Comment Log Display

December 3, 2008

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger or Members of the California State
Legislature or CARB:

I own a small business in the towing industry. My trucks are the
sole assets of my business. I fully support any initiative to help
clean up our states air quality. However, there needs to be a
careful study of the impact on businesses that will be immediately
affected by the current proposal that CARB is making. 

There is no doubt that many small businesses like mine would not
be able to comply in the time allowed according to the CARB
regulation as it now reads. Also, given the current recession that
our state and nation faces combined with the prolonged period of
time that is being forecast for meaningful economic recovery, it
would be financial suicide to force small businesses to spend money
that we simply don't have to replace equipment that hasn't had its
useful life is used. 

Most small businesses like mine have a planned life cycle for
using and replacing our equipment and that is how we budget the
expenditures for new equipment. It also doesn't make sense to waste
money on retrofitting equipment at costs that often exceeds their
market value.

Currently, all trucks being manufactured in the US are being
equipped with new emission systems. Therefore, any new truck being
purchased is already compliant and it would only be a matter of 10
- 15 years that most pre-emission vehicles would be naturally fazed
out.

I support the alternative proposal that Driving Toward a Cleaner
California Coalition is promoting because it gives companies like
mine a more reasonable time frame for compliance. I would strongly
urge you to give it careful consideration.

Sincerely 

Steven H. Clay

Northcrest Auto Center