PROPOSAL:
Approve Issuance of Program Announcement & Application for FY 2001-02
Lower-Emission School Bus Retrofit Program Funding
SYNOPSIS:
The State’s FY 2001-02 Budget contains $16 million for the
Lower-Emission School Bus Program. The AQMD has received $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 school bus replacement component of the program was issued on
December 21, 2001. The purpose of the proposed program announcement and
application is to solicit requests for funding up to a total of $1.77
million to retrofit school buses with particulate traps.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, February 22, 2002, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve issuance of Program Announcement & Application #PA2002-04, for
FY 2001-02 Lower-Emission School Bus Retrofit Program in the South Coast
Air Basin, in an amount not to exceed $1.77 million from the
Lower-Emission School Bus Fund.
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. In the state’s FY 2001-02
Budget, $16 million has been provided for implementation of the
Lower-Emission School Bus Program. The AQMD has received $5.31 million for
the school bus replacement and $1.77 million for the school bus retrofit
components of the program. CARB has recently verified particulate traps from
two manufacturers to retrofit a number of engine families. This enables the
AQMD to proceed with the implementation of the retrofit component of the
State’s Lower-Emission School Bus Program.
Proposal
Total amount of funding for the "Lower-Emission School Bus Replacement
Program" in the South Coast Air Basin is $1.77 million. Based on the recent
results of the verification process, only post-1993, four stroke engine
families verified by CARB may be eligible for funding under this program.
Due to the limited availability of verified engine families in the school
bus population for the retrofit program, all the eligible buses will be
retrofitted if the program is not oversubscribed. Otherwise, funding will be
distributed consistent with a new state requirement AB1390 (Firebaugh)
discussed below. Subject to AB1390, the following factors will also be
considered:
- At least ten percent of the state funds available for this program
will be allocated in each county within the jurisdiction of the SCAQMD.
- Because of the special funding for school bus replacement under the
AES Settlement Fund, Jurupa Unified School District will not be eligible
for this specific solicitation.
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, if the program is oversubscribed:
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. All other applicants not awarded under the disproportionate
impact funding will then be awarded starting with buses with the newest
eligible engine families verified by CARB.
Staff proposes to issue the attached Program Announcement & Application,
for the implementation of the Lower-Emission School Bus Retrofit Program in
the South Coast Air Basin for FY 2001-02.
Outreach
In accordance with the AQMD’s 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; AQMD’s own
electronic listing of certified minority vendors; and AQMD Purchasing’s
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 AQMD’s Web site [http://www.aqmd.gov, "Business
and Job Opportunities" icon] and AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone
message line (909) 396-2724.
Benefits to AQMD
The successful implementation of the Lower-Emission School Bus Retrofit
Program will provide less polluting school transportation for school
children, and will reduce public exposure to toxic diesel particulate matter
emissions.
The selection methodology for the school bus retrofit 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 Children’s Health initiatives adopted by the Governing Board.
Resource Impacts
The AQMD has received $1.77 million for the Lower-Emission School Bus
Retrofit Program from CARB.
Monies received from CARB 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
Program Announcement & Application No. PA2002-04 – Lower Emission School
Bus Retrofit Program
/ / / |