MSRC Projects to Eliminate 2,500 Tons of Pollution From Southland Skies; New Report Finds Projects and Administration Costs Kept Below State Mandates
3 October 2000
MSRC Projects to Eliminate 2,500 Tons of Pollution From Southland Skies; New Report Finds Projects and Administration Costs Kept Below State Mandates
DIAMOND BAR, Calif.--Oct. 3, 2000--A report recently submitted to the California Air Resources Board revealed that projects funded in fiscal year 1998-1999 by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) reduced annual vehicle emissions by 284 tons, with a total of 2,500 tons of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulates expected to be reduced over the life of the projects.The MSRC is a committee responsible for funding transportation projects that reduce air pollution in Southern California, and is required to submit an annual report to the state each year detailing project expenditures and cost-effectiveness.
"This represents millions of pounds of pollution that Southlanders won't have to breathe as a result of the projects the MSRC funded during the past year," said William G. Kleindienst, chairman of the MSRC and mayor of Palm Springs.
The MSRC was formed in 1990 when Assembly Bill 2766 was signed into law, authorizing a $4 motor-vehicle registration fee. Thirty percent of the $4 fee, or approximately $12 million annually, is used for programs administered by the MSRC.
Each year, the MSRC funds projects in specific categories aimed at reducing pollution from mobile sources such as cars, trucks and buses. Among the categories funded in 1998-1999 were alternative-fuel vehicles, compressed-natural-gas school buses and bicycle programs for law enforcement.
The MSRC provides funding for projects based on emissions reductions and cost-effectiveness. State guidelines set a cost- effectiveness threshold of $20,000 per ton of emissions reduced for projects funded with motor-vehicle registration fees.
MSRC-funded projects have achieved an overall cost-effectiveness of $9,000 a ton, well below the state levels as well as the $12,000- per-ton guideline set by the Carl Moyer Program for heavy-duty vehicles.
"Not only have the MSRC projects successfully eliminated emissions, but have proved to be cost-efficient as well," observed Kleindienst.
Several of the MSRC-funded projects responsible for reducing the largest portion of emissions include heavy-duty alternative-fuel vehicles.
Two grocery chains, Albertsons and Vons, have added liquefied- natural-gas trucks to their vehicle fleets. Albertsons purchased 25 LNG trucks with $560,000 in MSRC co-funding, which represents an annual emissions reduction of 18.7 tons. The Vons Cos. has added 25 LNG trucks to its fleet of grocery trucks and reduced emissions by 16.2 tons per year.
In addition, state law requires that costs for administering the MSRC program not exceed more than 5 percent of the motor-vehicle registration fee revenue collected. The 1998-1999 fiscal year report to the ARB shows that the actual administrative costs incurred by the MSRC totaled only 4 percent, or $481,507, of the total motor-vehicle revenues collected.
"This shows that not only are the MSRC projects reducing pollution but are also prudently administered," said Kleindienst.
About the MSRC
The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) is a committee responsible for funding transportation projects that reduce air pollution within Southern California. It was formed in 1990 when Assembly Bill 2766 was signed into law, authorizing a $4 motor- vehicle registration fee. Thirty percent of the $4 fee, or approximately $12 million annually, is used for programs administered by the MSRC.
Membership is made up of representatives from the transportation agencies of Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties, as well as the Southern California Association of Governments, Southern California Rideshare, the California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.