| July 2012 | Past Issues/Subscribe | Printer-Friendly | Advertise |
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 17-18 See CRA's Calendar page for more information on CRA's upcoming events. VENDOR NEWS
 Enter the Hilti 18 Volt Ultimate Sweepstakes for your chance to win a full lineup of the highest performing and most durable 18 volt cordless tools on the market. The grand prize winner will receive the FULL line of Hilti 18 volt cordless tools, including batteries, charger and tool bags. Four additional prize winners will be chosen throughout the sweepstakes to win one of the following: SFC 18-A Compact Drill/Driver, SFH 18-A Hammer Drill/Driver or SID 18-A Impact Driver.*
Learn More...  John Deere has entered the Recreational Utility Vehicle category with the all-new, all-powerful Gator RSX850i. It's been engineered to be faster, more powerful and more agile than any Gator ever built. Since the creation of the John Deere All Materials Transport (AMT) in 1987, an event that launched the entire Utility Vehicle (UV) category, and the development of the first Gator UV in 1992, John Deere has built a reputation for durability, utility and safety. The addition of advanced power, high top speed and precision handling signal the next step in evolution for the Gator line of utility vehicles.
Learn More...  DitchWitch recently provided the following information... National surveys estimate the annual total cost of stolen equipment in the U.S. at $1 billion. In 2010, only 19 percent of that stolen equipment was recovered. In contrast, 56 percent of stolen automobiles were recovered. Why? Stolen off-road equipment is difficult to investigate for several reasons. One, the average law-enforcement officer does not have the technical knowledge to investigate equipment suspected as stolen—he doesn’t know a trencher from a skid steer. Also, there is no centralized number system for construction equipment, like the vehicle identification number (VIN) for automobiles, so acquiring information to investigate is not easy.
Learn More...  On July 11, Kohler® Engines announced the launch of its DIY Poster Experience, an engaging new web-based campaign that allows participants to create a unique online poster. Choose wisely, craft an amusing story and then share your handiwork with the world. When visiting the DIY Poster Experience website, participants will be able to choose between several different keywords and phrases to craft a customized message. The "fill-in-the-blanks" approach utilized on the site makes it easy for anyone to develop a personalized, lighthearted poster. To encourage participation, Kohler will even create professionally-printed posters for the first 500 respondents, which the company will then deliver free-of-charge.
Learn More...  Deere & Company announced on June 4 it will invest $47 million to expand manufacturing capacity in its Moline, Ill. cylinder operations, where the company builds a broad range of hydraulic cylinders used in the company's agricultural, construction and forestry machines sold around the world.
Learn More...  Doosan Portable Power now offers four new models in its mobile generator portfolio that have been designed to meet federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 Interim (Tier 4i) emission standards. These new Doosan generators have been substantially redesigned from their predecessors to incorporate numerous innovations based on customer input to improve the operator experience.
Learn More... BUSINESS NEWS
The CalChamber Alert Newsletter reported on July 13 that a California Chamber of Commerce-opposed "job killer" bill that created uncertainty for businesses regarding the enforceability of arbitration agreements failed to pass the Assembly Judiciary Committee last week. SB 491 (Evans; D-Santa Rosa) would have dramatically increased litigation costs by encouraging more class actions and potentially pushing more cases into the courts. SB 491 was another attempt to undermine arbitration and was substantially broader than last year’s AB 1062 (Dickinson; D-Sacramento), which would have weakened the enforcement of arbitration agreements by limiting appeals. AB 1062 was voted down by the Senate.
Learn More... The CalChamber Alert Newsletter also reported on July 13 that California Chamber of Commerce-supported job creator bills, SB 1139, SB 1099 and SB 1402, that advance the state’s environmental policies, help create regulatory certainty and improve workforce development won approval from Assembly policy committees before legislators began their summer recess.
Learn More... Another report from the July 13 CalChamber Alert Newsletter is that a California Chamber of Commerce-opposed "job killer" bill that once finalized is expected to inflate litigation and insurance costs will be awaiting Assembly action when legislators return from their summer recess. The Consumer Attorneys of California are sponsoring SB 1528 (Steinberg; D-Sacramento) in an attempt to overturn the recent and well-reasoned California Supreme Court case, Howell v. Hamilton Meats ((2011) 52 Cal.4th 541). The case addressed the question of whether a plaintiff could recover for past medical damages stated in a health care provider’s bill but never actually paid or owed by the plaintiff.
Learn More... Loren Kaye, president of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education, offered his view of why California has a hard time getting out of its budget straits (July 12, on foxandhoundsdaily.com)... "The ratio of private sector workers in California to Medi-Cal recipients and government employees continues to fall. More non-wealth generators are being supported per wealth generator today than in the past. The same trend is evident nationally, but it’s worse in California. We can’t right our fiscal vessel (never mind the economy) without acknowledging and addressing this. We address this by (1) fixing the denominator – fewer welfare recipients and public employees, or (2) the numerator – more private sector workers creating wealth."
Learn More... On July 12, PublicCEO.com posted an editorial about the city of San Bernardino's recent decision to enter bankruptcy proceedings. The editorial called the decision the result of "irresponsible governance" and years of deficit spending. It stated that, "By the admission of the city’s top staff and hired consultants, the storm that has brought San Bernardino into bankruptcy didn’t blow in overnight, it brewed and built slowly over two decades. Then, in a single night’s agenda, with less than an hour of council discussion, they made their decision – bankruptcy ... This begs the question: Where did the ‘leadership,’ ‘governance’ or responsibility run to?"
Learn More... CARB
In keeping with provisions of Board Resolution 10-49, LCFS Regulatory Advisory 10-04, and LCFS Regulatory Advisory 10-04A, the proposed pathways posted to this site have been approved by ARB staff and are available for use on an interim basis by fuel providers and regulated parties. Use of most 2A/2B pathways, however, is subject to special conditions. All proposed pathways must be considered for final adoption at either a Board or an Executive Officer Hearing. Scheduled hearing dates, if any, are shown in the right-most column of the pathway table below. Rulemaking documents on all pathways scheduled for hearing are available on the LCFS Rulemaking pages. The proposed carbon intensity values associated with proposed pathways are subject to change during the rulemaking process. If the proposed carbon intensity is either disapproved or modified at hearing, the affected fuel providers may, optionally, continue using the interim value for a period of up to six months following the date of final pathway approval (or denial).
Learn More... The Air Resources Board is providing training for the In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation (Off-Road Regulation), which requires fleet owners to report to ARB and label their off-road vehicles now, and then requires fleets to reduce the emissions from their older equipment beginning in 2014. The training, Course #504, will provide an overview of the amended Off-Road Regulation, including the applicability of the regulation, requirements currently in effect, future compliance requirements, and will also include an overview of the Diesel Off-Road Online Reporting System (DOORS). ARB staff will also be available after the training to answer individual questions.
Learn More... For 2012, engine manufacturers are required to produce engines in all power categories that are certified to the Interim Tier 4 level. Engines that were produced under the "flex" provisions of either 40 CFR part 89.102 or 1039.625 will continue to be eligible for initial registration in PERP. ARB will accept initial registration applications for non-flex Tier 3 engines rated at 75 to 750 bhp and also non-flex Tier 2 engines rated over 750 bhp only until June 30, 2012. On July 1, 2012, to apply for initial registration in PERP, all non-flex diesel engines rated 50 bhp and above must be certified to the interim Tier 4 emission standard. The fleet standards from the Portable Engine ATCM take effect January 1, 2013.
Learn More... All diesel fueled trucks, buses, trailers and transportation refrigeration units operating in California, including those based out of state, have requirements to reduce air pollution and improve the state's overall air quality. What's new? Don't miss the fast approaching Tractor-Trailer GHG reporting deadlines! The reporting deadline for large fleets is June 1, 2012. The reporting deadline for small fleets is September 1, 2012.
Learn More... The regulation requires that you meet the Basic Engine Model Year Schedule requirements. There are other compliance options in the regulation that may give you more time to meet the requirements of the regulation if reported by March 30. Although the March 30 deadline has passed, you should still report per the regulatory requirements as soon as possible. ARB can exercise discretion in how we implement the regulation, and may take into consideration a good faith effort in determining compliance. The best way to report is to use our online reporting system as it is the quickest and most efficient method. Smaller fleets can enter their information directly online. Larger fleets can use an upload spreadsheet to report vehicle information in batches rather than one vehicle at a time. Fleet owners who already created an account with the Tractor Trailer GHG reporting or the Off-Road reporting systems, can use the same user name and password.
Learn More... What's New?: (Posted February 16) By March 1, 2012, large fleets (those with off-road vehicles totaling more than 5,000 horsepower and state and federal fleets) are required to submit a Responsible Official Affirmation of Reporting (ROAR) to ARB. The ROAR is a signed statement affirming that the information reported is accurate. Beginning in 2012 for large fleets, 2016 for medium fleets and 2018 for small fleets, the In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation requires fleets to annually update and affirm their reporting information. In addition to the ROAR, the annual update must include reporting of engine hour meter readings for low-use vehicles and vehicles used for more than half their annual operating hours for agricultural operations. For more information on reporting low-use vehicles, see the Low-Use Vehicles DOORS user guide. The log for reporting hours for agricultural operations vehicles is available here and within DOORS. Also by March 1, 2012, nearly all on-road vehicles with two diesel engines must be reported and are subject to the In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation. Further information concerning this new requirement is available in Regulatory Advisory 12-02-B.
Learn More... The ARB's Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection Program and Periodic Smoke Inspection Programs were adopted in 1988. The HDVIP program requires heavy-duty trucks and buses to be inspected for excessive smoke and tampering, and engine certification label compliance. Any heavy-duty vehicle traveling in California, including vehicles registered in other states and foreign countries, may be tested. Tests are performed by ARB inspection teams at border crossings, CHP weigh stations, fleet facilities, and randomly selected roadside locations. Owners of trucks and buses found in violation are subject to minimum penalties starting at $300 per violation.
Learn More... This area of the Off-Road Mobile Sources website pertains to off-road large spark-ignition (LSI) equipment greater than 25 horsepower, including farm, construction and industrial equipment, powered by gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other alternate fuels. Typical applications that use LSI engines include forklifts, specialty vehicles, airport service vehicles, large turf care equipment, portable generators and a wide array of other agricultural, construction and general industrial equipment. The U.S. EPA has sole authority to control new farm and construction equipment under 175 horsepower. To find out more about the regulatory activities and related information, click on "Learn More."
Learn More...  Driving Toward a Cleaner California (DTCC) is a coalition of owner-operators, farmers, construction contractors and other business and community leaders committed to working with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to craft a sensible truck and bus replacement rule that both cleans the air and keeps California's economy moving forward.
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