Posted on 11/17/2004 8:41:09 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - State air regulators are considering adopting fuel standards for watercraft and locomotives Thursday, another entry by California into areas that have generally been reserved for the federal government.
The Air Resources Board has been trying to cut auto emissions by requiring manufacturers to improve fuel efficiency, precedent-setting efforts the industry has fought in court with the support of the Bush administration.
The board on Thursday will consider similar efforts for diesel-electric locomotives and both commercial and recreational boats that use diesel fuel, expanding on existing diesel regulations that govern land-based vehicles and stationary diesel engines.
"These (pollution) sources are almost totally regulated by the feds," said board spokesman Jerry Martin. "It would be the first time we've ventured in to try to set regs for watercraft and railroads. We can't regulate their emissions - but we're going to try to regulate their fuel."
So far, little opposition has surfaced, with railroads and refiners telling the board they're staying neutral.
To sidestep the federal-state jurisdictional battle, the standards would apply only to locomotives and marine vessels that never leave the state, for instance harbor vessels and engines that transfer cars within rail yards. There's a practical consideration as well, Martin said: interstate locomotives could simply refuel beyond state boundaries.
Even with the limits, the proposed diesel standards would reduce emissions "by a significant margin," Martin said.
The board estimates airborne particulates would be reduced by about 25 percent, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by about 3 percent.
Sulfur oxide emissions would drop a projected 78 percent. That's not as significant as it sounds because rail and water vessels aren't a major overall contributor, but it's a big improvement for some sensitive individuals.
"If you live near a railroad yard or train track or something, this is a huge cut, because sulfur is a trigger for asthma," Martin said.
The state has regulated the sulfur content of diesel used in motor vehicles since 1993. It lowered the allowable content last year beyond federal requirements, but exempted locomotives and watercraft. The regulations set for consideration Thursday would end the exemption five years earlier than similar federal standards for watercraft and locomotives that are set to take effect in June 2010.
The federal regulations do not require the same eventual reduction in particulates and nitrogen oxides.
"It's a good product. It's done a really, really good job of cleaning up the air," Joe Sparano, president of the Western States Petroleum Association, said of the California-formulated diesel. "The devil's in the details."
His organization wants to make sure the board considers whether there is enough diesel to go around, and whether the growth in refineries or imports will be enough to handle growth in demand. But he and the board say many intrastate trains and watercraft already use diesel that meets the California requirements.
The standards would take effect in 2006 in the south coastal region, and statewide in 2007.
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On the Net:
California Air Resources Board: www.arb.ca.gov
Taxing your way to prosperity and regulating your way to freedom is a fallicy in logic.
Um, gee, truckers have been filling up in Portland, Vancouver (WA) and Boise, and even Butte. Just so's they can dip in/out of CA without paying CA prices/taxes.
There are other ways they get you - miles run in state is one... but people get around that too.
I've gotten to the point where I admire their attempts... for whatever that's worth...
> ... the standards would apply only to locomotives
> and marine vessels that never leave the state, ...
Wait until they figure out that a large percentage of
such are owned by the state (CalTrain passenger diesel
locos). Suddenly it won't be so urgent.
BTTT!!!!!!!!
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