What's New List Serve Post Display

In California, diesel particulate matter accounts for 70 percent
of the cancer risk from known airborne contaminants. 

Release 08-91
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2008
	  	  	
Dimitri Stanich
(916)322-2825
www.arb.ca.gov

Commercial diesel vehicle owners warned of idling restrictions

Grace period over

SACRAMENTO: Air Resources Board staff hit the road this week to
begin enforcing recently enacted anti-idling program for diesel
engines that will reduce particulate matter emissions throughout
the state.

ARB staff and local air quality officials throughout the state
will enforce the idling regulations by monitoring sleeper berths
and commercial on and off-road diesel vehicles where they
operate. First time violations, idling for greater than five
minutes, will receive a minimum civil penalty of $300.
Subsequent penalties can be from $1,000 to $10,000. Owners,
renters or lessees will be responsible for the penalty.

"Turning these engines off should be second nature," said ARB
chairman, Mary Nichols. "It saves money, reduces pollution and
protects the health of the driver and everyone working or living
around the engines."

Regulations limiting idling of on-road commercial diesel-engine
vehicles to five minutes have been in effect for several years
now and for sleeper berth trucks since January of 2008. The
regulations addressing the idling of off-road diesel vehicles
became effective in June of 2008. Industries were given a grace
period allowing them to inform themselves and their staff of the
new requirements.

In a case where an off-road vehicle is observed idling for more
than five minutes, enforcement officials will contact the
operator and site supervisor to determine the reason. If the
reason is not exempted, as some clauses of the regulation allow,
and the instance is a first time violation, a $300 per day
citation will be issued to the owner, renter or lessee of the
vehicle.

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.

Each year, based on California emissions in 2000, diesel
particulate matter contributes to 2000 premature deaths,
thousands of hospital admissions, asthma attacks and other
respiratory symptoms and lost workdays. Diesel engine emissions
are responsible for the majority of California's known airborne
cancer risks, cause visibility reduction and potentially
contribute to global warming.

This fall the ARB will consider further measures to reduce
emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks. Over the past 10 years
ARB has adopted regulations affecting cargo-handling equipment,
transport refrigeration units, truck idling, off-road equipment,
harbor craft, port drayage trucks, onboard incineration, and
ships at-berth. ARB's cleaner fuel requirements for on-road
diesel trucks, railroad and ship engines have reduced pollution
around rail yards and ports.

For more information on ARB's efforts to address diesel
emissions go here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/diesel/diesel.htm .

The public can report an idling violation by contacting the Air
Resources Board at 1-800-END-SMOG (1-800-363-7664) or online at
http://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/complaints/complaints.htm .

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.

#####