Notice of Public Workshop to Discuss Proposed Updates to Moyer Program Guidelines and FARMER Program Guidelines and to Initiate a 45-Day Public Comment Period

California Air Resources Board sent this bulletin at 07/25/2024 05:00 PM PDT

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July 25, 2024

Notice of Public Workshop to Discuss Proposed Updates to Moyer Program Guidelines and FARMER Program Guidelines and to Initiate a 45-Day Public Comment Period

Invitation to Participate

En Español

The California Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) invites you to a public workshop to discuss proposed updates to the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program (Moyer Program) Guidelines and the Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emissions Reductions (FARMER) Program Guidelines. During the workshop, CARB staff will provide an overview of the proposed changes to the current Moyer Program Guidelines and to the current FARMER Program Guidelines. The proposed changes aim to align the Guidelines with recent legislative and regulatory updates developed in partnership with CARB and California’s 35 air districts. As a result of these efforts and under the authority delegated to the Executive Officer, the proposed changes are now being presented for public consideration.

The August 28th workshop shall serve as the public meeting pursuant to Health and Safety Code (H&SC) section 44287, subdivision (b) for CARB to consider public comments about amendments to the Moyer Program Guidelines and FARMER Program Guidelines prior to final adoption.

Date:                   Wednesday, August 28, 2024 
Time:                   2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location:             California Environmental Protection Agency
                            California Air Resources Board
                            Coastal Hearing Room, Second Floor
                            1001 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814
Remote Option:   Zoom Webinar/Teleconference

Register

After registering for the Zoom meeting, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the workshop. Please use the link and password to join the workshop remotely the afternoon of the meeting. If you are using a tablet or smart phone, please download the Zoom app. Ensure the latest version of Zoom is installed on your device.

This workshop will be recorded. Please see below where to direct all relevant public comments on the draft guidelines. CARB staff’s presentation, draft Moyer Program and FARMER Program Guidelines, and any additional documents will be made available prior to the public meeting on the Carl Moyer Program Meetings and Workshops page and on the FARMER Program Meetings and Workshops page, respectively.

Moyer Program Background and Proposed Updates

The Moyer Program, CARB’s longest-running continuously funded incentive program, is being completely updated to better align with CARB’s mission to improve public health and the environment through innovative solutions and zero emission technologies. Since 1998, the Moyer Program has funded cleaner than-required technologies, reducing criteria pollutant emissions, including oxides of nitrogen, reactive organic gases that contribute to ozone formation, and particulate matter. The current update, a collaboration between CARB and the 35 local air districts, aims to modernize and streamline the guidelines to enhance the program’s effectiveness and align it with other successful incentive programs.

During this public workshop, CARB staff will present changes that align with CARB’s core values and update the Moyer Program Guidelines for consistency, incorporate current regulations and advancement in technology, and streamline program administration.

Some of the changes being proposed as part of the 2024 Moyer Program Guidelines update include, but is not limited to:

  • Pointing to FARMER Program Guidelines for off-road agricultural projects
  • Adding flexibility that further supports zero-emission replacement projects
  • Streamlining and modernizing program and project administration processes
  • Expanding list of eligible costs, eligible project types, and funding percentages across multiple source categories
  • Updating emission inventory factors for emission reduction calculations

FARMER Program Background and Proposed Updates

The FARMER Program provides funding to replace older vehicles and equipment used at agricultural operations with cleaner options. Approved in 2018, the FARMER Program Guidelines describe air district funding allocations, eligible project categories and criteria, program implementation details, and the justification for these investments. Since program inception, additional and modified project categories have also been approved for inclusion into the FARMER Program through various Executive Officer memos.

CARB staff are working towards updating the FARMER Program Guidelines to consolidate current program guidelines and memos, modify existing project categories, and otherwise aid in air district implementation of the program. Some of the notable proposed updates include:

  • Accounting for efficiency gains from specialty equipment
  • Providing additional flexibility for zero-emission equipment
  • Allowing for used equipment purchases in all air districts
  • Updating emission factors and load factors used for emission reduction calculations
  • Allowing additional flexibility for air district program administration

Public Comment Period

CARB staff plan to present the proposed updates to the Moyer Program Guidelines and FARMER Program Guidelines to the Board for consideration at the October 24, 2024, Board meeting. The proposed updated Guidelines may be obtained from CARB’s website at Carl Moyer Program Meetings and Workshops page and on the FARMER Program Meetings and Workshops page.

The public is welcomed and encouraged to participate in the process of updating the Guidelines by providing comment on these proposed changes and any additional areas of concern not specifically mentioned during a 45-day public comment period commencing Wednesday, August 28, 2024, pursuant to H&SC section 44287, subdivision (b).

Written comments must be received no later than October 14, 2024, and addressed to the following:

Postal mail:                 Clerks’ Office, California Air Resources Board
                                   1001 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814

Electronic Submittal

Please note that under the California Public Records Act (Government Code section 7920.000 et seq.), your written and oral comments, attachments, and associated contact information (e.g., your address, phone, email, etc.) become part of the public record and can be released to the public upon request.

Contacts

If you have questions or comments regarding the upcoming public workshop, please contact Deborah Paselk, Staff Air Pollution Specialist, at (916) 323-1534, or Evan Powers, Air Pollution Specialist, at (916) 282-6273.

If you require a special accommodation or need this document in an alternate format (i.e., Braille, large print) or another language, please e-mail MoyerHelp@arb.ca.gov or FARMER@arb.ca.gov as soon as possible, but no later than 10 days before the scheduled event.