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CARB

Date: May 09, 2011
Source: Admin

The California Air Resources Board, also known as CARB or ARB, is the "clean air agency" in the government of California. Established in 1967 in the Mulford-Carrell Act, combining the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board, CARB is a department within the cabinet-level California Environmental Protection Agency. California is the only state that is permitted to have such a regulatory agency, since it is the only state that had one before the passage of the federal Clean Air Act. Other states are permitted to follow CARB standards, or use the federal ones, but not set their own.

The stated goals of CARB include:

attaining and maintaining healthy air quality;
protecting the public from exposure to toxic air contaminants; and
providing innovative approaches for complying with air pollution rules and regulations.

The governing board is made up of 11 members appointed by the state's governor. Half of the appointees are experts in professional and science fields such as medicine, chemistry, physics, meteorology, engineering, business, and law. Others represent the pollution control agencies of regional districts within California - Los Angeles region, San Francisco Bay area, San Diego, the San Joaquin Valley, and other districts.

CARB's organizational structure

CARB has nine major divisions:

Administrative Services Division
Enforcement Division
Mobile Source Control Division
Mobile Source Operations Division
Monitoring and Laboratory Division
Office of Information Services
Planning and Technical Support Division
Research Division
Stationary Source Division

Programs initiated by CARB:

The following are the programs initiated by CARB:

Program	Purpose
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Incentive Program	Alternative Fuel Vehicle Incentive Program (also known as Fueling Alternatives) is funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), offered throughout the State of California and administered by the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE).
Zero-emissions vehicle	California zero-emissions vehicle: The CARB ZEV program was enacted by the Californian government to promote the use of zero emission vehicles. The program’s goal is to reduce the pervasive air pollution affecting the main metropolitan areas in the state, particularly in Los Angeles, where prolonged pollution episodes are frequent. The first definition has its origin in the California ZEV rule, adopted as part of the 1990 Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV I) Program mandated by CARB. The ZEV regulation has evolved and been modified. several times since 1990. Several new partial or low-emission categories were created and defined as follows: LEV (Low Emission Vehicle): The least stringent emission standard for all new cars sold in California beyond 2004. ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle): 50% cleaner than the average new 2003 model year vehicle. SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle): These vehicles emit substantially lower levels of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter than conventional vehicles. They are 90% cleaner than the average new 2003 model year vehicle. PZEV (Partial Zero Emission Vehicle): Meets SULEV tailpipe standards, has a 15-year / 150,000 mile warranty, and zero evaporative emissions. These vehicles are 80% cleaner than the average 2002 model year car. AT PZEV (Advanced Technology PZEV): These are advanced technology vehicles that meet PZEV standards and include ZEV enabling technology. They are 80% cleaner than the average 2002 model year car. ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle): Zero tailpipe emissions, and 98% cleaner than the average new 2003 model year vehicle. The Low-Emission Vehicle Program is currently under revision to define modified ZEV regulations for 2015 models.
Low-carbon fuel standard	The Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) requires oil refineries and distributors to ensure that the mix of fuel they sell in the Californian market meets the established declining targets for greenhouse gas emissions measured inCO2-equivalent grams per unit of fuel energy sold for transport purposes. The 2007 Governor's LCFS directive calls for a reduction of at least 10% in the carbon intensity of California's transportation fuels by 2020. These reductions include not only tailpipe emissions but also all other associated emissions from production, distribution and use of transport fuels within the state. The standard is also aimed to reduce the state’s dependence on petroleum, create a market for clean transportation technology, and stimulate the production and use of alternative, low-carbon fuels in California.