WASHINGTON – Officials from the California Air Resources Board (ARB) will be in Washington for the next chapter in California's small off-road engine (SORE) regulations pursuit.

When ARB revised standards for small off-road engines (which include lawnmowers, blowers, chain saws, etc.) in 2003, it created a political storm.

One of Govenowr Schwarzenegger's first environmental advocacy acts just weeks after taking office had him making personal calls to members of congress asking them to protect California's right to enforce emission standards.

An agreement was reached between Senators Bond and Feinstein to put the tougher standards on hold to let officials examine the potential safety hazards of using catalytic converters in small engines.

In April, the studies were released concluding that the new standards could be met safely, thus putting ARB's approval request to enforce the regulations back on the table.

Tomorrow (6/29) at 10:00 a.m., the U.S. EPA will hear the waiver request from ARB.

ARB is hopeful that U.S. EPA officials will grant California a waiver and are optimistic that the administration will adopt California regulations as the federal standard later this year.

Officials will be available for additional comments immediately following the hearing.

For Washington Bureau Reporters

WHAT:

Media Briefing Prior to CARB Waiver Hearing

WHO:

Dr. Robert Sawyer, Chair, Air Resources Board
Catherine Witherspoon, Executive Officer, Air Resources Board
Bill Becker, Director, STAPPA/ALAPCO
Frank O�Donnell, Director, Clean Air Watch

WHEN:

Thursday, June 29
9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)

WHERE:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
East Building, Room 1153
1201 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460

For California Reporters

Following the hearing, we will distribute an email advising of the call-in time or
you can call ARB's public information office at 916-322-2990.

WHEN:

Thursday, June 29
Time - TBD

WHERE:

ACCESS PHONE NUMBERS:

Toll Free/1-866-732-5175
Toll/1-517-623-2156
PASS CODE � 3588610

MORE INFORMATION:

SORE Timeline
ARB SORE Presentation
SORE Fact Sheet
SORE Statement by ARB Chairman Dr. Sawyer
www.blogforcleanair.blogspot.com
Feinstein Letter to EPA Administrator