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September 27, 2000 10:40 AM, EDT

Southern California air quality regulators have backed down from a plan to require ultra-low sulfur diesel two years ahead of the schedule set by another state agency and the federal government.

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The California Air Resources Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hope to drop diesel sulfur levels from their current levels of around 350 parts per million to 15 ppm in June 2006.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District, which handles air pollution issues in the four counties making up the Los Angeles metropolitan area, started a political cat fight when it decided it wanted the cleaner fuel in 2004 (7-31, p. 3). The agency backed down from the idea due to pressure from the state and California truckers.

The SCAQMD board voted Sept. 15 to require the 15ppm standard beginning in 2005. However, if the EPA and CARB set an effective date of 2006, as they have proposed to do, the board will go along with that.

For the full story, see the Sept. 25 print edition of Transport Topics. .