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Diesel emissions create the greatest amount of airborne
carcinogens in California's air. 

Release 09-89
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2009
	  	  	
Karen Caesar
(626) 575-6728
www.arb.ca.gov

ARB seeks further reductions of diesel emissions at state rail
yards

Recommended actions could cut toxic soot by 85 percent or more

DIAMOND BAR - The Air Resources Board today directed its staff
to take steps to provide further locomotive and rail yard
emission reductions beyond those achieved by existing U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and state regulations and
agreements.

While current state and federal measures are on target to reduce
toxic diesel locomotive emissions 65 percent or more by 2020,
additional measures recommended by ARB staff would ultimately
provide up to 85 percent or greater emissions reductions within
the rail yards over the same period, which translates to cleaner
air for nearby residential neighborhoods as well.

"While we are pleased to have already reduced diesel emissions
at the rail yards, it's not enough," said ARB Chairman Mary
Nichols. "Increased leadership from U.S. EPA and the railroads,
along with funding to address California's needs, would signal a
clean-air commitment that must be made to protect those who live
and work near rail yards."

Out of 37 options evaluated in a technical report completed
earlier this year, staff is now proposing a top set of
recommendations which call for replacing existing switch and
medium horsepower locomotives with cleaner locomotives;
retrofitting these locomotives with particulate matter and oxides
of nitrogen (NOx) after-treatment devices, and accelerating the
introduction of cleaner new Tier 4 interstate line-haul
locomotives to operate in California and other western states.

Implementation dates would be staggered to coincide with the
development and commercial production of these advanced
technologies. Once all steps are taken, Californians can expect
to see a reduction of about 69 tons per day of NOx (a key
ingredient of smog), and a reduction of about three tons per day
of toxic diesel soot.

The measures primarily affect freight locomotives operated by
Union Pacific and BNSF Railway, although locomotives used in
passenger service are also included. Union Pacific operates in 23
states west of Chicago, while BNSF Railway is present in 28.
Technological improvements and emissions reductions will benefit
not only Californians, but also millions of residents across the
western U.S. who are impacted by long distance line-haul
locomotives.

The U.S. EPA estimates the normal fleet turnover rate for a
line-haul locomotive can take 30 years or more. For this reason,
ARB staff are proposing accelerated introduction of the cleanest
new line-haul locomotives that operate in California and other
western states within 10 years.

ARB plans on forming a coalition of stakeholders to seek
incentive funding for implementation of the measures. The first
four measures are expected to cost about $1 billion. Costs for
the accelerated replacement of line-haul locomotives will be
larger due to the increased number of interstate locomotives to
be replaced to ensure a clean fleet in California. Funding is
expected to come from railroads and state and federal
governments.

California leads the nation with the most extensive efforts to
reduce locomotive and rail yard emissions. ARB completed 18 major
rail yard health risk assessments that showed increased risk for
those who live and work near these facilities. Through a
combination of state and federal regulations, incentive funding,
binding agreements and voluntary actions by the railroad
companies, California will see dramatic reductions in their
airborne emissions, between 50-80 percent, depending on the
individual rail yard, as early as 2015. Because of significant
mitigation measures put in place over the last two years, risk
levels around major rail yards have already been reduced by about
37 percent.
California's key locomotive and rail yard air pollution control
measures and strategies include:

    * California's ultra low sulfur diesel fuel regulation (in
effect since January 1, 2007), expected to reduce locomotive
emissions by up to 30 tons per year for diesel particulate matter
and 300 tons per year for oxides of nitrogen;
    * Diesel-fueled heavy-duty drayage truck regulation that
applies to all port and intermodal rail yards (approved in
December 2007) will reduce diesel particulate matter by about 85
percent by 2010 and oxides of nitrogen by more than 50 percent by
2014, as compared to the 2007 baseline;
    * Heavy-duty diesel new truck regulations adopted by both
ARB and U.S. EPA have set emission standards for 2007 and
subsequent model year heavy-duty diesel engines which represent a
90 percent emission reduction of both diesel particulate matter
and oxides of nitrogen compared to the 2004 model-year emission
standards;
    * Cargo handling equipment regulation (in effect since
January 1, 2007) is expected to reduce diesel particulate matter
and oxides of nitrogen by up to 80 percent by 2020;
    * Tier 4 off-road diesel-fueled new engine emission
standards (adopted in 2004 by both ARB and U.S. EPA) will require
an after-treatment-based exhaust standards to achieve over a 90
percent emission reduction over current levels by 2020;
    * Under the California yard locomotive replacement program,
UP has deployed 61 gen-set and 10 electric hybrid yard
locomotives in Southern California. BNSF has been operating four
liquefied natural gas yard locomotives in downtown Los Angeles
since the mid-1990s. 

Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and over 40
other known cancer-causing substances. In 2000, the ARB
established California's Diesel Risk Reduction Plan, which aims
to reduce diesel emissions to 85 percent below 2000 levels by
2020. Other sources of diesel particulate matter such as big rig
trucks, transit buses, trash trucks, cargo-handling equipment and
ship auxiliary engines have already been addressed through
regulations, along with diesel fuel.

NOx helps create ground-level ozone, or smog. Smog can damage
lungs, cause coughing and chest tightness, and worsen asthma
symptoms while also affecting crop yields. Both pollutants are
particularly harmful to children, the elderly and those who have
preexisting health problems.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.

The energy challenge facing California is real. Every
Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy
consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and
cut your energy cost, see our web site at http://www.arb.ca.gov

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