Despite heavy opposition from California automobile enthusiasts, SEMA and
other interested parties, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved
amendments instituting a very aggressive scrappage program across
California. Under this new regulation, CARB will crush and destroy up to
150,000 cars a year for 10 years to meet emissions-reduction goals. The
regulations will not allow for salvage or recycling of any vehicle parts or
engines. The corresponding loss, in terms of irreplaceable parts and
vehicles needed by vehicle enthusiasts, will be significant.
In approving this proposal, CARB flatly disregarded California law (S.B.
501) mandating that all scrappage programs allow for parts recycling. Under
the new regulations, the only way a hobbyist or a low-income individual can
obtain a necessary part would be to buy the entire car before it's crushed.
Most disappointing, CARB did not consider a proven alternative to scrappage
"voluntary repair and upgrade "where older vehicles are voluntarily
submitted for repair and installation of emissions upgrade retrofit
equipment. CARB gave no attention to a San Diego Air Pollution Control
District pilot "Repair/Upgrade" program, which achieves emissions reductions
at half the cost of typical scrappage programs.
The CARB also chose to ignore the facts concerning real-world scrappage
programs: (1) CARB does no testing to prove emissions reductions are
achieved with scrappage or that vehicles scrapped are replaced by cleaner
running vehicles; (2) These programs fail to recognize that many cars turned
in for scrappage can barely run or cannot pass smog inspections and that the
programs themselves are susceptible to fraud; (3) The CARB scrappage program
disregards the needs of hobbyists and low-income families who rely on the
availability of older vehicles and parts; and (4) Regulatory agencies cannot
justify crushing cars when more cost-effective and environmentally sound
programs, such as voluntary repair and upgrade, exist.
SEMA VP of Government Affairs Chris Kersting said, "SEMA is disappointed
CARB is disregarding the law regarding parts recycling and is ignoring proof
that scrappage programs are fatally flawed. The association is working with
car clubs and other interested parties to determine the best response to the
CARB's decision. Our options include introducing legislation and/or bringing
legal action challenging the final regulations."
Contact SEMA at: http://www.sema.org/.
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