Posted on 12/12/2006 3:57:43 PM PST by calcowgirl
Gov. Schwarzenegger issued the following statement today after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) granted California a long-awaited waiver allowing the state to enforce a measure aimed at controlling harmful types of emissions from small engines such as lawnmowers:
Since my very first week in office, I have fought for California to have clean air so the people of our state can breathe easier," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. "This waiver is the culmination of three years of work, and I will continue to work Senators Feinstein and Boxer, the California Congressional delegation and the federal government on other pending waivers so California can effectively and efficiently clean our air and protect our environment."In November 2003, Gov. Schwarzenegger worked with Sen. Dianne Feinstein on an effort by Missouri Republican Sen. Kit Bond to prevent the state from setting its own pollution standards for small engines. Because of that work, California's Small Off-Road Engine (SORE) rules are set to take effect January 1, 2007. The USEPA waiver allows the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to enforce those rules, requiring small engine makers to meet stringent emission requirements. The SORE category consists of off-road spark-ignition engines below 25 horsepower, including small utility equipment, lawn mowers and weed trimmers. This category does not include compression-ignition engines, watercraft, or recreational vehicles.
Without the emissions reductions from these engines, Californians will be exposed to smog-forming hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions, which negatively affect our public health and economy. As the state continues to reduce emissions from cars, trucks and buses throughout the state, pollution from these small engines equals about 4.5 percent of all mobile source emissions and is a growing fraction of California's smog problems. California has regulated emissions from these engines since 1990 and has progressively worked to further reduce them as technology has improved.
Small engines are highly polluting. Mowing grass with a gasoline powered lawnmower causes as much pollution as operating a car for 13 hours.
The use of small catalytic converters on small engines - much like those used on automobiles - is an effective and safe emission reduction method, and ARB expects most manufacturers to use this method to reach emission reduction targets.
Additionally, California has a waiver before USEPA, asking for a federal government to allow California to exercise its authority under the Clean Air Act to set vehicle emissions standards in the state. This waiver would allow California to enact tailpipe emissions standards to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. The auto industry has filed a lawsuit to block California's strict emissions standards. The case is expected to go to trial early next year.
Coming to a state near you....lawn mowers and edge trimmers
with inspection stickers,renewed annually,that cost $50.
As soon as I see Feinstein and Boxer involved, I'm against it.
So if they change to diesel leaf blowers, the regulations don't apply. That ought to be fun to operate strapped to your back.
No fricking way. I won't give up my lawnmower. I'll take that one all the way to the US Supreme Court.
They will get my weedeater when they pry it from my cold dead hands.
LMAO California is a joke. And Schwarzneggar is one of their comedians.
Does Schwarzneggar have any idea what this will cost the Highway department and parks and recs when they have to buy all new equipment?
And an army of taxpayer-salaried enforcement 'inspectors' running around your neighborhood.
"SORE" .... aptly named ....
Getting them started is going to be fun. Probably need glow plugs as well as one male type individual who has incredible strength and stamina to pull the starter rope.
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