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February 27, 2006 9:30 AM, EST

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merican Trucking Associations said Monday it has urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to prevent the California Air Resources Board from implementing performance standards for engines used to cool refrigerated tractor-trailers.

ATA made the recommendation because it said the regulations will, among other matters, require trucks nationwide to comply with California-specific regulations, creating a de facto national standard.

ATA said the regulation will cost the motor carrier industry between $775 million and $1.4 billion, while CARB estimated costs would range between $87 million and $156 million.

The “request goes beyond the authority afforded California under the Federal Clean Air Act,” said Glen Kedzie, ATA’s environmental counsel. “This rule is contrary to the very intent of Congress . . . by effectively creating a new national engine emissions standard.”

ATA said the impacts of California’s new regulations will extend far beyond the state’s borders, forcing nearly 340,000 reefer units nationwide to comply with CARB’s regulations, regardless of the amount of time spent operating in the state.

That figure — 30 times greater than CARB assumed in its original estimate — will require 75% of the reefers outside of California to either be retrofitted, scrapped or replaced with new equipment during the life of the rule, ATA said.

The California Trucking Association and ATA’s Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference also filed comments with EPA.