ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) is asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to hold a public hearing on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) request for federal authority to implement new strict emission standards for transport refrigerated units (TRU). CARB is seeking to implement a regulation in California that would require significantly reduced diesel particulate matter emissions from TRUs, TRU generator sets, and facilities where TRUs operate. The new standards would be phased-in beginning on Dec. 31, 2008, at which time all TRUs manufactured in 2001 and older must have 50 percent lower particulate matter emissions. The same standard for 2002 TRUs takes effect on Dec. 31, 2009. By year-end 2010, and thereafter, all seven-year-old TRUs must have particulate matter emissions reduced by 85 percent. The new stricter emissions standards would apply to any TRU or TRU generator set operating in California, regardless of where the units are based. Owners and operators of non-complying units would be liable for penalties. The federal Clean Air Act restricts states from setting and enforcing motor vehicle emission standards separate from existing federal standards. CARB’s request for waiver of this restriction was published in the Nov. 21, 2005, Federal Register. A public hearing will allow TRALA and others to make a case for refusing CARB’s request for such a waiver. For more information, contact TRALA’s Tom James at tjames@trala.org/ or 703-299-9120.