Cargo Handling Equipment Regulation to Transition to Zero-Emissions
In March 2018, CARB staff presented to the Board a plan to begin development of a regulation to minimize emissions and community health impacts from cargo handling equipment.
Staff presented plans to amend CARB’s existing Cargo Handling Equipment regulation to require zero-emissions. The existing regulation sets in-use requirements for diesel cargo handling equipment at seaports and railyards, including but not limited to: yard trucks (hostlers), rubber-tired gantry cranes, container handlers, and forklifts. Staff is assessing the availability and performance of zero-emission technology as an alternative to all combustion-powered cargo handling equipment and evaluating additional solutions that may include efficiency improvements. Once this step is complete, staff may consider amending the existing regulation to require zero-emission cargo handling equipment. In this potential action, all mobile equipment at seaports and railyards, including but not limited to: diesel, gasoline, natural gas, and propane-fueled equipment, may be subject to new requirements. The regulatory amendments could also propose an implementation schedule for new equipment and facility infrastructure requirements. CARB staff would also consider opportunities to prioritize the earliest implementation in or adjacent to the communities most impacted by air pollution.
Potential Impacts
This action could potentially achieve emission reductions of criteria pollutants, air toxics, and greenhouse gases. These reductions would provide critical benefits to reduce community health risk, fulfill State Implementation Plan commitments to attain federal air quality standards, and meet greenhouse gas reduction targets. The new technologies used to achieve these reductions are expected to transfer and accelerate the deployment of zero-emission operations in other freight and heavy-duty applications.
