This article shall be known as "the Rockland
County Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel and Best Available Retrofit Technology
Act."
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
BEST AVAILABLE RETROFIT TECHNOLOGY
Technology, verified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or the California Air Resources Board, for reducing the emission of pollutants that achieves reductions in particulate matter emissions at the highest classification level for diesel emission control strategies, as set forth in §
137-5 of this article, that is applicable to the particular engine and application. Such technology shall also, at a reasonable cost, achieve the greatest reduction in emissions of nitrogen oxides at such particulate matter reduction level and shall in no event result in a net increase in the emissions of either particulate matter or nitrogen oxides.
COUNTY DEPARTMENT
Any department of Rockland County government that uses diesel-powered
vehicles in any capacity. It does not include contract agencies.
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING
The value specified by the manufacturer of a motor vehicle
model as the maximum design loaded weight of a single vehicle of that
model.
MOTOR VEHICLE
A vehicle owned by the County and operated or driven upon
a public highway which is propelled by any power other than muscular
power, except electrically driven mobility assistance devices operated
or driven by a person with a disability; provided, however, that this
term shall not include vehicles that are specially equipped for emergency
response by the Office of Fire and Emergency Management, or the Sheriff's
office.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, firm, company, association,
joint-stock association, corporation or other like organization.
REASONABLE COST
Means that such technology does not cost greater than 40% more than other technology applicable to the particular engine and application that falls within the same classification level for diesel emission control strategies, as set forth in §
137-5 of this article, when considering the cost of the strategies, themselves, and the cost of installation.
SPECIALLY EQUIPPED VEHICLE
A motor vehicle defined as specially equipped pursuant to
rules and regulations developed and approved by an appropriate department
of County government designated by the County Executive, and adopted
by the Legislature of Rockland County.
The classification levels for diesel emission
control strategies are as follows, with Level 4 being the highest
classification level:
A. Level 4: strategy reduces diesel particulate matter
emissions by 85% or greater or reduces engine emissions to less than
or equal to 0.01 gram diesel particulate matter per brake horsepower-hour.
B. Level 3: strategy reduces diesel particulate matter
emissions by between 50% and 84%.
C. Level 2: strategy reduces diesel particulate matter
emissions by between 25% and 49%.
D. Level 1: strategy reduces diesel particulate matter
emissions by between 20% and 24%.
The County Executive shall issue a written determination
that permits the use of diesel fuel that has a sulfur content of no
more than 30 parts per million to fulfill the requirements of this
article if ultra low sulfur diesel fuel is not available to meet the
needs of County departments to fulfill the requirements of this article.
Such determination shall expire after six months and shall be renewed
in writing every six months if such lack of availability persists,
but in no event shall be in effect after September 1, 2006.
The County Executive may issue a waiver for the use of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel where a County department makes a written finding, approved in writing by the County Executive, that a sufficient quantity of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, or diesel fuel that has a sulfur content of no more than 30 parts per million where a determination is in effect pursuant to §
137-6 of this article, is not available to meet the requirements of this article, provided that such department, to the extent practicable, shall use whatever quantity of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel or diesel fuel that has a sulfur content of no more than 30 parts per million that is available for its diesel-fuel-powered motor vehicles. Any waiver issued pursuant to this section shall expire after two months, unless the County department renews the finding, in writing, and the County Executive approves such renewal, in writing.
This article shall not apply:
A. When federal or state funding precludes the County
from imposing the requirements of this article; or
B. To purchases that are emergency procurements pursuant
to the Charter or any local law allowing for such emergency procurements.