Summaries of diesel rules provided

Below are two different summaries of California's Diesel Truck and Bus Rule:

Diesel Rule Summary by Monterey County Farm Bureau's Traci Roberts

Diesel Rule Summary by Roger Isom

How does ARB define an Agricultural Vehicle? Those used exclusively for:

All vehicles affected by this regulation : heavy-duty, diesel-fueled vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVWR) greater than 14,000 pounds, yard trucks with off-road certified engines and diesel-fueled shuttle vehicles of any GVWR that have a capacity of 10 or more passengers and routinely drive an average of 10 trips per day to or from airport, marine, or rail stations. Drayage trucks and utility owned vehicles would be subject to the regulation beginning January 1, 2021.

1. • Registration and annual reporting of any changes in fleet. There will be no reporting fee. Reporting will require that an electronic tracking device be installed in the vehicles to record mileage and positioning if operating older, lower mileage vehicles or operating in the Central Coast Air Basin.

1. • Retrofit with PM (particulate matter/dust) trap and phase out vehicles that do not meet 2010 standards for NOx (smog) even when registered in the Central Coast NOx attainment area if you operate the vehicles outside of this air basin. This will be based on a schedule that reflects the age of your vehicle - oldest vehicles have to comply first. The DRAFT rule has a delayed compliance schedule (see above) for ag vehicles.

1. • The regulation will apply regardless of where the vehicle is registered, to motor carriers, California-based brokers, or any California resident who hires or dispatches vehicles of these types.

1. • Exempt vehicles: Military tactical vehicles, authorized emergency vehicles, and private motor homes not used for commercial purposes.

1. • Vehicles subject to this rule that operate less than 1,000 miles annually will be exempt from the PM and NOx standards but will be required to keep mileage logs that are subject to inspection by CARB.

1. • If you hire other companies for their diesel trucks and buses, you should ensure they have complied with this rule because you will be liable if they are not in compliance. There are several citations in the proposed rule for noncompliance that range from $500/vehicle to $1,000,000 if you are a corporation that willfully and intentionally disregards the rule that could have resulted in bodily harm to a person.

1. • Benefits to operating diesel trucks and buses ONLY within the Central Coast Air Basin : you are exempt from the NOx standard that would force replacement with a 2010 engine model or newer. But you will still have to install PM traps and install an electronic tracking device to prove the hours of operation or number of miles traveled. Then, in 2020 you would be required to replace those engines to meet 2010 standards. In order to get this exemption from the NOx standards you must only operate a HHDD (heavy, heavy duty is greater than 33,000 lbs) truck with a power take off (PTO) up to 7,500 miles and up to 250 hrs/yr; or a MHDD (medium, heavy duty is between 14,000 and 33,000 lbs) with a PTO up to 5,000 miles and up to 175 hr/yr. These same size vehicles without PTO systems can operate the same miles but do not have an hour limitation.

1. • Vehicle types: the following "implements of husbandry" would fall under this regulation. These are:

Lift Carrier Spray or Fertilizer Rig

Any "implements of husbandry" not included in this regulation will likely be included in the next CA Air Resources Board rule due to be proposed in 2009 for all farm equipment.

1. 􀂙 Installing a PM trap gives you 2 years of compliance. By end of 2012 you will also need the NOx reduction. But unless that device becomes available at greater than NOx 70% reduction you will have to purchase a 2010 engine to be in compliance with both PM and NOx.

1. 􀂙 PM traps are currently available for installation for some vehicles – about $12,000-$20,000 per vehicle (installed). The older the vehicle the harder it will be to find an appropriate trap that can be installed and, if found, it would likely cost more than the value of the vehicle.

1. 􀂙 The only way to meet NOx reductions is buying a 2010 engine or a 2004 engine and putting a PM trap on it.

1. 􀂙 New engines for 2010 will have NOx reduction devices built in.

1. 􀂙 Fuel economy with PM traps will be lower (1 – 3% lower depending on miles driven)

1. 􀂙 ARB says you can expect an annual increase in operation/maintenance costs of about $200-500 per vehicle with these devices.

Submit it to the ARB by 12:00noon December 10th to be included in the administrative record. Earlier submittal of comments is better so Board members have an opportunity to see your comments before the hearing on December 11th.

2. Travel to Sacramento December 11th. If you think you have a story to tell, make in-person testimony during the public hearing.

3. Get Ready to Rumble in 2009!

ARB will bring emission control measures for In-Use Agricultural Equipment to their Board by the end of 2009. The goal will be to speed up fleet turnover to equipment with engines that meet NOx and PM standards. These future regulations will look at exhaust control technology and replacement of 25 or greater HP equipment used in agricultural operations.

4. Keep your Farm Bureau membership current and ask others to join forces with us to stay informed and have a strong voice for future ARB regulations, workshops, etc.

For more information on this Air Regulation : www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/onrdiesel.htm

Diesel Rule Summary by Roger Isom

A summary of the proposed statewide diesel truck and bus rule has been provided to the agricultural community.

Roger Isom, of the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations put together the bulk of this summary, said Cynthia L. Cory, Director of Environmental Affairs for the California Farm Bureau Federation.

“It is important to remember, this is a summary of a proposed rule, it is NOT the final rule. The final rule will be voted on December 11-12 in Sacramento. The rule could change as a result of the hearing.”

Cory also encouraged Farm Bureau members to read the article in Ag Alert about the proposed rule.

“The ag coalition that has been working on this rule for the past two years worked hard to get the agricultural flexibility provisions in the rule. They will not satisfy or take care of everyone, but we believe they will help a majority of the state's growers. If these low-mileage provisions were not in the rule for agricultural and forestry operations, the rule would be far more draconian than it is for the agricultural community.”

The summary is:

Summary of California Air Resources Board’s

Proposed Regulation to Reduce Emissions of Diesel Particulate Matter, and Other Pollutants from In-use Heavy-Duty Diesel-Fueled Vehicles

Version Date:    October 24, 2008

Applicability –

This regulation applies to all trucks and fleets operated within the state of California.

Exemptions –

There are a few listed exemptions.  Those applicable to agriculture are as follows:

• Pick-ups and other vehicles w/ GVWR < 14,000 pounds

• Off-road vehicles

• “Low use” vehicles (must operate less than 100 hours and 1000 miles per year)

• Limited-Mileage Agricultural Vehicle – exempt until January 1, 2017, an agricultural vehicle that operates less than 15,000 miles (pre-1996 model year engine), 20,000 miles (1996 through 2005 model year engine), or 25,000 miles (2006 or newer model year engine.

• Low-Mileage Agricultural Vehicle – exempt until January 1, 2023, an agricultural vehicle that operates less than 10,000 miles per year.

• Specialty Agricultural Vehicle – exempt until January 1, 2023, an agricultural vehicle that is a nurse rig, cotton module mover, water truck, feed truck or mixer-feed truck used exclusively at feedlots.

• “NOx Mileage Exempt Vehicles” - limited to heavy heavy-duty vehicles (GVWR>33,000 lbs.) operated less than 7,500 miles, and medium heavy-duty vehicles (14,000 lbs. < GVWR <33,001 lbs.) operated less than 5,000 miles. [Still requires diesel particulate filter (DPF);  and replacement of the truck by December 31, 2020 & Electronic Tracking System for hours of use]

Rule Requirements –

Truck emissions must be reduced to achieve compliance with one of the following three (3) options:

Option 1 -

Phase 1 (PM BACT) -    Trucks must have a Verified Diesel Emission Control System (VDECS) for PM or an engine originally equipped with a diesel particulate filter.

Phase 2 (NOx BACT) -  Trucks must have a 2010 model or newer engine, or meet the emissions level of a 2010 engine.

Truck emissions must be reduced according to the following schedule:

Option 2 –

Owners may, at their option, may comply with the following performance requirements:

Note: PM BACT is same as Phase 1 description and NOx BACT is same as Phase 2 description

Option 3 –

Owners may, at their option, include all of their vehicles in the fleet averaging provisions.

.

Reporting Requirements –

For owners that choose either the BACT percent limits (option 2) or fleet averaging options (option 3), they will be required to notify the ARB at the end of each reporting year on the vehicles and their compliance information.

Small Fleet Options –

            Fleets with one or two vehicles –

§         One vehicle must be equipped with a 2004 or later model year engine with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) by January 1, 2013, and then meet PM BACT and NOx BACT by January 1, 2018.

§         The second vehicle must meet PM BACT and NOx BACT by January 1, 2014.

            Fleets with three vehicles –

§         One vehicle must be equipped with a 2004 or later model year engine with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) by January 1, 2013.

§         The second vehicle must be replaced with a 2010 model year engine by January 1, 2014.

§         The remaining vehicle must be replaced with a 2010 model year engine by January 1, 2016.

Reporting Requirements –

Vehicles in Agricultural Fleets – By January 31, 2009, and every year thereafter, an agricultural fleet owner must report their vehicle information for all vehicles to the ARB.  The vehicle information must include the type (i.e. low-mileage-, limited-mileage, specialty vehicle, or other), the mileage, and any vehicle that has been replaced.  Also included is the owner information, detailed vehicle and engine information.

Ag Vehicle Labeling Requirements –

Within thirty days of the reporting date, fleet owners must permanently affix or paint an AG identification label on each low-mileage, limited-mileage, and specialty agricultural in the fleet according to the following specification:

1.         The letters AG shall be black on a white background. Both letters shall be at least three inches high on a five by eight inch background,

2.         The label shall be located in clear view on the left and right door of the vehicle.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  This is only a summary of the proposed regulation and not intended to be all-inclusive.  For complete details including reporting requirements and special requirements regarding adding vehicles to your fleets, please see the entire regulation at ARB’s website at www.arb.ca.gov.  

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