| A recent editorial in the San Jose Mercury News | | | | The proposed CARB regulations, which have been |
| focused on the pollution from diesel engines and the | | | | revised multiple times, require a contractor's diesel |
| effect this is having on California's air quality. "When it | | | | engine fleet to meet fleet average emission rate |
| comes to air pollution from vehicles, it doesn't get | | | | targets for particulate matter (PM). Large and |
| more noxious than the soot from diesel engines. The | | | | medium fleets (greater than 1,000 horsepower) |
| black particles accumulate in people's lungs, | | | | would also be required to meet fleet average |
| contributing to asthma, heart problems and thousands | | | | emission rate targets for oxides of nitrogen (NOx). |
| of deaths in California every year. | | | | Both targets decline over time, requiring fleets to |
| After more than a year and a half of crafting the | | | | reduce their emissions even further. |
| language that will constitute the new off-road diesel | | | | According to these proposed regulations a fleet that |
| equipment regulations, the California Air Resources | | | | is unable to meet the NOx target, would have to |
| Board (CARB) will meet in Del Mar on May 25 to | | | | turn over more than 10 percent of its fleet per year. |
| decide whether to adopt this language which targets | | | | Turn over, as defined by CARB, means to re-power |
| what the Mercury calls 'smoke-belching construction | | | | with a cleaner engine, replace a vehicle with a new or |
| equipment - bulldozers, graders and the like - along | | | | used vehicle, designate as low-use or decrease fleet |
| with other "off-road" vehicles used at airports, ski | | | | size. |
| resorts and warehouses.' | | | | "With the current state of air quality in California, |
| Regulators would have to work with affected | | | | these proposed regulations are a move in the right |
| industries to find ways to ease the expense of | | | | direction," said Bob Carroll, CEO of the Biofriendly |
| retrofitting or replacing nearly 180,000 vehicles by | | | | Corporation. "NOx emissions are a threat to the |
| 2025. Cost estimates run from $3 billion to $13 billion - | | | | health of Californians and cost effective methods of |
| a sum that could make this the most expensive air | | | | reducing these emissions need to be found and |
| regulation in California history, says the Mercury | | | | implemented. |
| editorial. | | | | |