First Name | Ron |
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Last Name | Barlet |
Email Address | rbarlet@bejac.com |
Affiliation | |
Subject | Regulation For In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicles |
Comment | Dear Members of the California Air Resources Board: I truly hope that the CARB understands what is happening in our state's construction industry. The private home building sector is in the worst situation it has been in years and will remain so at least for the next 18 months and the commercial sector is about to fall into the same predictament. Public works funds are slow in coming and continue to fall short of what our real infrastructure needs are. High fuel prices, the upcoming state budget deficit, labor costs, the general high cost of doing business in Califnria, etc. are squeezing us. Bottom line, the construction industry is facing some of the toughest times it has ever faced. The flawed off-road diesel regulation will be yet another dagger that will have a profound, negative impact on California’s infrastructure rebuilding efforts, the health of the state’s construction industry and its overall economy. While all of us want improved air quality, these rules are too complex and complicated, are extremely capital intensive, require the use of technology that does not yet exist, will force the downsizing of companies, penalizes us for recent purchases that were legal, and will pass the burden to customers that have already been strangled by fuel, material and labor cost increases. Thsi is a recipe for setting our industry back for many years to come - more lost jobs, less businesses, lower tax revenue, etc. And unbelievably, with this rule CARB, for the first time, it is retroactively regulating the consumer of equipment rather than the manufacturers - this is totally absurd! You have heard this before, but I echo our industry's situation here: Bejac Corporation is very supportive of reducing particulate matter (PM) and NOx emissions from diesel engines. There is no disagreement that we need to work collectively to improve the state’s air quality and all of us want to provide as healthy an environment as possible for our employees on our job sites, but we need to make sure we do it in away that keeps the state moving forward and with consideration for both the environment and the economy. Sincerely, Bejac Corporation Ron Barlet President |
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted | 2008-01-03 15:26:06 |
If you have any questions or comments please contact Clerk of the Board at (916) 322-5594.