Latest from CARB - note: privately owned buses

[NEO/Russ]

The California Air Resources Board has unveiled a revised draft regulation that would require the estimated 420,000 privately owned diesel trucks and buses to retrofit beginning in 2012.

The proposed regulation ensures that beginning in 2012, all trucks must be 2010 models or newer. It also calls for truckers to retrofit pre-2007 model year trucks with soot filters. The draft is currently being reviewed and will be voted on this October.

"If passed by the Board later this year, this regulation will save thousands of lives and help the hundreds of thousands more who suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments," said CARB Chairman Mary Nichols. "While we are sensitive to the economic impacts this measure poses to truckers, the public health benefits are far too great not to move forward."

CARB estimates that diesel truck emissions would cause 11,000 premature deaths between 2010 and 2020, while the total economic benefit of eliminating those deaths is estimated to be between $70 billion and $89 billion.

The board announced that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget has allocated an additional $48 million to CARB to help low-income truckers comply with diesel emissions regulations. According to CARB, AB118 and the previously allocated Proposition 1B will help pay for engine retrofits and replacements that will be required in 2010.

"This money will help truckers in the state, many of whom are struggling financially, to retrofit and replace engines to help all of us breathe easier," said Nichols. "We appreciate the Governor's and Legislature's support on this crucial public health issue."

CARB said it will work with the California Treasurers Office to use the funds for low interest loans to help truckers install the soot filtration devices and replace older engines, as well as add devices such as side skirts and wider tires that reduce aerodynamic drag.

"Sierra Club California supports the administration's proposal to use $50 million in available air-quality funds for loans to help low-income truckers achieve early compliance with upcoming requirements to reduce toxic diesel emissions," said Bill Magavern, director of Sierra Club California. "This proposal provides a creative solution that will benefit Californians' health and our economy."

According to CARB, the proposed regulation is the latest in a series of regulations to reduce health risks--covering cargo handling equipment, transport refrigeration units, truck idling, off-road construction equipment, harbor craft, ship auxiliary engines, port drayage trucks and ships-at-berth.

[tekebird]

good thing we have motorhomes huh?

Private buses means buses not owned by the state/municipality etc.

[FloridaCliff]

good thing we have motorhomes huh?
Private buses means buses not owned by the state/municipality etc.

And do I hear a third!!!!!!

Motion passes.....

[Ncbob]

Nothing personal here Russ, or to any of the other CA residents who happen to be BusNuts.....but

Is there any wonder as to why the rest of the country raises a jaundiced eye in California's direction when their Legislators or Governor come up with these "off the wall" cures for something that pure science and common sense would solve the problem?

But then, the world must continue to go 'round and 'round without my help.

Bob

[Don Fairchild]

Doug;

In this case it means privately owned regardless, in a conversation I had with Mary Nichols, Leo Kay, Susan Reed and DR. Shear at the A.R.B it means every one with a diesel will meet 2007 rules by 2010 and then 2010 rules by 2012. So pucker up everybody. They also said they are working on a plan to stop every vehicle before it enters the state and if it does not meet the standard it will not be permitted in the state.

In another release they are meeting to pass the strictest regulation on emissions in ocean going vessels.
all ships with the 24 nautical miles of the coast of cal will use low sulfur fuel in there boilers
Michael Scheible stated we are requiring very large reductions that will greatly lessen air pollution from ships
and save 2000 premature deaths each year.

Don

[Chaz]

it means every one with a diesel will meet 2007 rules by 2010 and then 2010 rules by 2012. So pucker up everybody. They also said they are working on a plan to stop every vehicle before it enters the state and if it does not meet the standard it will not be permitted in the state.

NOOOO KIDDIN!?!? Man, that'll suck. I like California too! I use to live in Huntington Beach.

  Bummer,
    Chaz

[Len Silva]

Fortunately, I've already been to California, beautiful place, glad I saw it, no reason to go back (unless they are going to help me out with a new engine)

[tekebird]

I just read the first two pages of the latest Draft proposal.

Section c is exemptions which include motorhomes in non commercial use.


I suspect private boats will also be exempt , might have even said that....there were quite a few exemptions

[tekebird]

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/documents/MAY_08_Draft_Regulation_with_Errata.pdf

(c) Exemptions
This regulation does not apply to:
(1) Vehicles subject to the solid waste collection vehicle rule commencing with title 13,
CCR, section 2021;
(2) On-road diesel-fueled heavy-duty vehicles over 14,000 pounds owned or operated
by a municipality, that comply with the Best Available Control Technology (BACT)
requirements of title 13, section 2022.1(a)(1);
(3) Vehicles subject to the fleet rule for transit agencies commencing with title 13,
CCR, section 2023;
(4) Heavy-duty drayage trucks complying with the requirements and compliance
deadlines of title 13, CCR, section 2027(d), until December 31, 2017;
(5) Vehicles subject to the rule for mobile cargo handling equipment at ports and
intermodal railyards commencing with title 13, CCR, section 2479
(6) Military tactical support vehicles, as described in title 13, CCR, section 1905;
(7) Authorized emergency vehicles as described in California Vehicle Code (Veh.
Code), section 165;
( Off-road vehicles subject to title 13, CCR, sections 2401, 2421, 2411, 2432, and
2449;
(9) Dedicated snow-removal vehicles as defined in section 2025(d)(10)
(10) Two-engine cranes as defined in title 13, CCR, section 2449(c)(56).
(11) Historic vehicles as defined in section 2025(d)(27); and
(12) Motor homes for non-commercial private use.

[luvrbus]

that draft was from a month ago and will go under some big changes before it gets to the lawmakers and Arnie.Your going to be lucky if there is 1 exemption when the bill passes (garbage trucks maybe)

[tekebird]

CARB is not the end all of legislation, 

They passed some stupid @$# law/regulation requiring out of state trucks to have Low Nox flashes put on thier computers.

CA Supreme court overturned the regulation

When I was working in CA they banned two stroke motorcycles, 3 years later you could still buy one and get a OHV sticker for it.

Alot of these CArb regulation will never in the near future get instituted, unless of course the purpose is to have CA susceed from the Union,

What will end up happening is Ocean going shipments will go to Oregon, Washington, Canada etc....and bypass CA.
Tourism will suffer, etc etc.

[luvrbus]

Doug, it's so bad here even Needles Ca wants out of the state  (thats a true statement)

[compedgemarine]

is it just me or does it appear from the exemption list that anything owned by the state or local governments is exempt. seems if they are so concerned with saving the lives of their voting public they would start by cleaning up their own equipment. wait, that would involve logic and action on their part rather than putting it off on the public. not the political way I guess.
steve

[belfert]

Aren't some school districts in CA still using Crown school buses from the 70s and 80s?  No possible way those meet these pollution regs unless the engines have been replaced or DPFs retrofitted.

[FloridaCliff]

is it just me or does it appear from the exemption list that anything owned by the state or local governments is exempt. seems if they are so concerned with saving the lives of their voting public they would start by cleaning up their own equipment. wait, that would involve logic and action on their part rather than putting it off on the public. not the political way I guess.
steve

Yeah, I noticed that too.

Sounds like a bunch of NIMBY types to me.....

You do it, but not us....

Cliff