In an attempt to phase out diesel fueled municipal vehicles, the Los Angeles air quality
agency, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, voted unanimously to require
that all future purchases of buses and garbage trucks be clean fuel vehicles. The rules
apply to 3,700 transit buses and 7,200 garbage trucks to be purchased in the next two
years.
In a second phase, public agencies must purchase vehicles that meet Californias Super
Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle standards, the cleanest on the market. The SCAQMD will
release additional rules that cover school buses, taxis, airport shuttles, street sweepers and other fleets.
Diesel fuel emissions account for over 70 percent of air pollution in the Los Angeles
Basin, according to a recent SCAQMD study. The state-wide Air Resources Board
adopted a similar but less stringent measure in February; it allows vehicles to run on clean diesel fuel and gives ten years for phase-in.
As part of California’s smog reduction plan, as of July 1, car owners whose vehicles fail the state emissions may be paid to either repair or permanently retire the cars.
Owners of 1974-1996 model cars will receive a $1000 “bounty” if they turn their car into
a dismantling center. People with incomes below poverty level will be eligible to receive financial assistance ($500) to bring their car up to state standards.
California appropriated $100 million over the next four years for the program, and hopes
to scrap about 50,000 cars.
California Department of Consumer Affairs: http://www.dca.ca.gov
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