ALEXANDRIA, VA – TRALA and NationaLease representatives testified Jan. 23 before an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) panel at a hearing convened to receive public input on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) request for federal authority to implement new strict emission standards for transport refrigerated units (TRU). TRALA asked the EPA to reject the CARB request for authorization based on the failure of the rule to adequately consider the compliance difficulties faced by lessors based outside of the state. NationaLease Director of National Accounts Andy Stopka provided several examples in his testimony to the EPA of the rule’s excessive impact on out-of-state lessors. Representatives from the American Trucking Associations, the Truckload Carriers Association, and several companies also testified at the hearing. CARB is seeking to implement a regulation in California that would require significantly re-duced 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 has requested that EPA grant the State of California a waiver from these restrictions. TRALA requested that EPA hold a public hearing after the CARB’s waiver request was disclosed in the Federal Register. TRALA also intends to submit written comments to EPA before the Feb. 22 deadline. For more information, contact Tom James at tjames@trala.org or (703) 299-9120.