On April 25, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a two-and-a-half year enforcement delay to the state’s Truck and Bus Regulation for small trucking companies who are struggling to obtain loans and grants to make required improvements on time.
CARB's action will give small fleets, lightly used trucks and those operating in rural areas more time to upgrade to newer, cleaner models or install filters to remove soot from their exhaust. The extended phase-in deadlines for small fleet mean that truck owners with three or fewer trucks now have an extra year to bring their second truck into compliance and an extra two years for their third truck, as CARB extended the phase-in deadlines for second and third trucks from January 1, 2015 and 2016, to January 1, 2016 and 2018, respectively.
The vote marks the second time CARB has relaxed
its diesel truck regulations since 2010, when it made changes to offer
the industry relief after the recession. The extensions, approved by a 10-1 vote, came after pleas from small trucking firms and owner-operators who became subject to new pollution-cutting requirements for the first time this year. The amendments were adopted over fierce objections from another segment of the industry: truck owners who have already made the costly upgrades.
Multiple speakers at Thursday’s public hearing slammed CARB for sparking a civil war between large carriers and owner-operators that counted as small fleets under CARB’s definition. The large carriers said they didn’t like being put in a position to argue against mom and pop trucking operations – many of whom they hire.
Among those urging regulators to hold to the deadlines were environmental groups and students from Oakland who live near freeways with heavy truck traffic and cope with respiratory illnesses. "We understand that cleaning up trucks is expensive, but somebody has to pay," said Pamela Tapia, a community college student from Oakland with asthma. "Right now we're paying with our health and that's not right."
Final versions of the amendments will be produced within the next few months and will have a 15-day public comment period, after which CARB will put them into effect.
Showing posts with label arb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arb. Show all posts
Monday, April 28, 2014
Friday, January 27, 2012
California Passes New Auto Emission Rules
The California Air Resources Board has unanimously approved a package of new emissions rules for cars and light trucks through 2025.
“The California Advanced Clean Car rules will clean our air, fight climate change and provide cars that save consumers thousands of dollars at the pump,” said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. “The Board’s action today will create thousands of new jobs, transforming California into the advanced car capital of the world. California is now in pole position in the race to provide next-generation ultra-clean cars to the global car market.”
The Advanced Clean Cars program combines the control of smog-causing pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into a single coordinated package of requirements for model years 2017 through 2025. The new rules will clean up gasoline and diesel-powered cars, and deliver increasing numbers of zero-emission technologies, such as full battery electric cars, newly emerging plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell cars, aiming to put 1.4 million electric and hybrid vehicles on state roads by 2025. The package will also ensure adequate fueling infrastructure is available for the increasing numbers of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles planned for deployment in California.
The rules are designed to preserve consumer choice while ensuring the development of a full range of environmentally superior cars from compacts to SUVs and pickups. Many of the technologies that reduce emissions also significantly reduce the operating costs of passenger vehicles on a month-to-month basis for consumers.
"Our research shows a $1,400 to $1,900 car price increase. But over the life of the vehicles, the owners save $6,000 in reduced fuel and maintenance costs," board spokesman David Clegern said. One of the nation's foremost consumer groups, the Consumers' Union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, supported the changes.
Companies including Ford Motor Corp., Chrysler Group LLC, General Motors Co., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and others submitted testimony Thursday supportive of the new standards.
Read more here and here.
“The California Advanced Clean Car rules will clean our air, fight climate change and provide cars that save consumers thousands of dollars at the pump,” said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. “The Board’s action today will create thousands of new jobs, transforming California into the advanced car capital of the world. California is now in pole position in the race to provide next-generation ultra-clean cars to the global car market.”
The Advanced Clean Cars program combines the control of smog-causing pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into a single coordinated package of requirements for model years 2017 through 2025. The new rules will clean up gasoline and diesel-powered cars, and deliver increasing numbers of zero-emission technologies, such as full battery electric cars, newly emerging plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell cars, aiming to put 1.4 million electric and hybrid vehicles on state roads by 2025. The package will also ensure adequate fueling infrastructure is available for the increasing numbers of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles planned for deployment in California.
The rules are designed to preserve consumer choice while ensuring the development of a full range of environmentally superior cars from compacts to SUVs and pickups. Many of the technologies that reduce emissions also significantly reduce the operating costs of passenger vehicles on a month-to-month basis for consumers.
"Our research shows a $1,400 to $1,900 car price increase. But over the life of the vehicles, the owners save $6,000 in reduced fuel and maintenance costs," board spokesman David Clegern said. One of the nation's foremost consumer groups, the Consumers' Union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, supported the changes.
Companies including Ford Motor Corp., Chrysler Group LLC, General Motors Co., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and others submitted testimony Thursday supportive of the new standards.
Read more here and here.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Judge Strikes Down Air Quality Rules
An Alameda County (California) Superior Court judge recently struck down CEQA guidelines established by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). The Guidelines sought to "better protect the health and well being of Bay Area residents by addressing new health protective air quality standards, exposure to toxic air contaminants and adverse effects from climate change." A challenge to the Guidelines was brought by representatives of the building industry, economic development groups and others claiming that the new rules would make the cost of development prohibitively expensive.
As often happens in court decisions, the judge did not rule on the substance of the Guidelines, but rather found that BAAQMD, itself bound by CEQA, had not undertaken the necessary environmental review of the impacts of the Guidelines. Solely on this basis, the rules were determined to be improper.
While the plaintiffs in the lawsuit are claiming victory, it is important to remember that his ruling was based on BAAQMD not following the proper procedures; the agency may promulgate the same Guidelines after conducting the necessary environmental review.
As often happens in court decisions, the judge did not rule on the substance of the Guidelines, but rather found that BAAQMD, itself bound by CEQA, had not undertaken the necessary environmental review of the impacts of the Guidelines. Solely on this basis, the rules were determined to be improper.
While the plaintiffs in the lawsuit are claiming victory, it is important to remember that his ruling was based on BAAQMD not following the proper procedures; the agency may promulgate the same Guidelines after conducting the necessary environmental review.
Friday, July 8, 2011
ARB Workshop on Draft Changes to California's GHG Reporting and Cap-and-Trade Regulations
The California Air Resources Board is holding a public workshop to discuss draft changes to the proposed greenhouse gas cap-and-trade and mandatory greenhouse gas reporting regulations.
DATE: Friday, July 15, 2011
TIME: 9 am to 3 pm
LOCATION: Byron Sher Auditorium, 2nd Floor, Cal/EPA HQ
Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento
WEBCAST: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/broadcast/?BDO=1
During the workshop, stakeholders may e-mail questions to ccworkshops@arb.ca.gov.
The cap-and-trade program covers major sources of GHG emissions in the State such as refineries, power plants, industrial facilities, and transportation fuels. The proposed regulation includes an enforceable emissions cap that will decline over time. The State will distribute allowances, which are tradable permits, equal to the emissions allowed under the cap. Sources under the cap will need to surrender allowances and offsets equal to their emissions at the end of each compliance period.
The discussion drafts are now available for download.
Staff’s presentations will be posted in advance of the workshop on ARB’s website.
You can also call (916) 322-2037 with general questions about the workshop or the proposed cap-and-trade regulation, or (916) 322-5350 with questions about the mandatory GHG reporting regulation.
DATE: Friday, July 15, 2011
TIME: 9 am to 3 pm
LOCATION: Byron Sher Auditorium, 2nd Floor, Cal/EPA HQ
Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento
WEBCAST: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/broadcast/?BDO=1
During the workshop, stakeholders may e-mail questions to ccworkshops@arb.ca.gov.
The cap-and-trade program covers major sources of GHG emissions in the State such as refineries, power plants, industrial facilities, and transportation fuels. The proposed regulation includes an enforceable emissions cap that will decline over time. The State will distribute allowances, which are tradable permits, equal to the emissions allowed under the cap. Sources under the cap will need to surrender allowances and offsets equal to their emissions at the end of each compliance period.
The discussion drafts are now available for download.
Staff’s presentations will be posted in advance of the workshop on ARB’s website.
You can also call (916) 322-2037 with general questions about the workshop or the proposed cap-and-trade regulation, or (916) 322-5350 with questions about the mandatory GHG reporting regulation.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
California Enters Carbon Trading Market
California Air Board OKs Cap-and-Trade Regulations
Wyatt Buchanan, SF Chronicle, December 16, 2010
The California Air Resources Board on Thursday approved the creation of the nation's first broad-based program to put a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and to begin charging large emitters for the excess carbon dioxide they discharge to the atmosphere.
Under the new rules, which take effect in 2012, the number of metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions estimated for California will be capped at the currently-forecasted emissions levels for 2012. Over the next three years, the cap will shrink by 2 percent per year. From 2015 to 2020, the cap will drop by 3 percent per year.
The cap first applies to the some of California's biggest emitters, including utilities and large industrial plants. In 2015, it will expand to fuel distributors. In total, it will apply to 360 businesses at 600 locations across the state.
Read the complete article here.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
A New Type of Hybrid
Building on the success of the first hybrid tug launched into service at the Port of Long Beach in 2009, Foss will retrofit an existing tug with hybrid technology for service in San Pedro Bay, thanks to a $1 million grant from the California Air Resources Board. The project will be implemented through a partnership between Foss, the Port of Long Beach, and the Port of Los Angeles.
Foss will retrofit the Campbell Foss, a conventional dolphin tug currently assisting oceangoing vessels in the San Pedro Bay. The goal is to achieve significant reductions in pollution emissions while enhancing fuel efficiency and operational capabilities. Projected annual emissions reductions per year include:
Read more here. (Found via TriplePundit.)
Foss will retrofit the Campbell Foss, a conventional dolphin tug currently assisting oceangoing vessels in the San Pedro Bay. The goal is to achieve significant reductions in pollution emissions while enhancing fuel efficiency and operational capabilities. Projected annual emissions reductions per year include:
- More than 1.7 tons of diesel particulate matter
- More than 53 tons of oxides of nitrogen
- More than 1.2 tons of reactive organic gases
- More than 1,340 tons of carbon dioxide
Read more here. (Found via TriplePundit.)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
ARB’s Updated AB32 Scoping Plan Economic Analysis
A revised version of the EAAC Economic Impacts Subcommittee Report on ARB’s Updated AB32 Scoping Plan Economic Analysis is now available.
A public meeting to update the Board on AB32 Economic Analyses will be held on April 21, 2010 as a continuation of the March Board Meeting Agenda Item 10-3-6.
Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Time: 1:00-5:30 pm
Location:
Sierra Hearing Room, 2nd Floor, CalEPA Building
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
ARB staff, experts and stakeholders will discuss several economic analyses relating to AB32. This Board agenda item will include an overview of recent economic studies of the implementation of the AB32 Scoping Plan and an opportunity for public comment. The agenda for the Board meeting can be found here.
Click here for further information on the EAAC.
Click here for additional information on ARB’s Updated AB32 Scoping Plan Economic Analysis.
A public meeting to update the Board on AB32 Economic Analyses will be held on April 21, 2010 as a continuation of the March Board Meeting Agenda Item 10-3-6.
Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Time: 1:00-5:30 pm
Location:
Sierra Hearing Room, 2nd Floor, CalEPA Building
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
ARB staff, experts and stakeholders will discuss several economic analyses relating to AB32. This Board agenda item will include an overview of recent economic studies of the implementation of the AB32 Scoping Plan and an opportunity for public comment. The agenda for the Board meeting can be found here.
Click here for further information on the EAAC.
Click here for additional information on ARB’s Updated AB32 Scoping Plan Economic Analysis.
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