intended for use with, or as part of, any required motor vehicle
pollution control device or system which alters or modifies the
original design or performance of any such motor vehicle
pollution control device or system." The staff's analysis is
included in the attached report.
ITEM
Evaluation of short-term vehicle emission control measures for
the South Coast Air Basin.
SUMMARY
The "State of California Implementation Plan for Achieving and
Maintaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards", which
was adopted by the Board in January of this year, included a
statewide strategy for the control of emissions from motor
vehicles. this strategy included a number of measures designed
to reduce motor vehicle generated emissions. Some of these
measures were a part of the State's current motor vehicle
emission control program. Other measures in this strategy,
although they showed definite potential for further emission
reductions, were to receive further study.
Since the adoption of the Plan, the Board has been studying these
other measures, and searching for ways of further reducing
vehicular emissions. Particular emphasis is being placed on
those measures which could be expected to lead to significant
improvements in air quality during the next few (three to five)
years.
The Air Resources Board held two special meetings during the last
three months to consider various measures for reducing emissions
from motor vehicles. The first of these meetings, held on August
17 and 18, 1972, was to consider the feasibility of converting
motor vehicles in the South Coast Air Basin to the use of gaseous
fuels; the second, held on October 30 and 31, 1972, was to
consider other short-term vehicular emission control measures
which could be initiated in the South Coast Air Basin.
This report is a summary of the new information (since the Plan's
adoption in January 1972) related to the short-term measures for
the reduction of vehicular emissions.
Although the information obtained since the plan's adoption does
not represent conceptual changes in the Implementation Plan, it
does provide further refinements of some of the estimates made in
the Plan regarding feasibility and effects. Also, if aftermarket
catalytic reactors are available and practical for retrofitting
used cards, a retrofit program which includes installation of
catalytic devices may lead to emission reductions greater than
previously estimated.
ITEM
Existing and proposed enforcement tools to prevent improper
installation, and altering or modifying of vehicle emission
control devices, and needed legislation to achieve the
recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Periodic
Inspection and Maintenance.
RECOMMENDATION
Instruct the staff to seek approval for legislation as proposed
in Section D below.
DISCUSSION
At the meeting in Santa Barbara on November 8, 1972, the board
instructed the staff to study the existing enforcement tools
regarding installing and altering or modifying vehicle emission
control devices, especially with respect to licensed smog
stations, and also to outline the legislation needed to implement
the recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Inspection
and Maintenance. The two items are closely related, and so have
been joined in one report. The discussion is given in three
sections, (A) existing enforcement tools, (B) recommended
changes, and additional authority needed to implement
recommendations of the Governor's Task Force.
Due to lack of lead time, the recommended changes have not been
discussed with the Bureau of Automotive Repair, the Highway
Patrol, or the Department of Motor Vehicles. The staff hopes to
be able to present their views at the Board meeting.