Lift truck engine emissions, a small part of a major problem affecting air quality in California, are set to see some serious restrictions per order of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Later this month, CARB is expected to pass regulations that would establish emissions limits for non-diesel lift trucks in 2007, according to Gary Cross, an attorney for the Industrial Truck Association (ITA). According to CARB's current proposal, the 2007 standards will become even more stringent in 2010. At that point, CARB's standards would be more restrictive than those that the EPA will have in place.

Cross mentions that if the standards are adopted, the California Office of Administrative Law has one year to ensure that the regulations comply with all legal requirements before becoming law.