The full emissions regulations will be phased in by 2020 for large vehicles and 2025 for smaller equipment.

Though health advocates have been pushing for the emissions regulations to be passed, the new rules have been heavily opposed by industry leaders who argue that it places too much pressure on contractors and equipment retailers to comply in too short of a time.

Gordon Downs, owner of Downs Equipment Rental in Bakersfield, estimated the rule would cost his company $2.1 million in the first year alone. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Construction industry officials said the cost to companies and government agencies to adjust to the new regulations would be more than $13 billion.

However, health advocates blame the diesel emissions for thousands of deaths and respiratory problems in the state every year. The new regulations are projected to eliminate 48 tons per day of nitrogen oxide and 5.2 tons per day of particulate matter in the state by 2020. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said that the new bill will prevent deaths and save the state money in health care costs and that the bill shows that California is ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Andy Katz of Breathe California, a grass-roots public health organization based in the San Francisco bay area, says that, ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Snow blowers or other equipment that runs less than 100 hours per year will be exempt from the new regulations, along with emergency vehicles, agricultural equipment and vehicles that run on less than 25 horsepower.