The California Air Resources Board March 6 announced proposals to change elements of its Truck & Bus Rule emissions regulations that would mostly impact very small fleets and owner-operators, though some elements could impact fleets of all sizes.
CARB’s rule required that all truck owners running in the state with pre-2007 model engines either by Jan. 1 replace their equipment with a 2007 or later model engine or install a particulate matter filter.
Beth White, CARB’s manager, said the proposed changes include:
CARB is accepting public comment on the proposals until April 21, and then the board will meet the same day to discuss the changes and consider public comments before either voting to approve them or making changes and then having another 15-day comment period.
Click here to visit the CARB page where public comment can be submitted.
CARB previously implement its “good faith” efforts extension for owner-operators and small fleets (three trucks or fewer) in November, and it allows a delay in compliance with the regulations to July 1 if truck owners either (a) have an agreement with an authorized installer for a particulate matter filter retrofit, (b) have signed a purchase contract and ordered a replacement truck equipped with a particulate matter filter (engines must be 2007 or newer) or (c) have been approved or denied financing for a retrofit particulate matter filter or for a replacement truck equipped with a particulate matter filter.
To take advantage of the good faith efforts extension, truck owners can use the CARB TRUCRS system.
