BOARD MEETING DATE: December 21, 2001 AGENDA NO. 9
Approve Issuance of Program Announcement & Application for FY 2001-02 Lower-Emission School Bus Replacement Program Funding
SYNOPSIS:
The States FY 2001-02 Budget contains $16 million for the Lower-Emission School Bus Program. The AQMD expects to receive $5.31 million for the replacement and $1.77 million for the retrofit components of the program allocated for the South Coast Air Basin. (The program announcement for the retrofit component of the program will be issued in the near future.) In addition, at its October 19, 2001 meeting, the Board allocated $531,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to provide for the school bus replacement program. The proposed program announcement and application will provide funding for a total of $5.841 million to replace older school buses with alternative fuels and lower-emitting diesel buses.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, December 7, 2001, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve issuance of Program Announcement & Application #PA 2002-03, for FY 2001-02 Lower-Emission School Bus Replacement Program in the South Coast Air Basin, in an amount not to exceed $5.841 million, as part of an ongoing effort to expeditiously reduce public exposure to air toxics and other pollutants.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
Exhaust emissions from high emitting diesel-fueled school buses are harmful to children and are a key source of public exposure to toxic diesel particulate matter and smog forming pollutants. There are thousands of older school buses on the road that have remained in service simply because school districts lack funds to replace them. To reduce emissions from these vehicles the AQMD awarded 102 compressed natural gas (CNG), and 62 lower-emitting diesel school buses to public school districts in the Basin to replace older high polluting school buses, as part of the States Lower-Emission School Bus Program in FY 2000-01. In the states FY 2001-02 Budget, $16 million has been provided for implementation of the Lower-Emission School Bus Program. The AQMD is expected to receive $5.31 million for the school bus replacement and $1.77 million for the school bus retrofit components of the program. In addition, at its October 19, 2001 meeting, the Board allocated $531,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to provide for the school bus replacement program.
Proposal
Total amount of funding for the "Lower-Emission School Bus Replacement Program" in the South Coast Air Basin is $5.841 million, including expected state funding of $5.31 million and $531,000 from AQMD. According to the CARBs adopted guidelines, $4.071 million, (including the $531,000 contribution made by the AQMD) will be used to purchase alternative fuel buses, and the remaining $1.77 million will be used to purchase lower-emitting diesel buses operating on low-sulfur diesel fuel. For FY 2001-02, funding will be distributed consistent with a new state requirement AB1390 (Firebaugh) (discussed below) as well as the following factors:
Based on the above criteria, the approximate number of low-emitting diesel and CNG buses to be distributed to the public school districts of each county will be as described in Table 1.
Table 1: Proposed Distribution of Replacement School Buses in the Basin
Population by |
% of Total |
Available Diesel |
Available CNG
|
|
Los Angeles |
9,884,300 |
62.0 |
12 |
20 |
Orange |
2,828,400 |
17.8 |
4 |
6 |
San Bernardino |
1,689,300 |
10.6 |
2 |
4 |
Riverside |
1,522,900 |
9.6 |
2 |
3 |
Total |
15,924,900 |
100 |
20 |
33 |
*The population number is for year 2000, obtained from the California Statistical Abstract, published by the
Department of Finance.
**The number of buses allocated to each county are approximate due to price differences for CNG buses and
amount of funding requested for infrastructure.
Disproportionate Impact Funding
AB 1390 (Firebaugh) requires for the FY 2001-02 Lower-Emission School Bus Program that at least 50% of the state's funds be spent to reduce pollution or risks from airborne toxics and particulate matter in areas that have the most significant exposure to air pollution or localized air pollution including low income communities or minority communities or both. CARB has issued goals and left the details of how to implement this requirement to each air agency. Staff recommends the following methodology to meet the new requirements:
All applications will be evaluated for poverty level, PM exposure, and toxic exposure according to the following criteria:
A) |
Poverty Level: All school districts in areas where at least 10% of the population falls below the Federal
poverty level based on the Year 2000 census data, will be eligible to be ranked
in this category. |
B) |
PM Exposure: All school districts in areas with the highest 15% of PM
concentration will be eligible to be ranked in this category. The highest 15% of
PM concentration is 46 micrograms per cubic meter and above based on an annual
average. |
C) |
Toxic Exposure: All projects in areas with the highest 15% of toxic exposure (based on MATES II estimates), will be eligible to be ranked in this category. The highest 15% represents a cancer risk of 1,139 in a million and above (Mates II study). |
Any applicant qualifying based on both the poverty level and either PM exposure or toxic exposure categories will qualify for disproportionate impact funding. If available funds are not exhausted with the outlined methodology, then the AQMD will reevaluate the criteria and report back to the Board for possible changes. If on the other hand, funding requests exceed available funding, then all qualified applicants will be ranked according to a point ranking system specified in Attachments 1 & 2.
All other applicants not awarded under the disproportionate impact funding will then be ranked according to the point ranking system in Attachments 1 & 2, and awards will be granted from the top ranked applicant in descending order until all funds are exhausted.
Staff proposes to issue the attached Program Announcement & Application, for the implementation of the Lower-Emission School Bus Replacement Program in the South Coast Air Basin for FY 2001-02.
Outreach
In accordance with the AQMDs consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the Program Announcement & Application and inviting applications will be published in the following publications:
1. |
Angeles Mesa Wave, The |
11. |
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin |
21. |
Palm Springs Desert Sun |
2. |
Antelope Valley Press |
12. |
Korea Central Daily |
22. |
Philippine News |
3. |
Black Voice News |
13. |
La Opinion |
23. |
Precinct Reporter |
4. |
Central News Wave |
14 |
La Prensa |
24. |
Rafu Shimpo |
5. |
Chinese Daily News |
15. |
La Voz |
25. |
Press Enterprise |
6. |
Eastern Group Publications |
16. |
Los Angeles Daily News |
26. |
San Bernardino Sun |
7. |
El Chicano |
17. |
Los Angeles Sentinel |
27. |
Santa Clarita Signal |
8 |
El Informador |
18. |
Los Angeles Times |
28. |
The Wave |
9. |
Excelsior, The |
19. |
M/W/DVBE Source |
29. |
State of California Contracts |
10. |
Inland Empire Hispanic News |
20. |
Orange County Register |
Register |
Additionally, potential applicants will be notified utilizing the Los Angeles County MTA and Cal Trans Directories of Certified Minority, Women, Disadvantaged and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises; the Inland Area Opportunity Pages Ethnic/Women Business & Professional Directory; AQMDs own electronic listing of certified minority vendors; and AQMD Purchasings mailing list. Notice of the Program Announcement & Application will be mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations; and placed on the Internet at AQMDs Web site [http://www.aqmd.gov, "Business and Job Opportunities" icon] and AQMDs bidders 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.
Benefits to AQMD
The successful implementation of the Lower-Emission School Bus Replacement Program will provide less polluting and safer school transportation for school children, and will reduce public exposure to toxic diesel particulate matter emissions.
The selection methodology for the school bus replacement awards will maximize the potential emission benefits in low income, high diesel and high PM10 exposure areas, and will enhance the objectives of the Environmental Justice, and Childrens Health initiatives adopted by the Governing Board.
Resource Impacts
The AQMD is expected to receive $5.31 million for the Lower-Emission School Bus Replacement Program from CARB. In addition, the Board, at its October 19, 2001 meeting approved the allocation of $531,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund in local match funding for the school bus replacement program.
Monies received from CARB, and the AQMDs contribution from the Clean Fuels Fund, will be placed in the Lower-Emission School Bus Fund created last year, to be used only for the replacement and retrofit of school buses in the South Coast Air Basin, according to the guidelines adopted by the CARB Board on December 7, 2000.
Attachment 1: Ranking Criteria for CNG School Bus Funding
Attachment 2: Ranking Criteria for Low-Emission Diesel School Bus Funding
Attachment 3: Program Announcement & Application No. PA 2002-03 Lower
Emission School Bus Replacement Program
ATTACHMENT 1
RANKING CRITERIA FOR CNG SCHOOL BUS FUNDING
RANKING CATEGORIES |
MEASURING PARAMETERS |
POINTS |
Exposure |
Diesel cancer risk/million |
20 max.* |
PM10 concentration |
20 max.* |
|
Income |
% Students on free meal program |
30 max.** |
Percentage of Buses from Existing Fleet Requested for Replacement |
50% or more 20% to 49% 19% or less |
5 3 1 |
Percentage of Pre-1987 Buses |
50% or more buses 20% to 49% 19% or less |
5 3 1 |
Application Status |
Applied last year but was not awarded Repeat applicant & award recipient first round |
5 2 |
CNG Infrastructure |
Existing station to support existing & planned fleet Existing station with limited expansion needed Existing station with major expansion needed Install new station adequate for planned fleet Install limited number of small fueling units Fuel at off-site facility |
10 8 6 4 2 0 |
Maintenance Capability |
Trained personnel for repair & maintenance Limited on-site capability Contractor for repair & maintenance |
5 3 0 |
TOTAL |
100 max. |
*Under the exposure category, a maximum of 20 points will be given to schools exposed to the highest
ambient air PM10 concentration, and cancer risk from diesel at their garage locations.
**Under the income category, a maximum of 30 points will be given to schools with the highest percentage
of students on free meal program (data provided by California Department of Education).
ATTACHMENT 2
RANKING CRITERIA FOR LOW-EMITTING DIESEL SCHOOL BUS FUNDING
RANKING CATEGORIES |
MEASURING PARAMETERS |
POINTS |
Exposure |
Diesel cancer risk/million |
20 max.* |
PM10 concentration |
20 max.* |
|
Income |
% Students on free meal program |
30 max.** |
Percentage of Buses From Existing Fleet Requested for Replacement |
50% or more 20% to 49% 19% or less |
5 3 1 |
Percentage of Pre-1987 Buses |
50% or more buses 20% to 49% 19% or less |
5 3 1 |
Application Status |
Applied last year but was not awarded Repeat applicant & award recipient first time |
5 2 |
Maintenance Capability |
Trained personnel for repair & maintenance Limited on-site capability Contractor for repair and maintenance |
10 6 2 |
Low-Sulfur Fueling Station |
Public access: Yes No |
5 0 |
TOTAL |
100 max. |
*Under the exposure category, a maximum of 20 points will be given to schools exposed to the highest
ambient air PM10 concentration, and cancer risk from diesel at their garage locations.
**Under the income category, a maximum of 30 points will be given to schools with the highest percentage
of students on free meal program (data provided by California Department of Education).
/ / /