State proposes strict air rules for big rigs
State officials on Friday released a toughest-in-the-nation plan to cut emissions of air pollutants from the roughly 1 million heavy-duty diesel trucks that travel California's roads.
The rules proposed by the state Air Resources Board would require older big rigs to be fitted with particle-trapping exhaust filters by 2014 and low-emission engines by 2020. In addition, aerodynamic fairings and low-rolling-resistance tires would be required on long-haul trucks to improve fuel efficiency.
The changes would help California meet air-quality standards set by federal regulators, as well as the state's own greenhouse-gas targets.
Emissions from diesel engines are carcinogenic and can worsen asthma and other respiratory and cardiovascular ailments. The agency estimates the regulations will cost trucking companies roughly $5.5 billion and will prevent 9,400 premature deaths.
Trucking groups generally object to the cost of the proposed retrofits, which would begin to take effect in 2011. The industry is currently reeling from high fuel prices and the weak economy.
Exhaust filters cost $10,000 or more, new engines several times that, and a new truck well over $100,000.
To some degree, companies that replace their trucks regularly will automatically meet the standards, because new truck engines are required under federal rules to have emissions controls.
Karen Khangoora, vice president of Sacramento's KTX Inc., a long-haul operator with 50 trucks, said the regulations probably wouldn't cost her company much. KTX typically buys new trucks and sells them after six or seven years of use, she said, so after several years the fleet will have new, cleaner engines by default.
But trucks sold off by companies like KTX often stay on the roads for decades – and the many operators that depend on those older models will be forced to retrofit.
About $1 billion in state grants and loans are available to defray those costs. Small trucking companies would get more time to comply with the regulations than large fleets.
The air board is scheduled to take a final vote on the proposal at its meeting in Sacramento Dec. 11-12.
The regulations will cover all heavy trucks on the state's roads – including those that are licensed elsewhere but haul goods into California.
