Heavy Duty DECS Installation/Maintenance Background

This page last reviewed January 31, 2011

In August 1998, the Air Resources Board (ARB or Board) identified particulate matter (PM) exhaust from diesel-fueled engines as a toxic air contaminant. ARB adopted a Diesel Risk Reduction Plan (Diesel RRP) in September 2000, which recommends a number of control measures to reduce the risks associated with diesel particulate matter (PM) and achieve a goal of 75 percent PM reduction by 2010 and 85 percent by 2020. Our mission is "To protect the health of Californians by retrofitting all in-use diesel engines in California with devices that reduce diesel particulate emissions to near zero, in the shortest possible time."

To achieve success in the plan, ARB has adopted a series of rules and control measures and will continue to implement regulations from in-use and off road heavy duty diesel fleets. Since beginning the rulemaking in February 2000, ARB has adopted regulations that reduce emissions from Transit Buses, Solid Waste Collection Vehicles, Public Agencies and Utilities, Port Trucks, Port and Rail Yard Equipment, Transport Refrigeration Units, Off-Road Equipment and School Buses. ARB will continue to decrease emissions from the remaining in-use on- and off-road heavy-duty diesel fleets. ARB will protect public health in all communities in California by implementing the upcoming proposed control measure for statewide bus and trucks.