What's New List Serve Post Display

What's New List Serve Post Display

Below is the List Serve Post you selected to display.
newsrel -- U.S. EPA holds trucking company accountable for failure to install emissions controls on its California fleet

Posted: 08 Oct 2015 14:50:51
Please consider the following news release from the California
Air Resources Board: http://bit.ly/1LkyINk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 8, 2015

CONTACT:		

Monica Lee, US EPA
(415) 972-3165
lee.monica@epa.gov

Karen Caesar, CARB
(916) 322-2990
karen.caesar@arb.ca.gov


U.S. EPA holds trucking company accountable for failure to
install emissions controls on its California fleet

First federal enforcement of California’s Truck and Bus
Regulation

SAN FRANCISCO—Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
announced that Estes Express Lines will pay a $100,000 penalty
for violations of the California Truck and Bus Regulation, for
failing to install particulate filters on 73 of its heavy-duty
diesel trucks (15% of its California fleet). 

In California, mobile sources of diesel emissions, such as trucks
and construction equipment, are one of the largest sources of
fine particulates. About 625,000 trucks operating in California
are registered outside of the state, many are older models
emitting particulates and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The California
truck rules are the first of their kind in the nation and will
prevent an estimated 3,500 deaths in California between 2010 –
2025. 

The California Truck and Bus Regulation was adopted into federal
Clean Air Act plan requirements in 2012 and apply to
privately-owned diesel trucks and buses.  The rule also requires
any trucking company to ensure their subcontractors are only
using compliant trucks, and requires companies to upgrade their
vehicles to meet specific NOx and PM2.5 performance standards in
California. Heavy-duty diesel trucks in California must meet 2010
engine emissions levels or use diesel particulate filters, which
can reduce the emissions of diesel particulate into the
atmosphere by 85% or more. 

“Trucks represent one of the largest sources of air pollution in
California, and the state has the worst air quality in the
nation,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for
the Pacific Southwest. “EPA’s enforcement efforts are aimed at
ensuring all truck fleets operating in California are in
compliance with pollution laws.”

“ARB’s partnership to enforce our clean truck and bus regulation
with our partners at EPA is vitally important to us,” said ARB
Chair Mary D. Nichols. “It helps bring vehicles that are
operating illegally into compliance, and levels the playing field
for those who have already met the requirements.”  

In addition to the penalty, Estes will spend $290,400 towards
projects to educate the out-of-state trucking industry on the
regulation and for replacing old wood burning devices in the San
Joaquin Valley. Estes will pay $35,000 to the University of
California Davis Extension to implement a state-approved training
program for out-of-state trucking firms on compliance with the
rule. Estes will also pay $255,400 to the San Joaquin Valley Air
Pollution Control District’s Burn Cleaner Incentive Program that
will be used to replace 80 or more wood-burning devices with
cleaner ones.  

Estes is a large, private, for-hire trucking firm based in
Virginia that owns and operates diesel-fueled vehicles in all 50
states. In February 2015, EPA issued a Notice of Violation to
Estes after EPA’s investigation found that the company failed to
equip its heavy-duty diesel vehicles with particulate filters and
failed to verify compliance with the Truck and Bus Regulation for
its hired motor carriers. Estes now operates only new trucks in
California.

Fine particle pollution can be emitted directly or formed
secondarily in the atmosphere and can penetrate deep into the
lungs and worsen conditions such as asthma and heart disease. 

For more information on the Truck and Bus Rule, please visit:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/regulation.htm 

For more information on the Clean Air Act, please visit:
http://www.epa.gov/airprogm/oar/caa/



California is in a drought emergency.
Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.

ARB What's New

preload