Content area
Full Text
Diesel soot--the culprit behind the smoke from trucks and buses that annoys many Californians--is a toxic, cancer-causing danger to the public, the state's air quality board declared in a unanimous vote Thursday.
The decision, which set in place an unusual compromise between industry and environmentalists, ended nearly 10 years of political debate and scientific analysis by state officials and a panel of scientists.
Now, the real work begins for the state Air Resources Board. In a process likely to take years, the agency must evaluate strategies to protect Californians from the fine carbon particles emitted by diesel engines, including those in trucks, tractors and trains.
Air board Chairman John Dunlap assured business leaders that banning diesel engines or fuel is not an option.
Instead, the air board voted to create a working group of health experts, industry leaders and environmentalists who will help devise a plan...