On December 12, 2009, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), a subdivision of the California Environmental Protection Agency, published its final rule to reduce diesel exhaust emissions in the state, the “Goods Movement Emission Reduction Plan” (GMERP). The controversial plan set up a draconian, regressive tax, one of the worst imposed on Californians.
The agency claimed the new regulation would prevent 3,900 premature deaths and other health care costs allegedly caused annually by diesel PM 2.5 emissions.2 However, a close look at the data and the agency’s claims shows the proposed plan will produce little or no reduction in premature death. This is because the plan is based on flawed science, as explained in this paper.
