A stringent lift truck emissions standard in California, originally expected to be approved in June, has been set aside for further review.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has tentatively rescheduled the vote to commence in September. Gary Cross, general counsel for the Industrial Truck Association, told Modern that the delay could be the result of a couple of factors.

He mentions that state legislators stood up on behalf of those that rent out lift trucks, and agricultural interests, claiming that the standard would have adverse affects on the business practices of both. Further, a new CARB chairman has been appointed, and the vote's delay will allow for the new chair to become versed on the issues, Cross notes. Demetri Stanich, spokesperson for CARB, has confirmed that Cindy Tuck has been appointed to replace interim chair, Barbara Riordan.

As reported in the June issue of Modern (CARB set to establish lift truck emissions standards), the standard would set emissions limits for non-diesel lift trucks in 2007, becoming even more stringent in 2010. At that point, CARB's standards would be more restrictive than those that the Environmental Protection Agency will have in place for the rest of the nation.