The following information is from Environmental Defense, Union of Concerned Scientist, and Natural Resources Defence Council:
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is developing an in-use heavy-duty diesel vehicle rule to cut harmful oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions from diesel trucks in California. According to CARB’s emissions inventory data, diesel trucks and buses were responsible for nearly 40% of all diesel PM emissions in the state in 2006. Diesel PM is recognized as a toxic air contaminant and NOx is a major component of ozone, which harms public health as well as the growth of our agricultural crops and forests. CARB estimates that diesel PM and NOx emissions from trucks are responsible for an estimated 1,500 premature deaths and more than 38,000 asthma attacks per year in California.
The California Air Resources Board vote is scheduled for October 2008.
What can we do?
The Clean Air Initiative has joined environmental justice groups in the state of California to help advocate for a rule that will promote standards to improve air quality. For more information on how to get involved please contact the CAI coordinator at 760-355-8797 or at
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