Sierra Research | 1989 CVS News Headlines

Board Members Resolve to Support CARB Staff Efforts Regarding Transportation Planning and Transportation Control Measures - No Clear Change From Historical, Ineffective Effort is Apparent (page 2)
I/M Program Update - I/M Review Committee to Study Unregistered Vehicles - Work Proceeds on New Test Analyzer System (page 5)
I/M Testing Update - California Smog Check Failure Rates Remain High as Fourth Year of I/M Program Draws to A Close - Sight Drop in Tailpipe Failure Rates Offset By Slight Increase in Underhood Failures (page 7)
CARB Staff Proposes Expanded Requirements for OnBoard Diagnostic (OBD) Systems - Controversial Requirements for "OBD II" Would Include Monitoring of Catalyst Efficiency and Injector Fouling (page 11)
South Coast Air Quality Management District Board Delays Action on Proposed Distillate/Solid Fuel Phase-Out Until March 3 - "Panel Hearings" Scheduled for January and February (page 15)

February 1989 – [Top Page]

Northeast States Study Adoption of California Standards - Ultimate Decision May Depend on Adoption of More Stringent Standards By CARB or Clean Air Act Amendments (page 1)
South Coast Air Quality Management District Plan for Phaseout of Distillate and Solid Fuels Delayed - Board Chairman Says Staff Report is Too "Slanted" Toward Methanol (page 5)
Oil Companies and Southern California Edison Propose Revisions to South Coast Air Quality Plan - More Stringent Control of Motor Vehicle Emissions Urged (page 9)
New Loaded-Mode I/M Test Developed for Bureau of Automotive Repair Shows Excellent Correlation With FTP NOx Emissions - Study Also Indicates That 2500 RPM No-Load Test Is Superior to Idle Testing (page 16)

March 1989 – [Top Page]

1989 CARB Regulatory Calendar Indicates Some Delays in Proposed Regulations - Proposed Gasoline Specifications May Include 8.0 RVP and Detergent/Dispersant Additives (page 1)
I/M Review Committee to Evaluate Additional Changes to California Smog Check Program - Clean-Up Legislation Will Clarify Manufacturers' Warranty Obligations (page 6)
South Coast Air Quality Management District Plan for Phaseout of Distillate and Solid Fuels Considered By Special Panel - Final Recommendations Delayed Again (page 10)
CARB Staff Proposes Regulations for Methanol-Fueled Vehicles - Relatively High Emissions Would Be Allowed (page 13)
Legislation Update - Vehicle Registration Fees Could Be Tied to Emissions Level Under Proposed Law (page 15)

April 1989 – [Top Page]

CARB Adopts Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Methanol-Fueled Vehicles - Ford and VW Tell Board That 23 mg/mi Cannot Be Met in Customer Service (page 1)
AB 234 (page 8)
South Coast Air Quality Management District Adopts Plan for Phaseout of Distillate and Solid Fuels - (page 11)
I/M Review Committee Debates Onboard Diagnostics and Loaded Mode Testing (page 13)
Legislation Update - (page 17)

May 1989 – [Top Page]

Substantial Emission Reductions Forecast for Adoption of Proposed California Vehicle Standards in Eight Northeast States - However, Report to NESCAUM Assumes no Further Federal Controls (page 1)
CARB and Local Air Pollution Control Disticts Discuss Transportation Control Measures at Workshop on Requirements of the "California Clean Air Act" - (page 7)
Economics of Methanol Considered at AB 234 Meeting - California Energy Commission Contractor Concludes Methanol Will Cost 10-25 Cents More Per "Gasoline-Equivalent" Gallon (page 12)
California I/M Review Committee Approves Second Report to the Legislature With Minor Changes - Study of Unregistered Vehicles Will Be Next Major Effort (page 20)
Legislation Update - (page 22)

June 1989 – [Top Page]

CARB to Consider Adoption of 0.25 g/mi HC Standard at June 8 Board Meeting - Staff Proposal Would Eventually Require Light-Duty Vehicles to Meet 0.32 g/mi for 100,000 Miles (page 1)
I/M Review Committee Accelerates Schedule for Study of Centralized I/M - CARB and Sierra Research to Work on Development of New I/M Standards (page 6)
California Energy Commission Holds Hearing on Analysis of Economics of Methanol Fuel - Commission Approves Contractor Study Over Oil Industry Objections (page 8)
Advisory Board on Air Quality and Fuels Considers Draft Report Regarding Health and Environmental Impacts of Methanol Fuel - "Fuel-Pool Averaging" Concept Approved as Measure of Compliance With "Clean Fuel" Requirements (page 13)
Legislation Update - (page 20)

July 1989 – [Top Page]

CARB Adopts 0.25 g/mi HC Standard for Light-Duty Vehicles - Phase-in Begins in 1993; Full Compliance in Customer Service Required by 1997 (page 1)
Methanol Update - Advisory Board on Air Quality and Fuels Holds Hearing on "Fuel-Pool Averaging" Plan - Sierra Research Analysis of Air Quality Modeling Study Shows Maximum Ozone Reduction for Methanol to be Only 4% (page 10)
CARB Holds First Workshop on Fuel Additives - Interest is Expressed in Requiring Deposit Control Additives for Both Diesel and Gasoline, But Lack of Standardized Test Procedures May Delay Regulation (page 16)
Certification Fee Regulations Proposed by CARB Staff - $2.35 Per Vehicle Proposed to Certify in California (page 20)
Legislation Update - (page 21)

August 1989 – [Top Page]

CARB Mobile Source Division Reorganized - Many New Positions Created in Preparation for Major Expansion (page 1)
Methanol Advisory Board Discusses Language Changes for Its Report to Legislature - Final Report Still Headed Toward Support for "Fuel Pool Averaging" Approach to Encouraging Clean Fuels (page 4)
Workshop Scheduled to Consider Aftermarket Parts Regulation Changes - Testing Requirements Would Be Reduced Under CARB Staff Proposal (page 9)
CARB Adopts Regulations Requiring Vehicle and Engine Certification Fees After Making Minor Changes to Staff Proposal (page 10)
I/M Review Committee Hears Results of Air Quality Study - Southern California CO Violations Are Related to High Background Levels, Not Just "Hot Spots" (page 12)
I/M Data Analysis Indicates No Widespread Seasonal Variation in Failure Rate Occurring in California (page 14)
Legislation Update (page 19)

September 1989 – [Top Page]

Alternative Approaches to Fuel Regulation Discussed at CARB Meeting - Indecision Regarding Whether the Focus Should Be On Clean Gasoline or Methanol Incentives Confuses Issue (page 1)
Methanol Advisory Board Approves Final Report to Legislature - No Statute Changes Needed for "Fuel Pool Averaging" (page 7)
Aftermarket Parts Regulation Changes Discussed at Workshop - Testing Requirements Would Be Reduced Under CARB Staff Proposal (page 10)
CARB Staff Report Contains Latest Proposal for OBD II Regulations - Catalyst Efficiency Monitoring and Other New Systems Would Be Required (page 11)
Gaseous Fuel Vehicle Regulations Proposed By CARB Staff Would Exclude Methane (page 17)
CARB Holds Meeting to Discuss Assumptions to be Used in New Carnegie Mellon University Air Quality Modelling Study of Alternative Fuels - Gaseous Fuel Scenarios to Be Added to New Methanol Scenarios (page 20)
Department of Transportation Holds Seminar as It Seeks to Develop New National Transportation Policy (page 23)
Legislation Update (page 33)

October 1989 – [Top Page]

CARB Adopts New Requirements for Second Generation On-Board Diagnostic (OBD II) Systems - Catalyst Efficiency Monitoring and Other New Systems Will Be Required (page 1)
Annual Air Quality Trends Update - Peak Pollution Levels Higher in 1988 - Hourly Average Nitrogen Dioxide Levels Highest in Ten Years (page 7)
Legislation Update - Year End Status on Bills That Were Signed, Vetoed, and Carried Over (page 24)
Gaseous Fuel Vehicle Regulations Adopted By CARB Will Exclude Methane Emissions (page 30)

November 1989 – [Top Page]

CARB Holds Workshop on Clean Fuels and "Low Emission/Ultra Low Emission Vehicles" - Compliance With Proposed Standards Would Require Gasoline Vehicles to Meet 0.075 g/mi HC Standard (page 1)
CARB Proposes Evaporative Emissions Test Procedure Changes - Triple Diurnals and Longer Hot Soaks Would Be Required (page 10)
CARB Holds Consultation Meeting on Diesel Fuel Regulations - Opinions Vary Widely on the Benefits of Deposit Control Additives (page 12)
CARB Staff Proposes to Revise Medium- and Light-Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emission Standards and Test Procedures - Test Weight Would Increase to Curb + One-Half of Maximum Load - Diesels Would Have Trouble Meeting NOx Standard (page 16)
I/M Review Committee Receives Status Report on Unregistered Vehicle Survey - Only About 5% of California Vehicles Operating on Expired Registration (page 22)

December 1989 – [Top Page]

CARB Holds Another Workshop on Clean Fuels and "Low Emission/ Ultra Low Emission Vehicles" - Accelerated Phase-in Schedule Proposed for 0.075 g/mi HC and 0.2 g/mi NOx Standards - Limited Production of Vehicles Meeting 0.04 g/mi HC Standard Would Be Required Starting in 1995 - New Benzene Standard Would Limit Emissions to 2 mg/mi (page 1)
Proposed Evaporative Emissions Test Procedure Changes Discussed at CARB Workshop - New Data Indicates Some Current Production Vehicles Would Be "Gross Emitters" Under Proposed Test Conditions (page 8)
Staff Report on Diesel Fuel Regulations Calls Into Question the Benefits of Lower Aromatics Content (page 11)
Board Hears Summary of AB 234 Report - Report Provides Members With Background Information for Upcoming Regulations on "Fuel Pool Averaging" (page 15)
I/M Review Committee Receives Presentation on New I/M Computer Model and Status Reports on Implementation of Program Enhancements (page 16)