The California Air Resources Board (“ARB” or “Board”) continues it’s measured pace toward implementation of this bill. There was a great deal of turmoil during this year as the Chairman of the ARB was fired, and the Executive Officer resigned. Mary Nichols, a strong environmentalist, was eventually selected as the new chair and expectations are the speed of implementation will pick-up in 2008.
On October 25th, the Board will consider its discrete early actions measures, required by AB 32. This list has recently been published and can be found at their website. These measures represent options for the Board’s consideration and some will become regulations by January 2010.
The Board has also been soliciting public input on 1990 baseline emissions calculations, mandatory reporting, environmental justice considerations, market mechanisms, among other implementation issues.
The Board is also developing its “Scoping Plan.” On November 30, 2007, ARB will hold a public workshop to explain the Scoping Plan process and schedule, and to initiate a discussion about the structure of the Scoping Plan. This will be followed-up by a series of stakeholder meetings and will eventually result in release of the Scoping Plan in October of 2008, and consideration by the Board in November of 2008.
