Once again, the California Air Resources Board is being petitioned to delay reporting deadlines due to economic hardship. According to the Associated General Contractors (AGC), CARB projected that the construction industry would grow at the time it drafted its regulations. Instead, the industry has lost more than 300,000 construction jobs since 2006. Considering this, the AGC has asked CARB to do two key things: delay the effective date for a new emissions rule until 2015 and use the emissions levels now proposed for small fleets for all fleets regardless of their size. The current proposed regulation establishes tougher limits with earlier compliance deadlines for large and medium fleets.

CARB Predicted Blue Skies for Construction Industry When It Drafted New Regulations

In spite of calls for changes or delays in the pending 2010 CARB (California Air Resources Board) emissions requirements for diesel-powered vehicles, the regulations are still in place but the new reporting deadlines for certain types of fleets operating in the state are coming up in just a few months.

In an update issued by CARB on December 10, the first reporting deadline remains March 31, 2009 for fleets with qualifying agricultural vehicles; fleets that wish to take advantage of the vehicle retirement credits; fleets that operate two engine sweepers ;and fleets that have installed particulate filters and want to claim early credits. Agricultural fleets reporting on March 31, 2009 must provide the odometer reading of their vehicles as of January 1, 2010. The update was issued following a Board hearing on December 9, 2009.

Click here to visit Fleet Owner and read the complete story.