District To Help Farmers Comply With New Air Law

 

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) recently finalized new requirements for diesel engines used in agricultural operations. In general, these new requirements will apply to nearly all diesel engines used to power irrigation pumps; however, they will not apply to diesel engines used to power farm equipment such as trucks and tractors. These new requirements have both administrative requirements and emission control requirements. An ARB fact sheet provides additional information and details on these new requirements.

 

To implement these agricultural diesel engine requirements, the District adopted Rule 250, "Registration of Agricultural Engines" on September 11, 2007.

 

The administrative requirements will include a diesel engine registration program with a fast-approaching deadline of March 1, 2008. This registration program is not a permitting program, but will require application forms and fees similar to a permitting program. These fees will be significantly less than permitting fees.

 

As a part of the registration program, emission control requirements will be determined for each engine on a case-by-case basis. The emission control requirements have been set by the California Air Resources Board. Newer engines may already comply with the requirements, however, older engines may need to be retrofitted or replaced to comply with the new requirements. Any diesel pump engine replaced with an electric motor or natural gas engine will not be required to register with the District. Southern California Edison has an electrification program to replace diesel pump engines with electric motors that may be very attractive to some engine owners. In addition, grant money may be available from the District to replace older diesel engines with newer, compliant diesel engines, natural gas engines or electric motors.

 

More information on the ARB plans for diesel engines used in agricultural operations is available at "In-Use Stationary Diesel Agricultural Engines" or by contacting Barbara Cook at (916) 323-0440.

 

For questions on the District’s plans to implement these new ARB requirements, please contact Kerby Zozula at (805) 645-1421.

 

For information on District grant programs, please contact Chris Frank at (805) 645-1409

 

Click here to obtain a copy of the registration application form and instructions.