New California rules target big-rig pollution

The rules, which are scheduled to take effect in 2010, would affect toxic diesel emissions from more than 1 million heavy-duty trucks that operate in the state, many of them transporting merchandise from the massive complex of ports in Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Diesel truck transport from the ports and from the state's huge agricultural industry in the San Joaquin Valley is the largest source of smog-forming nitrogen oxide emissions and toxic diesel particulates.

The ports recently banned the dirtiest older trucks. But the San Joaquin Valley and Los Angeles areas are violating federal air quality standards, which cannot be met without stricter overall truck emission rules, air officials say.

In a report this week, the Union of Concerned Scientists, an environmental group, found that available technology can dramatically reduce emissions, as well as the fuel consumption that increases global warming.

"Truckers can make relatively simple modifications to their rigs, save themselves a lot of money over the long run and save us all from pollution," said Don Anair, senior vehicles analyst for the group.

But truckers and agribusiness interests have tried to soften the regulations, saying it's too expensive for truckers to invest tens of thousands of dollars in clean vehicles at a time of high gas prices and economic woes.

The air board will vote Dec. 11 on whether to adopt two rules that would affect not just California trucks, but all big rigs crossing the state. The first would require the use of existing technology to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gases. Another would require truckers to install filters or upgrade their engines to reduce smog-forming and particulate pollution.

California is offering industry more than a billion dollars in funds to help with the cost of the proposed rules.

Roosevelt is a Times staff writer.

Margot.roosevelt@latimes.com