In a much-needed move, the California Air Resources Board has adopted amendments to the In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle regulation, which include using early implementation credits to delay retrofitting or repowering fleets’ existing equipment and allowing the delay of certain compliance obligations for 2011 and 2012 until 2013. The board also approved exempting vehicles that are retrofitted ahead of schedule from being replaced in the future and allowing small- and medium-sized fleets to buy a filter today instead of having to buy two later.
“These changes will allow the hardest-hit fleets to postpone their compliance costs until the current recession has eased,” says Mary Nichols, ARB chairwoman. “We will still achieve dramatic diesel emission reductions, but over a slightly longer timeframe.”
Until now, the board has remained steadfast with its decision to push ahead with all aspects of the rule, but even with these changes California ARB says this will not repeal or delay the rule’s enforcement. Large fleets will be the first called to comply, beginning next year.
