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California Receives EPA Permission to Enforce Off-Road Diesel Engine Emissions Standards

Other States May Now Adopt Identical Rules The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced Sept. 13 that it has received authorization from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce its statewide , including the rule鈥檚 engine emissions targets and related requirements, such as turnover requirements and restrictions on adding Tier 0 and Tier 1 vehicles. As previously reported by 澳门六合彩开奖预测, dozens of other states have been closely following California鈥檚 controversial effort to implement and enforce first-time emission limits for in-use 鈥渇leets鈥 of off-road diesel equipment. Now that CARB has received a , California is allowed to enforce the rule鈥檚 engine emissions limits and other states can then adopt and enforce standards 鈥渋dentical鈥 to California鈥檚 regulation. Enforcement Advisory 13-25 informs all off-road fleets as to how CARB staff will proceed with the enforcement of the regulation 鈥 for more information, . CARB has delayed enforcement of its off-road diesel emissions requirements for large fleets (> 5,000 total horsepower) until July 1, 2014 (six-month extension). The prohibition on adding vehicles with Tier 0 engines to any fleet and Tier 1 engines to large or medium fleets will take effect on Jan. 1, 2014. Nationwide Implications California鈥檚 standards to reduce emissions from in-use, off-road diesel equipment has nationwide implications. Out-of-state contractors working in California must adhere to the rule. In addition, 澳门六合彩开奖预测 estimates that dozens of other states with similar air quality concerns may be interested in adopting the California off-road rule; the ultimate goal being to meet increasingly tighter National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone and particulate matter. While the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) generally prohibits states from adopting standards to reduce emissions from in-use, off-road diesel equipment, the CAA gives California a special exception to adopt such rules and then enforce them once they are approved by EPA (a process called 鈥済ranting a waiver of federal preemption鈥). The CAA also permits other states to adopt and enforce any California emission standards that meet with EPA鈥檚 approval. According to the CAA and EPA鈥檚 鈥渃larifying鈥 regulations, California must first adopt its standards, and then other states may adopt the same standards provided that: 1) the other state鈥檚 rule does not take effect until two years after its adoption by that state, and 2) the rule is the same as the one ultimately authorized by EPA鈥檚 waiver (Section 209(e)(2)(B)). Background California鈥檚 regulations for In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicles first took effect on June 15, 2008. (collectively 鈥湴拿帕喜士痹げ忖) were actively involved in the initial rulemaking process and successfully negotiated sweeping amendments to the rule at the end of 2010. 澳门六合彩开奖预测 also submitted more than 550-pages of comments to EPA and testified at two EPA hearings on California鈥檚 request for federal approval to enforce the rule. The rule applies to emissions from diesel-powered construction, mining, and other industrial vehicles operating in California that have propulsion engines that are 25 hp or greater. Fleets were required to initially report their off-road diesel vehicles to CARB in 2009. In addition, fleet owners are currently subject to restrictions on unnecessary idling, and some large fleets will be subject to accelerated replacement/repower requirements beginning January 1, 2014. More Information For specific details on California鈥檚 In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation, please visit CARB鈥檚 website at . For additional information about complying with the rule 鈥 including fact sheets, advisories, answers to frequently asked questions, and DOORS user guides 鈥 please visit CARB鈥檚 Knowledge Center at or call CARB鈥檚 helpline at (877) 593-6677. To review 澳门六合彩开奖预测鈥檚 multi-year effort to help shape the nation鈥檚 first-time emission limits for in-use 鈥渇leets鈥 of off-road diesel equipment, . For more information on whether your state may adopt California鈥 off-road engine emissions standards, . If you need additional information, please feel free to contact 澳门六合彩开奖预测鈥檚 Leah Pilconis at pilconisl@agc.org or Michael Kennedy at kennedym@agc.org.