SACRAMENTO — The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that it will provide relief to truckers working to meet state deadlines for upgrades to their aging diesel fleets.
The relief is detailed in a regulatory advisory, which recognizes good faith efforts of afleets to meet upcoming compliance deadlines. The advisory also provides early access to planned regulatory changes to be considered by the board in April.
The move comes as larger fleets are required under the Statewide Truck and Bus Regulation to complete the upgrade for most of their trucks with diesel particulate filters by Jan. 1 and as small fleets are just beginning to undertake similar actions.
“The Air Resources Board is implementing new, flexible compliance options for truck owners who show they have made good faith efforts to comply with the regulation before Jan. 1 and is providing additional time for many fleets to complete their clean-up efforts,” ARB Executive Officer Richard Corey said. “These changes will help businesses meet the clean-up requirements in a way that will not compromise the health benefits or emissions reductions that is vitally important regulation will achieve over its lifetime.”
Funds for fleet upgrades are available to qualified applicants, including $30 million in Prop 1B grants targeted for use by small fleet owners with three or fewer trucks. In addition, state-sponsored loans through the Truck Loan Assistance Program, which recently received $20 million to help small businesses comply with the regulation, are also available. Owners of logging trucks may also be eligible for $3 million in grant money. In December, CARB staff will conduct workshops throughout the state to hear comments from local elected officials, industry representatives and stakeholders on staff”s planned regulatory changes.
Proposed amendments to the regulation, which are still under development, are expected to provide additional time for owners in specified regions to complete their clean-up efforts. Also, owners of lower-use vehicles throughout the state are expected to gain flexibility options as well.
For information, call 866-6DIESEL.
