California's Air Resources Board proposes major limits on emissions from currently operating diesel trucks and buses

In prior posts it has been noted that the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have been attempting to implement a program to reduce diesel emissions in the area of and around the Ports.  Prior posts have also reviewed the many studies that have sought to address the toxicology of diesel emissions and their impact on various populations.

Now, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) has proposed a draft rule that would impose very tough emission standards on the nearly 1 million heavy-duty diesel powered trucks [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-trailer_truck] and buses operating on California's roads.  The draft rule reflects the end-game of a 2001 plan adopted by the ARB to reduce diesel particulate emissions by 85% by 2020.  [For a description of diesel particulate filter types, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_particulate_filter.]

The draft rule would require these vehicles to install particulate filters in 2010 and to begin retrofitting older vehicles with low-emitting engines in 2012.  The draft is part of a program to meet Federal air quality standards for particulates and ground-level ozone; by 2020, it is projected that diesel particulates will be reduced by 43% and NOx by 23%.  Under the draft rule, by 2023 all heavy-duty diesel powered trucks and buses will meet 2010 emission standards.

The cost of the draft rule is estimated to be $5.5 billion.  California is offering $1 billion in cash incentives, though given the current budget and financial crisis in the State one has to wonder how these incentives will be paid, at least near-term.  ARB notes that the draft rule will save 9,400 lives between 2010 and 2025 and will reduce health care costs; the total benefits are estimated to be between $48 and $69 billion.

The California Trucking Association is pushing an alternative proposal that would allow some truckers to keep their vehicles in service, unaltered, for a longer period of time.

The draft rule will be considered at a ARB meeting in Sacramento Dec. 11-12.  The hearing will also consider a draft rule to curb greenhouse gases from "long-haul big rigs" by requiring devices to make trailers more aerodynamic.  The CTA also opposes this latter rule, noting that the devices will not be effective given that the California speed limit for such vehicles is 55 mph.

The draft rules can be found at http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/2008/truckbus08/tbnotice.pdf.  A slide presentation addressing all program options being considered for heavy-duty trucks and buses can be found at http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/documents/071017_Truck_%20Reg_Workshop.pdf.

For those interesting in aerodynamic devices, one approach that is currently undergoing testing can be found at http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.clarkson.edu/mae/images/faculty_pages/visser1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.clarkson.edu/mae/faculty_pages/visser.html&usg=__I7OagrXh58EBcyvvyiSqZJMbjus=&h=257&w=385&sz=90&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=V9Qfw9X0KWW1hM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Daerodynamic%2Btrailer%2Bdevices%26as_st%3Dy%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG.  Other aerodynamic devices which I have noted on California's highways already can be found at http://www.maximustransport.com/images/white_volvo_truck_dhm6.jpg and http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aerozproducts.com/images/trckrflct.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aerozproducts.com/&usg=__A1KKSdMwmbSc2ATvT6Onp089oW4=&h=540&w=260&sz=38&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=3iT7bbr2SJbWKM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=64&prev=/images%3Fq%3Daerodynamic%2Btrailer%2Bdevices%26as_st%3Dy%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN.