California Pushes Back Schedule To Clean Up Off-Road Diesels

A last-minute proviso to delay California’s diesel regulations made it into the final state budget, which the state Legislature passed late last month. The state Air Resources Board’s decision to start replacing or retrofitting off-road diesel engines beginning next year is now delayed two years thanks to some extreme lobbying by the construction industry, including the Associated General Contractors of California and Construction Industry Air Quality Coalition. The new guidelines will give contractors full credit for any vehicle retirements made between March 1, 2006, and March 1, 2010. Contractors also may carry forward credits for reduced fleet activity, and fleets may meet the standards by completing 20% of the work in 2011, an additional 20% in 2012 and the balance in 2013.