Bill Would Regulate Emissions from “Indirect” Sources

A recently amended bill in the state Assembly, AB 914, would give the California Air Resources Board (CARB) new authority to regulate emissions from “indirect sources.” An indirect source includes a facility, building, real property, or road that attracts mobile sources of pollution, like trucks and trains.

Under existing law, CARB has primary responsibility to regulate vehicle emissions, while air pollution control districts and air quality management districts have the primary responsibility to regulate air pollution from all other sources, including indirect sources.

In addition to the regulatory authorization, the legislation would require fees on facilities and mobile sources to cover the reasonable costs of implementing and enforcing the rules. It would also require CARB to establish a statewide reporting program to quantify emissions and collect emissions information.

CARB recently withdrew three waiver requests that would have phased-out diesel trucks, trains, and commercial harbor craft by 2036. The regulation of indirect sources of emissions is viewed as necessary given the reduction in regulatory authority for these direct emissions sources.