WUD offers informational sessions on diesel truck rules

Feb. 19, 2010 - - Western United Dairymen is hosting a diesel truck rule informational meeting at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 26, at the SFA Portuguese Hall, 800 South 3rd Street, Chowchilla. Paul Sousa, WUD environmental specialist, will be on hand to answer questions about the rule being implemented by the state air resources board.
Another informational session will be held at the annual Western United Dairymen convention on Wednesday, March 10, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The session, Diesel Truck Rule – How to Comply, by Kathleen Mead, manager of the California Air Resources Board, will be in the Arbor Theatre. More sessions are planned in various WUD districts in the near future. WUD members are asked to contact their field representative if they would like a session scheduled for their area.
Here is some additional background on the rule: Trucks used on agricultural operations, including dairies, have received some exemptions from the new rule regulating all diesel trucks originally designed for on-road use; however, pickups are exempt from the rule. The agricultural exemptions were granted due to the types of uses the vehicles are subject to and the economic impact the rule would have had on agriculture. To obtain the exemption status, dairy producers must file for the exemption by March 31, 2010.
In order to qualify for the agricultural exemption, producers were required to record the odometer reading of all of their trucks as of January 1. That information, plus information about the truck and its owner, must be reported to the California Air Resources Board by March 31, 2010. WUD environmental specialist Paul Sousa says, “Agriculture got some valuable exemptions from this rule; however, dairy producers must register for those exemptions through this process. If a producer fails to register they will have to comply with the rule, which means turning over your truck fleet on an accelerated basis.” To get forms from the internet, go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/documents/TBReportingForm091222.pdf.