Important Info on California Air Resources Board (CARB) Air Regulations

OFF ROADMOBILE DIESEL REGULATION
The off-road mobile diesel regulation was placed into California law on June 15, 2008. Since that time owners have been required to report their off-road fleets to CARB and install Equipment Identification Numbers (EIN) on the reported machines.

Due to the recent downturn in the economy, CARB has been asked to review this regulation with respect to resulting significant reduction in emissions, and flaws in CARB’s emissions inventory that set the basis for the regulation. Workshops were held in March 2010 to discuss regulatory reform, and the Governing Board heard testimony on April 22, 2010 recapping the March public input. CARB staff also held several workshops in June and July to solicit comments on proposed regulatory changes intended to provide relief to owners. CARB just announced they will be holding additional workshops in August and September 2010 to discuss emissions inventory corrections and to further discuss the proposed regulatory amendments. Staff intends on taking the amended regulation before the Governing Board for their approval in November 2010.

Although the regulation’s compliance milestones for emissions reductions have now been put on hold, several elements of the regulation will remain enforceable: 

5-Minute Idling Restriction.
Owners are required to inform their operators that machines cannot idle for more than 5 minutes. Exceptions do apply. As of March 1, 2009, owners of Large and Medium fleets are required to have a written idling policy. For more information, click on CARB’s advisory

Sales Disclosure.
Anyone selling off-road mobile diesel equipment in California must provide a written disclosure on their bill of sale. This disclosure is required whether you sell to a private party, auction house or broker. For more information, click on CARB’s advisory.

Vehicle Reporting and Labeling
All off-road mobile diesel equipment should have been reported in 2009. CARB uses an on-line reporting system DOORS (Diesel Off-Road On-line Reporting System). For more information on CARB registration, click on DOORS Reporting.  Once reported, each of these machines must be labeled. For more information, click on CARB’s advisory.

For more information, visit CARB’s Off-Road Website.

ON-ROAD DIESEL VEHICLE REGULATION
In December 2008, CARB’s Governing Board approved the on-road diesel vehicle regulation. The regulation requires owners to install diesel particulate filters (DPF) to reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions, and to replace or retire vehicles to reduce NOx emissions. 

Also due to the economy, CARB is reviewing modifications to the regulation to ease the cost burden on owners. As directed by CARB’s Governing Board, CARB staff held several workshops in June and July to solicit comments on proposed regulatory changes. Concurrently with additional workshops planned in August and September 2010 for the off-road regulation, CARB staff will also be discussing proposed regulatory amendments to the on-road regulation. The amended regulation is scheduled to go before the Governing Board for their approval in November 2010. Like the off-road mobile diesel regulation, CARB can enforce the Sales Disclosure requirements, and reporting requirements. Presently, only agricultural vehicles requesting exemptions and two-engine sweepers are required to be reported.  All other vehicle reporting will be required in early 2011. 

For more information, visit CARB’s On-Road Website.

PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
The CARB’s portable equipment regulation requires all engines meet a minimum Tier 1 certification by January 1, 2010. Although some relief has been provided to the end of 2010 for the replacement of some of the Tier 1 engines, any portable equipment currently under CARB’s Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) that has an uncertified engine (Tier 0) will need to either be repowered with a certified engine or the portable equipment will need to be replaced with equipment containing an engine that meets the most stringent standard available. Quinn Power Systems product support sales representatives can help you determine what is most cost-effective for you to meet this regulation requirement.

For more information on the portable equipment requirements, visit CARB Portable.

OTHER CARB and AIR DISTRICT INFORMATION
There are many other regulations affecting diesel, natural gas, propane and gasoline engines. See the following link for more information:

More Helpful Links to CARB and Air Districts Covering Quinn Locations

QUINN CONTACTS:
Quinn’s product support representatives can assist you with information on the Cat^® engines and equipment in your fleets. Quinn can also help you with solutions to keep you in compliance.

For off-road machine engine repower and engine retrofit solutions for your fleet, and for help with fleet analysis and fleet compliance planning contact your Quinn Product Support Representative.  If you do not know who your representative is, please call 661-391-3534.

We also provide solutions for upgrading your portable, stationary, industrial, and truck engines. Contact your Quinn Power Systems Sales Representative.  If you do not know who your representative is, please call 559-891-5412.

Understanding the multitude of complex state and local emissions regulations and how they affect your fleets or business operations can be difficult. We can help you determine what emissions regulations apply to your business and help you find solutions to keep you in compliance. For information call 562-463-6013.