SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Air Resource Board‘s regulatory process is about to become more transparent to the public, thanks to a bill recently signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The new rules will require CARB to provide a clear explanation of how emissions violation penalties are assessed on a per-unit basis; develop a written, consistent penalty policy that ensures the largest penalties are imposed on serious violations that adversely impact air quality (due March 2011); and report those penalties to the Legislature annually..

Critics of the stat air quality control agency expressed concern that CARB was not accountable for outlining how penalties are determined or justifying the reason for certain violations. This, they said, resulted in subjected, ad hoc enforcement.

The agency, though, insists it already works closely with companies to explain fines.

The bill was pushed by trucking groups such as the California Dump Truck Owner Association and the Moving and Storage Association along with a number of manufacturer associations.