Overview of LACMTA Green Construction Policy

Overview of the LACMTA Green Construction Policy

Valley Industry and Commerce Association

September 13, 2011

Cris B. Liban, D.Env., P.E.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Outline

• LACMTA Environmental and Sustainability Programs

• Policy Development

• Policy

• Implementation

• Questions

3

Transit Paradox

Transit’s Effects on Regional Carbon FootprintTransit’s Effects on Regional Carbon FootprintTransit’s Effects on Regional Carbon FootprintTransit’s Effects on Regional Carbon Footprint

To reduce emissions from mobile sources, we need higher

levels of public transit and more compact patterns of land

use that transit supports.

APTA, 2010

Metro’s Environmental/Sustainability Program

• Four-pronged approach to environmental protection and enhancement

– Environmental clearance– Remediation, restoration and enhancement of impacted sites– Accounting and reduction of environmental liabilities– Development, implementation and promotion of sustainable planning, construction, operations, and procurement practices

• Clean buses

• Green Buildings and Infrastructure

• Renewable Energy Efficiency Energy Projects

• Federal and State Grants

• Environmental Management System

5

Recent Awards and Recognitions

• National Training Institute Model Program Award for Sustainability Awareness Training

• ISO 140001:2004 certification of Red Line Yard

• LEED-NC and LEED-EBOM Buildings

• Energy Star Certification of Gateway Headquarters

• Air Quality Awards

• Finalist at the METROs Awards

Green Policies and GHGe Reduction PlansGreen Policies and GHGe Reduction PlansGreen Policies and GHGe Reduction PlansGreen Policies and GHGe Reduction Plans

• POLICIES– Energy and Sustainability Policy

– Environmental Policy

– Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling and Reuse Policy

– Environmental Liabilities Reporting Policy

– Water Conservation and Use Policy

– Green Construction Policy

– Renewable Energy Policy (September 22)

• PLANS– Water Action Plan

– Energy Conservation and Management Plan (forthcoming)

– Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (forthcoming)

Policy Development Timeline

7

Present: ImplementationBoard Report on 10/11 on progress

Major Elements of Policy

• New Construction

– Effective and enforceable immediately upon adoption for all new construction projects

• Existing Projects

– Policy will not be retroactive

– Encourage all Contractors to implement the provisions of this policy to the greatest extent feasible


• Types of Equipment Affected

– On-Road Equipment

– Off-Road Equipment

– Generators

Disclaimer: Featuring an equipment in this slide is not an endorsement of that equipment nor the company that makes the equipment


• On- and Off-Road Equipment

– Incorporate the best available technology or best management practice where feasible

– Idling prohibitions

– Phase-in period until 2015

• Generators

– Connect to an existing power source as much as possible

– Meet a 0.01 gram per brake-horsepower-hour standard for PM

– Be equipped with BACT for PM emissions reductions

Exceptions

• Good faith effort to rent but have not been successful, within 200 miles of project

• Contractor awarded funding to retrofit, replace, and repower but has not received funding and cannot rent

• Contractor ordered equipment and within 60 days has not received equipment and cannot rent

• Equipment use is only within 10 days of contract

• Compliance step-down menu

Step-Down Menu Off-Road

Additional Policy Provisions

• Institutionalize common mitigation measures developed during the CEQA Process

• Notification of Sensitive Receptors

• Contracts Based Enforcement

• Records Requirements Prior to Bid

• Quantification and Reporting of Emissions Reductions

Comparison of MTA and CARB Regs

• More strict than California Air Resources Board (CARB) Regulations

– Off-Road, Fleet by Fleet instead of Average

– Generators, but only as strict as SCAQMD regulations

• As strict as CARB Regulations

Implementation Efforts

• Development of Specifications and Incorporation into Procurement Documents

• Formation of Technical Working Group to Develop Implementation Guidelines

– Phase 1: City Representatives

– Phase 2: Other Stakeholders

• CARB Enforcement Training

• Determine what funding and programmed projects are affected

• Outreach through workshops

Questions/DiscussionQuestions/DiscussionQuestions/DiscussionQuestions/Discussion

Cris B. Liban, D.Env., P.E.

p: 213/922-2471

e/m: [email protected]

website: www.metro.net/sustainability

hotline: 213/922-1100