14 States Move to Fill EPA’s Gap

WASHINGTON — All new diesel trucks sold in California and 13 other states may soon be required to meet tough smog standards for 2005 and 2006, state officials said.

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The Environmental Protection Agency failed to impose engine emission standards for those years, which local and state air pollution control officials said brought on their concerns.

The states may set their own rules to prevent domestic and foreign diesel engine manufacturers “from deliberately designing and building higher-polluting trucks in those years than they will build between 2002-2004,” said Winston Hickox, secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency.

California is the only state permitted under the Clean Air Act to impose emission standards more stringent than federal law requires, officials with the California Area Resources Board said. Other states, however, are permitted to adopt more stringent requirements once California takes the lead.

For the full story, see the Nov. 27 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.