On Thursday, March 22, 2018, CARB staff briefed their Board as a follow-up to direction they received in March of 2017 to bring concepts for an indirect source rule (otherwise known as "freight facility caps") to the Board within a year. CARB staff presented their plans to the Board (see the presentation HERE), which include increased enforcement of existing rules around freight hubs and plans to re-open the Drayage Truck Rule in the 2022 timeframe to require zero-emissions, but CARB staff specifically stated that they have NO authority to impose statewide indirect source rules in the form of emission caps. CARB, instead, is endorsing local air district authority to impose such rules, which are currently under consideration by one such air district, the South Coast AQMD. 

 

In early March, CTA members answered a Call to Action by CTA at the South Coast AQMD. On April 6th, the South Coast will vote to either adopt or reject indirect source rules at ports, railyards, warehouses, airports and new development. We will update members after April 6th, but are very happy to report that the CARB Board has stated they do not have the authority to impose such rules. 

 

Additionally, CARB staff presented health risk information that demonstrates how trucks with functioning diesel particulate filters contribute very little to the risk from ports, warehouses, and railyards. 

 

Thank you to again to all who answered the Call to Action this month. Thanks to your help, we hope to put a stop to these onerous rules before they ever begin.