SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Rental Association and the American Rental Association of California announced their joint participation on two projects.

The two groups felt it beneficial to pool their resources because of concern over the California Air Resources Board's proposal to modify its Regulation for the Statewide Portable Equipment Registration Program. CARB's proposed amendments would increase fees and allow for a three- or five-year registration; lower the 50-hp threshold to 25-hp; and include all self-propelled farm and construction equipment in the regulation.

ARA of California has requested that CRA general counsel Les Chayo develop a position paper addressing the proposed amendments. CRA has agreed to this request.

In 1999, CRA and Chayo were instrumental in creating the original statewide registration program in lieu of permitting by each local air quality district as CARB had proposed.

The two organizations have also worked closely in addressing the increasing equipment theft from rental centers in recent months. CRA president Dale Blackwell has been an integral member of the Equipment Theft Prevention Committee that has met several times with local and state law enforcement agencies.

“Between the CRA's ALERT program and the activities of the theft prevention committee, we feel that we are doing all we can for our members,” Blackwell said.