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7/2/2008
Association Hosts Briefing on EPD Idling Rule |
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On June 26, representatives from several GFA member companies were at Association headquarters in Forsyth, GA to hear officials from Georgia Environmental Protection Division explain the agency's proposed rule to regulate idling of heavy duty vehicles. The Association organized the briefing because forestry stands to be among the most adversely affected of all industries when the new rule is implemented next year.
The proposed 'anti-idling' rule is part of the EPD's ongoing development of a State Implementation Plan for attaining and maintaining air quality standards. According to EPD's Richard McDonald, engineer in the Motor Fuels Unit of the agency's Air Quality Division, the new rule will help the state "get in front of the curve to keep additional counties from being classified as 'non- attainment'".
The rule is necessary in part, say EPD officials, because "economics alone are not driving changes in behavior". Reducing unnecessary idling of heavy duty vehicles is perhaps the most cost-effective way to reduce particulate matter in emissions, EPD contends.
"It is a great opportunity to get emission reductions while achieving cost savings for business," McDonald suggested.
Most of the briefing was taken up with questions from forestry participants.
"Why are we in rural Georgia being penalized when the real problem is in Metro Atlanta and other major cities?" asked Tom Norris of Interstate Paper in Riceboro.
McDonald responded that "particulate matter is a health issue wherever it occurs, so the issue should not be perceived as strictly an Atlanta issue." Even so, there is a real sense that forestry and other affected industries represent the 'low hanging fruit' in efforts to regulate for improved air quality.
The meeting concluded with participants committing to submit recommendations in several key areas such as where liability should rest for violations of the rule and what is a reasonable length of time for allowing vehicles to idle when queued at mills or operating in the woods during harvest operations.
To stay on top of developments in this rulemaking, log on to georgiaair.org.
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