Sierra Research | 2007 CVS News Headlines

Governor Schwarzenegger Proposes an End to "Dirty Fuel" Through Adoption of a "Low Carbon Fuel Standard" (page 2)
Auto Industry Challenge to CARB's Greenhouse Gas Regulation Moves To Trial in Vermont – Judge Moves Case to Trial in California But Awaits Supreme Court Decision (page 3)
CARB Board Postpones Action on Proposed Warranty Reporting and Recall Regulatory Revisions in the Face of Concerted Industry Opposition (page 4)
Draft South Coast District's Air Quality Management Plan Includes Stringent "Recommendations" for Federal and State Control Measures – District's Recommendations for Mobile Source Controls Are Far More Aggressive than the State Implementation Plan "Concepts" Presented by CARB Staff (page 9)
CARB Issues OBD Guidance and Reorganizes OBD Staff (page 13)
CARB Adopts Revisions to Moyer Program Guidelines – Remote Sensing Component Added to Light-Duty Scrappage Programs (page 16)
CARB Approves $2.1 Million for New Innovative Clean Air Technologies (ICAT) Grants (page 20)
CARB Staff Presents Update on $25 Million Purchase of Low- Emission Construction Equipment for Public Fleets (page 23)
CARB Holds Meeting of Biodiesel Work Group – Staff Discusses Research Plans and Development of Research on a Biodiesel Fuel Specification (page 25)
CARB Holds Another Workshop on Amendments to Verification Procedures for Diesel PM Control Devices – Staff Willing to Consider the Use of Off-Road and Stationary Devices for On Road Applications, Modifications to NOx Verification Designations (page 30)
CARB Holds Series of Workshops on Draft In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Rule – ATCM Designation is Dropped as Focus of Rule Becomes NOx Reductions (page 35)
CARB Holds Workshop on Regulations for Aboveground Storage Tank Vapor Recovery Systems – Draft Proposal Includes Revised "Standing Loss" Emission Limits (page 47)
Legislation Session Resumes (page 54)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 56)

February 2007 – [Top Page]

Governor Appoints Two New Board Members – Addition of Daniel Sperling Does Not Bode Well for Regulated Industries (page 2)
CARB Publishes Proposed State Strategy for California's 2007 State Implementation Plan to Achieve and Maintain Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone and PM2.5 Statewide (page 3)
CARB Staff Presents Mobile Source "Action Plan" for 2007 (page 10)
CARB Hears Recent Scientific Findings from Climate Change Studies (page 14)
CARB Approves Appointments to AB 32 Mandated Committees – Environmental Justice and Economic and Technology Advancement Committees to Meet Quarterly (page 19)
CARB Holds Workshops on California Greenhouse Gas Program, Laying Out a Schedule for Implementation and Beginning the Process of Identifying Early Action Measures (page 22)
CARB Staff Issues Revised Warranty Reporting and Recall Proposal – Serious Problems Remain (page 26)
CARB Holds Workshop on Fuels Activities – Staff Proposes to Reduce CaRFG3 Sulfur Cap Limit to 20 ppmw, Predictive Model Update Delayed Until April Hearing (page 31)
CARB Receives Third Status Update on Railroad MOU Implementation – CARB Staff Reports Railroads on Schedule to Meet MOU Requirements, SCAQMD Still Vigorously Opposed to MOU (page 35)
CARB Hears 2006 Status Report on Carl Moyer Program – Overall Cost-Effectiveness of Program To Date is $2,600 per Ton of NOx Reduced (page 41)
CARB Hears Update on 2006 State Air Quality Status – State Makes Significant Progress Toward Attainment of PM and Ozone Standards (page 45)
CARB Holds Public Consultation Meeting on Development of Regulation for On-Road Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks Servicing California Ports – Stakeholders Appear More Concerned About Funding Than About Regulations Themselves (page 49)
CARB Holds First Meeting of Shore Power Workgroup –Will Include a Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Component (page 52)
Legislative Update (page 56)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 63)

March 2007 – [Top Page]

CARB Technical Workgroup Holds Meeting to Discuss Potential Improvements to the 1990 Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory (page 2)
CARB Holds Workshop to Discuss Mandatory Reporting Requirements for Greenhouse Gas Emissions (page 6)
CARB Updates Board on Fuels-Related Activities – Staff Says Predictive Model Update and "Decarbonization" of Fuels are the Two Biggest Short-Term Issues (page 8)
CARB Staff Holds Workshop on Revised Warranty Reporting and Recall Proposal – Industry Still Up in Arms (page 14)
CARB Holds Workshop Regarding Addition of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Information to Vehicle Emission Labels (page 17)
CARB Holds More Workshops on Proposed Regs for In-Use Off Road Diesel Vehicles – Staff Adds "Flexibility," But Stakeholders Question Feasibility (page 21)
CARB Staff Narrows Focus of Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation – Now Targets Only "Ferries, Tugs, and Tows" (page 27)
CARB Adopts More Stringent One-Hour NO2 and Annual Average NO2 Standards (page 32)
Legislative Update (page 36)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 56)

April 2007 – [Top Page]

Board Votes Unanimously To Adopt Vehicle Warranty Reporting and Recall Regs Despite Strenuous Industry Objections (page 2)
SIP Development Continues as Staff Updates Board and Holds Additional Workshops – CARB's Focus Continues to be on Measures Targeting Emissions from In-Use Diesel Vehicles (page 8)
CARB Holds Workshop on Fuels Activities – Latest Proposal Would Allow Refiners to Offset Increased Emissions from Ethanol Beginning in 2012 (page 15)
CARB Holds Meeting of Biodiesel Work Group – Staff Requests In-Kind Contributions for Research Program That May Begin This Summer (page 20)
CARB Releases Staff Report for In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Rule – Despite Staff Attempts to Increase Flexibility, A Controversial Board Hearing is Likely (page 24)
CARB Holds Kickoff Workshop for 2007 Revisions to Carl Moyer Program Guidelines – Off-Road Scrappage Programs to Be Added (page 30)
CARB Holds Second Shore Power Working Group Meeting – Only Staff's Emission Reduction Target for Regulations Appears to be Firm (page 34)
CARB Holds Workshop on Fuel Regulation for Diesel-Powered Commercial Marine Vessels That Would Require Main Engine Operation on Low Sulfur Marine Gas Oil in California Coastal Waters (page 37)
CARB Issues Mailout #MSC 07-12, Announcing Verification of Diesel Control Strategies for Older Solid Waste Collection Vehicles – Such Vehicles Will Now Be Subject to BACT Implementation Requirements (page 39)
Legislative Update (page 40)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 69)

May 2007 – [Top Page]

Trial Ends in Vermont Greenhouse Gas Case – California Case May Move Forward (page 2)
CARB Releases Latest Expert Panel's Report and Issues Status Report on Zero Emission Vehicle Program (page 4)
SIP Development Continues as Staff Updates Board – Temporary Moratorium on Residential Wood Burning in South Coast Could Close Existing PM2.5 Attainment Gap (page 12)
CARB Updates Its State Strategy for California's 2007 State Implementation Plans for Ozone and PM2.5 (page 17)
CARB Hears Update on Ports and Goods Movement Plan (page 21)
CARB Releases Proposed Amendments to CaRFG3 Regulations – Includes Requirements for Refiners to Offset Emission Increases due to Ethanol Permeation (page 26)
CARB Holds Second Workshop on Early Actions for Climate Change Mitigation as Part of AB 32 Process (page 32)
CARB Posts Draft Report on the Feasibility of Compliance with California's Proposed Low Carbon Fuel Standard – Report Concludes that Standard "Seems Plausible" and that CARB Should Develop Implementing Regulations (page 36)
CARB Proposes Changes to Its New Vehicle Labeling Regulations to Add a "Global Warming Score" (page 43)
CARB Staff Holds Second Workshop on Retrofit Regulations for Private Fleets of On-Road Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles (page 48)
CARB Holds Workshop on Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation— Hearing Date Delayed as Regs Are Refocused on "Ferries, Tugs, and Tows" (page 49)
Staff Holds Workshop on Proposed Regulations for Portable Outboard Marine Fuel Tanks – Manufacturers Critical of Practicality and Enforceability of Proposed Rule (page 56)
Legislative Update (page 59)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 89)

June 2007 – [Top Page]

U.S. EPA Holds Hearing on Waiver for California’s Greenhouse Gas Regulations – Environmental Groups, CARB, and Others Call on U.S. EPA to “Let the States Lead the Way” (page 2)
CARB Hears Expert Panel’s Report on Zero Emission Vehicle Program But Ignores Panel’s Findings and Directs Staff to Develop Only Minor Regulatory Changes (page 13)
California Energy Commission to Consider Adoption of “State Plan to Increase the Use of Alternative Transportation Fuels in California” to Fulfill the Requirements of AB 1007 (page 24)
CARB Holds Another Workshop on AB 32 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Mandatory Reporting (page 25)
CARB Posts Revised “Final Draft” Report on the Feasibility of Compliance with California’s Proposed Low Carbon Fuel Standard (page 29)
CARB Hears Staff Proposal for In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Rule – Controversy Causes CARB to Take Testimony at Both the May and July Hearings (page 31)
CARB Holds Another Workshop on Amendments to Verification Procedures for Diesel Emission Control Devices – Staff to Allow the Use of Off-Road and Stationary Devices for On-Road Applications and Proposes Modifications to NOx Verification Designations (page 40)
CARB Adopts Staff’s Proposed Allocation of $25 Million for Alternative Fuel Incentive Projects (page 45)
CARB Board Approves Air Pollution Research Plan for 2007-2008 Fiscal Year – List of Projects Includes Six Related to Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change (page 48)
CARB Issues 2008 Parts Cost Limit and PZEV Warranty Information (page 52)
Legislative Update (page 53)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 75)

July 2007 – [Top Page]

Turbulent Month at CARB Sees Board Chair Robert Sawyer Fired and Replaced by Mary Nichols and Resignation of Executive Officer Catherine Witherspoon – Ousted Chair and Executive Officer Point to Meddling by Governor's Staff for Their Departures (page 3)
CARB's State Implementation Plan Efforts Blow Up in the Face of Opposition from Environmental Groups and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (page 7)
CARB Receives Summary of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report and Approves List of Early Action Measures to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (page 9)
CARB Adopts Updated Predictive Model, Requirements that Refiners Mitigate Increased Emissions Due to Ethanol Use, and Other Changes to the Phase 3 RFG Regulations – Industry Claims Short Lead Time Will Penalize Some Refiners (page 14)
California's Climate Action Team of State Agency Executives Reports Its Progress in Implementing the Governor’s Executive Order to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (page 19)
California Energy Commission Approves the "Full Fuel Cycle Assessment" as Part of Its Plan to Increase Use of Non-Petroleum Transportation Fuels Under AB 1007, but Delays Delivering the Plan (page 25)
CARB Holds Workgroup Meetings on In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Rule – Construction Industry and Staff Still at Odds over Cost and Feasibility of Proposed Rule (page 34)
CARB Adopts Amendments to the Smog Index Vehicle Emissions Label Requiring Greenhouse Gas Information to be Posted on Window Stickers (page 41)
CARB Holds Workshop on Status of Emission Control Technology for Transportation Refrigeration Units (TRUs) – Status of Regulation, Rather than Technology, Is of Greater Interest to Stakeholders (page 43)
CARB Holds Second Workshop on Fuel Regulation for Diesel-Powered Commercial Marine Vessels – Rule Would Require Main Engine Operation on Low Sulfur Marine Gas Oil in California Coastal Waters in 2009 (page 46)
CARB Staff Holds Its First Workshop on Ocean-Going Vessel Speed Reductions – Outlines Plans to Either Expand Voluntary Speed Limits or Impose Mandatory Speed Limits to Reduce Emissions (page 54)
CARB Staff Holds Final Workshop on Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation – Staff Will Present Proposal Requiring Engine Replacements for Ferries, Tugs, and Tows to the Board in September (page 56)
CARB Holds Workshop on Test Plan for Pleasure Craft Evaporative Emission Inventory and Controls (page 58)
CARB and South Coast AQMD Hold Informational Meeting on Enhanced Vapor Recovery and In-Station Diagnostics (page 61)
CARB Finally Adopts Regulations Requiring the Use of Enhanced Vapor Recovery Systems on Aboveground Gasoline Storage Tanks (page 69)
CARB Publishes Review of Highway Motorcycle Standards – Concludes that 'Lower Standards Are Feasible" (page 71)
Legislative Update (page 74)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 95)

August 2007 – [Top Page]

California Air Resources Board Member Dr. Henry Gong Dies (page 2)
CARB Unanimously Adopts In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Rule Despite Continued Strenuous Objections from Construction Industry over Cost and Feasibility (page 3)
CARB Receives Fourth Status Update on Railroad MOU Implementation – Staff Reports Railroads on Schedule to Meet MOU Requirements; SCAQMD Committed to Appeal of Judge’s Decision Against Implementing South Coast Railroad Rules (page 12)
CARB Holds Workshop on Potential Changes to the Zero-Emission Vehicle Regulation, But Does Not Provide a Clear Picture of What Changes Will Actually Be Proposed (page 18)
Heat Waves Blamed on Greenhouse Gas Emissions at CARB Workshop (page 24)
Market Advisory Committee’s Report and CARB Hearing on Cap-and-Trade for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions (page 29)
CARB Posts Policy Analysis Report of California’s Proposed Low Carbon Fuel Standard – Report Provides a Series of Recommendations for CARB Regulatory Development and Implementation (page 37)
CARB Holds Workshop on Development of Regulation for On Road Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks Servicing California Ports and Intermodal Railyards – Retrofit or Replacement of All 2002 and Older Trucks Required by 2012 (page 46)
CARB Staff Holds Workshop on In-Use On-Road Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles Focused on Emissions Inventory Development (page 51)
CARB Holds Second Round of Workshops for 2008 Revisions to Carl Moyer Program Guidelines (page 54)
CARB Issues Manufacturers Advisory Correspondence on Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Shutdown Requirements That Will Apparently Force Manufacturers to Return to the Certification of California-Only and Federal Engines (page 60)
Legislative Update (page 62)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 77)

September 2007 – [Top Page]

Vermont District Court Upholds Adoption of CARB Greenhouse Gas Regulations by State of Vermont – Judge Rules that CARB Regs Will Not Be Preempted if EPA Grants Waiver (page 2)
CARB Holds Workshops Discussing Revised Greenhouse Gas Inventory Calculations for 2010 Baseline and Mandatory GHG Reporting Requirements (page 4)
After Suffering Severe Criticism at the June Hearing, CARB Proposes to Add More Greenhouse Gas Control Measures to the List of Discrete Early Action Measures (page 9)
CARB Staff Holds Workshop on Development of In-Use On-Road Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle Rule – Cost, Rather than Technological Feasibility, Will Be Limiting Factor in Rule Development (page 11)
CARB Holds Fifth Shore Power Working Group Meeting – Describes Emissions Inventory and Major Revisions to the Proposed Regulation for Ocean-Going Vessel and Terminal Operators (page 16)
BAR Staff Holds Workshop on Low-Pressure Fuel Evaporative Testing Requirements for California Smog Check Program (page 19)
CARB Notifies Manufacturers in Mail-Out MSO #2007-03 of New Requirement to Include CO2 Emissions Data With Certification Applications (page 23)
CARB Issues Mail-Out MSO #2007-02 to Heavy-Duty Vehicle Operators on Periodic Smoke Inspection Program and Engine Labeling Certification Requirements (page 24)
CARB Begins Development of “Scoping Plan” for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, as Required by AB 32 – Seeks Suggestions from Public for Emission Reduction Measures (page 25)
California Air Quality Update (page 26)
Legislative Update (page 50)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 70)

October 2007 – [Top Page]

CARB Approves Revised Statewide SIP Strategy and South Coast AQMP – New CARB Chair Mary Nichols “Leads” SIP Process Further from Reality and Deeper into Fantasyland (page 2)
CARB Holds First Low Carbon Fuel Standard Workshop, Establishes Four Working Groups (page 6)
CARB Staff Proposes More Stringent Regulations for Aftermarket Catalyst Approval and Ban on Sale of Used Catalysts (page 11)
CARB Holds Workshop on Status of Control Technology Development for Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs) (page 13)
CARB Staff Holds Workshop on Regulation Establishing “Environmental Standards” for Hydrogen Produced for Use in Transportation as Required by SB 1505 (page 19)
CARB Releases Staff Report on Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation – Proposed Rule Requires Engine Replacements for Ferries, Tugs, and Tows and Accelerated Implementation in the South Coast (page 23)
CARB Staff Recasts and Delays Main Engine Rule as Federal Judge Finds CARB’s Auxiliary Engine Rule to be Federally Preempted (page 28)
CARB Staff Holds “Workshop” on Shore Power Regulation – Proposed Regulation Will be Considered by the Board in December (page 34)
Legislative Update (page 37)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 46)

November 2007 – [Top Page]

California District Court Upholds Adoption of CARB’s Greenhouse Gas Regulations – Second Judge Rules that CARB Regs Will Not Be Preempted if EPA Grants Waiver (page 2)
CARB Holds First Scoping Plan Workshop under AB 32; Plan Will Establish Regulatory Path for Reducing California Greenhouse Gas Emissions to 1990 Levels by 2020 (page 3)
CARB Holds Workshop Discussing Revised Greenhouse Gas Inventory Calculations for 2010 Baseline (page 8)
CARB Approves Alternative Fuels Plan Developed Jointly with California Energy Commission (page 13)
CARB Adopts Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation – Board Approves Staff Proposal Presented at October Hearing with Minor Amendments (page 17)
CARB Proposes Revisions to Regulations for Small Off-Road Engine (SORE) and Large Spark-Ignition (LSI) Engines with ≤ 1 Liter Displacement – Stakeholders Object to Staff’s Proposed Elimination of SORE Production Credits (page 20)
CARB Holds Second Workshop on Environmental Standards for Hydrogen Used as a Transportation Fuel (page 24)
CARB Holds Third Round of Workshops for 2008 Revisions to Carl Moyer Program Guidelines (page 26)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 36)

December 2007 – [Top Page]

California District Court Upholds Adoption of CARB’s Greenhouse Gas Regulations – Second Judge Rules that CARB Regs Will Not Be Preempted if EPA Grants Waiver (page 2)
CARB Holds First Scoping Plan Workshop under AB 32; Plan Will Establish Regulatory Path for Reducing California Greenhouse Gas Emissions to 1990 Levels by 2020 (page 3)
CARB Holds Workshop Discussing Revised Greenhouse Gas Inventory Calculations for 2010 Baseline (page 8)
CARB Approves Alternative Fuels Plan Developed Jointly with California Energy Commission (page 13)
CARB Adopts Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation – Board Approves Staff Proposal Presented at October Hearing with Minor Amendments (page 17)
CARB Proposes Revisions to Regulations for Small Off-Road Engine (SORE) and Large Spark-Ignition (LSI) Engines with ≤ 1 Liter Displacement – Stakeholders Object to Staff’s Proposed Elimination of SORE Production Credits (page 20)
CARB Holds Second Workshop on Environmental Standards for Hydrogen Used as a Transportation Fuel (page 24)
CARB Holds Third Round of Workshops for 2008 Revisions to Carl Moyer Program Guidelines (page 26)
Rulemaking Calendar (page 36)