It’s a good news, bad news month here in California

Good News: On June 30th: EPA gives California emissions waiver
This move by the Federal EPA gave the state the green light to develop its own standards on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks, though California had to agree not to toughen their standards before 2017. In exchange, automakers agree to drop their long standing lawsuits.

“It preserves California’s role as a leader on clean air policy,” particularly on motor vehicles, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said. “It feels good to know that we are able to move past this issue.”

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger hailed the decision as a “huge step for our emerging green economy that will create thousands of new jobs and bring Californians the cars they want while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

California Senator Barbara Boxer, a longtime supporter of the EPA waiver idea, said the EPA did “what is right for the people of California, the environment and the many states in the union that intend to follow California’s lead in cleaning up tailpipe emissions.

Bad News: On July 23rd, Air Resources Board amends landmark rule to reduce toxic emissions from off-road equipment.
The California Air Resources Board adopted amendments to help business owners comply with 2007 regulations aimed at reducing toxic diesel emissions from the state’s estimated 180,000 off-road vehicles such as tractors and bulldozers used in construction, mining and other industries.

The changes to the regulation provide temporary relief to firms that have reduced use of their vehicles due to downsizing or work stoppage. Fleets will be able to use credits to delay retrofitting their existing equipment with pollution controls or purchasing new equipment. While CARB indicates that the changes will not repeal or delay general implementation of the rule, common sense says otherwise.

“This harsh economy calls for flexibility and creativity when dealing with new regulations if we are to continue to make progress in reaching the goal of healthy air for all Californians,” said ARB Chairwoman Mary D. Nichols. “These changes will allow the hardest-hit fleets to postpone their compliance costs until the current recession has eased. We will still achieve dramatic diesel emission reductions, but over a slightly longer timeframe.” Hmmmmmm.

Because many diesel engines lack emission controls and can remain in use for 30 years or longer, they will contribute to air pollution for years to come. Agricultural and construction equipment is of particular concern, since these engines in general experience long running times and are quite fuel inefficient. The regulation adopted in 2007 – the first of its kind in the nation – requires installation of diesel soot filters and replacement of older, dirtier engines with newer emission-controlled models according to a staggered timeline, depending on fleet size. By 2020, the rule would have reduced diesel particulate matter by 74 percent and smog-forming oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 32 percent.

These new changes will now allow fleets to delay a portion of their compliance obligations for 2011 and 2012 until 2013. The Board also approved changes recommended by staff, including exempting vehicles that are retrofitted ahead of schedule from being replaced in the future, and allowing small-and medium-sized fleets to buy a filter today instead of having to buy two in a future year.

So CARB is walking a fine line, trying to maintain the general course of their fight against harmful emissions, but at the same time not imposing a timeline that proves too costly to businesses in the throes of the recession. Tough time to be an advocate for the environment. Or kids with Asthma.

Diesel particulate matter, or diesel “soot,” was identified as a toxic air contaminant in 1998. In 2000, the ARB established California’s Diesel Risk Reduction Plan, which aims to reduce diesel emissions to 85 percent below 2000 levels by 2020. Other sources of diesel particulate matter such as big rig trucks, transit buses, trash trucks, cargo-handling equipment and ship auxiliary engines have already been addressed through regulations, along with diesel fuel. Maybe this is just another part of a 12-step program?

Tags: car, construction, emissions, government mandates to reduce emissions, greenhouse gas