The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has scheduled a hearing for April 14 in Washington to consider the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) request for a waiver to allow it to begin enforcing its off-road diesel equipment rule. The rule was originally scheduled to go into effect on March 1, 2010 but EPA never granted approval to CARB to move ahead with enforcement. AGC is preparing expert witness testimony asking EPA to deny California's request.
This EPA action follows closely on the heels of a public hearing held by CARB on March 11 on the question of whether the off-road regulations should be further modified to account for the down economy and subsequent emissions reductions. AGC presented CARB with substantial empirical data demonstrating that the downturn in California's economic conditions and the resulting drop in construction activity have made the rule unnecessary. AGC has pointed out that California's own inventory data makes clear that off-road equipment operators will be well under the state's aggressive diesel emissions limits for years to come without this rule. AGC will make similar recommendations at the upcoming EPA hearing.
Unless blocked, the CARB rule will require California's contractors to retrofit, repower, retire and/or replace much of their off-road equipment. The Federal Clean Air Act grants unique authority to California to adopt its own clean air rules, including an off road diesel emissions rule. Other states are prohibited from developing their own regulations but may adopt California's rules once EPA has approved them. A study conducted by AGC shows that 32 states, including Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas, are poised to use the California requirements. Because of the impact on contractor's nationwide, AGC joined with the AGC of California and San Diego AGC Chapter in a collective effort to stop the rule or significantly modify it.
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