CARB Toughens Rules for Off-Road Diesel Vehicles
MercuryNews.com July 26, 2007
With the goal of cleaning up the state’s smoggy skies, California air regulators adopted the nation’s toughest emission standards for off-highway diesel vehicles such as bulldozers, airport baggage trucks and ski resort snowcats. Unanimously approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in late July, the standards will force the oldest and most polluting pieces of equipment out of service and require construction firms and other companies to spend billions on new vehicles or engine retrofits. The new rules require emissions from diesel equipment to be cleaned up gradually beginning in 2010, while the rules will be phased in through 2020 for fleets of large vehicles and 2025 for smaller equipment.Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the board's action showed that California was "leading the charge to protect public health. This new regulation will prevent thousands of premature deaths every year in the state and save billions in health care costs."
The pollutants targeted in the rule—particulate matter and nitrogen oxide that become embedded in lung tissue—are blamed for premature deaths, respiratory ailments and cardiovascular problems. Replacing old diesel engines is projected to eliminate 48 tons per day of nitrogen oxide and 5.2 tons per day of particulate matter statewide by 2020. According to CARB, the new standards are projected to save up to $26 billion in health care costs by 2030, as well as prevent 110,000 asthma-related cases and 680,000 lost workdays over 20 years.
“This is one of the last sectors to get regulated," said Andy Katz of Breathe California, "It's time for the construction industry to also come forward and do their part." Construction equipment and other off-road vehicles are California's second-largest source of diesel-generated particulate pollution, a toxic group of soot, ash and other compounds.
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These news briefs have been summarized from external sources. They have been placed here as resources on lung health issues. Breathe California does not endorse their findings nor have they verified their accuracy.