As a follow-up to a critical meeting earlier this year, the Association hosted the California Air Resources Board (CARB), San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) and several agricultural organizations to discuss CARB activities to address what is being called the “NOx shortfall”. The NOx shortfall is the gap in emission reductions needed by CARB and the SJVAPCD due to CARB’s withdrawal of needed waivers to mandate electric trucks and electric forklifts. While the removal of the waivers is considered great news by industry, the Clean Air Act mandates and timelines are still in place, and the regulatory agencies must find other control measures to make up the NOx shortfall. One of the measures being floated is a new California only mandate to create and implement a new “Tier 5” emissions standard. The Association and other groups immediately pushed back on a “California only” emission standard citing the added imbalance to an already very unfair economic disadvantage for California businesses. In addition to the NOx shortfall discussions, additional discussions were held to discuss recent enhancements to the emissions inventory by CARB including updates to almond harvesting with low dust harvesters, conservation management plans, and updated crop calendars and commodity acreages. Attending the meeting were 10 representatives from CARB including Michelle Buffington, Chief of the Mobile Source Control Division, Matthew Lakin, Chief of the Air Quality Planning and Science Division; and Ariel Fideldy, Branch Chief for Air Quality Planning. Five representatives from the SJVAPCD attended including Sheraz Gill, Deputy Air Pollution Control Officer; Todd DeYoung, Director of Strategies and  Incentives; Tim Franquist, Director of Air Quality Planning and Jon Klassen, Director of Air Quality Science.  Representing the Association was Roger A. Isom, President/CEO; Priscilla Rodriguez, Assistant Vice President; and Christopher McGlothlin, Assistant Vice President of Technical Services.