SACRAMENTO - The Air Resources Board has released several tools to help the trucking community comply with a variety of clean air regulations adopted by ARB in recent years, including rules aimed at reducing diesel pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from heavy duty "big rigs".

The tools are geared specifically to fleet owners as well as the truck dealers, lenders, air districts and others affected by the regulations, which call for both modernization of the heavy duty diesel fleet and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

"Trucking is a tough enough business that we need to make clean air performance as simple as possible. All of the regulations, programs and funding assistance options for truckers operating in California can now be found at one central location on the web site or via a centralized phone line," said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "We hope to create a better understanding of our regulations, so that Californians will have cleaner air to breathe."

The tools to be launched this week are:

• A web portal via the ARB website homepage called the "Truck Stop" at http://www.arb.ca.gov/truckstop, which provides the user with a one-stop shop experience for information pertaining to the trucking community. Written in straight forward, non-bureaucratic language, the site is personalized through the use of an interactive questionnaire that results in a list of regulations and funding assistance options that may apply to the fleet owner's situation. The site is designed primarily for the fleet owner but the information is also useful for the truck dealer, lender, air districts and others in the trucking community.
• ARB's 1-866-6DIESEL (1-866-634-3735) phone line available in English, Spanish, Punjabi and Vietnamese Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for individuals who prefer to talk to a live person about their diesel-related questions.
• A new ARB email address at 8666diesel@arb.ca.gov that enables the user to submit diesel-related questions at their convenience. Maintained by ARB staff, the site allows users to receive a response to their diesel related inquiry within two business days if not sooner.

The outreach tools are the product of the landmark Truck and Bus Rule, aimed at cleaning-up pollution from "big rigs" and school buses, and AB 32, a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions and fight global warming. The ARB board adopted these clean air regulations with the stipulation that outreach to the trucking community be readily available, easy to understand and include funding assistance options.

Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and over 40 other known cancer-causing compounds. In 1998, California identified diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant based on its potential to cause cancer, premature death, and other health problems. It also reduces visibility and, along with greenhouse gas emissions, can contribute to climate change and global warming.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

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