Jim Sanders -- Bee Capitol Bureau

June 23, 2006

The California Air Resources Board adopted regulations Thursday designed to increase enforcement against portable, smog-causing diesel generators used in construction, dredging, recycling, industrial cleaning and numerous other industries.

Equipment targeted by the new regulations emit an estimated 4 tons of particulate matter and 57 to 67 tons of nitrous oxide per day, according to pollution regulators.

The new regulations, adopted Thursday without a dissenting vote, increase fees to encourage more inspections and crack down on portable generators that exceed pollution limits.

Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, sparked public debate on the issue last year with legislation, Assembly Bill 1220, that was shelved in the Senate. The vote Thursday makes that legislation moot.

The new regulations are expected to take effect in six months to a year, after review by the Office of Administrative Law, said Jerry Martin, Air Resources Board spokesman.