ALEXANDRIA, VA – TRALA has filed written comments with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opposing the request by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for federal authorization to implement stricter emission standards for transport refrigeration units (TRUs). California needs EPA to grant the state a waiver from provisions in the Clean Air Act that prohibit states from implementing stricter standards than current federal requirements. In Jan. 2006, TRALA and NationaLease testified before EPA in opposition to California’s request for such authorization. The CARB proposal effectively requires the retrofit or replacement of TRUs more than seven years old beginning on Dec. 31, 2008. Under the California rule as proposed, owners and operators of reefer units that operate in the state, regardless of where their vehicles are based, would be liable for violations of the new reefer emissions standards.