California Considers Delaying Diesel-Emission Rules

Print this Article | Send to Colleague

The regulations, referred to as off-highway diesel rules, were scheduled to take effect this year, and some companies have already spent millions of dollars on new equipment to comply.

CARB's board directed its staff to determine ways the construction industry can more easily reach the state's goal of cutting diesel emissions by 2014, the date required to meet federal clean air standards. Prior to this, the board had also decided to explore loosening similar diesel rules for trucks and buses.

While the economy was the driving reason for reviewing both rules, board staff reported they had overestimated how much pollution construction equipment, buses and trucks emit into the air. The revelation drew criticism from a few of the board members and industry groups who called for better numbers before imposing costly regulations.

Industry representatives urged the board to delay the regulations by five years, citing the much lower emissions footprint of construction.

The off-highway diesel rules passed in 2007 require tractors, forklifts, bulldozers and other types of diesel-powered equipment to be replaced or retrofitted over the next 15 years. Large fleets have until 2020, while fleets with fewer than 20 vehicles have until 2025.

Firms with large fleets were supposed to start replacing and retrofitting vehicles beginning March 1, but California is waiting for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to grant the state a waiver from federal regulations under the federal Clean Air Act. The California rules can't be enforced without the waiver.

Meanwhile, the truck and bus rule is scheduled to begin taking effect in January 2011. Nearly a million vehicles must be replaced or retrofitted over the next 10 years with smog traps, filters or cleaner-burning technology.

The construction and truck regulations were adopted to help clean the state's skies by targeting particulate matter and nitrogen oxide -- pollutants blamed for contributing to respiratory ailments, cardiovascular problems and premature deaths.

Information from http://ciaqc.com/ciaqc/releases.htm.