2010 Commitments to Further Reduce Diesel PM Emissions at Four High Priority Railyards

This page last revised November 28, 2011

The proposed 2010 Commitments are binding voluntary agreements between the Air Resources Board (ARB), BNSF Railway (BNSF), and Union Pacific Railroad (UP) that cover four high priority railyards in the South Coast Air Basin: BNSF San Bernardino, BNSF Hobart, UP Commerce, and UP ICTF/Dolores.

Introduction

In June 2010, Air Resources Board staff released a report entitled Proposed Actions to Further Reduce Diesel Particulate Matter at High Priority California Railyards (June 2010 Report) with a proposal to further reduce emissions of toxic diesel particulate matter (PM) at four railyards in Southern California with high estimated health risks. We refer to these as the 2010 Commitments.

Public Notice of 15-Day Extension for the CEQA Functional Equivalent Document

The public comment period has been extended, by at least 15 days, to September 6, 2011. (PDF - 47KB)

Supplemental Staff Report (July 5, 2011)

Supplement to the June 2010 Staff Report on Proposed Actions to Further Reduce Diesel Particulate Matter at High Priority California Railyards provides updated material. This supplement presents ARB staff's revised estimates of diesel PM emissions and health risk at each railyard. The analysis quantifies the significant reduction in diesel PM emissions and health risk at each railyard between 2005 and 2010. The supplemental report also includes the latest draft of the Revised 2010 Commitments between the Air Resources Board and Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway to Further Reduce Diesel Particulate Emissions at Four High-Priority Railyards (Revised 2010 Commitments) for each railyard as well as an enviromental assessment of the Revised 2010 Commitments (see below).

Environmental Analysis (July 5 - August 19, 2011)

The supplemental staff report includes an expanded assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the Revised 2010 Commitments. This part of the supplemental staff report (Appendix F) is referred to as a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Functional Equivalent Document (FED).

There is 45-day public comment period for the CEQA FED from July 5, 2011 to August 19, 2011 at 5:00 PM. Public comments can be posted electronically to the list below or mailed to:

Air Resources Board, SSD/FTB/Rail Strategies Section - 6th Floor
Attn: Harold Holmes, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814

Notice of Public Availability (PDF - 48KB)
Supplemental Staff Report incuding the CEQA FED Evaluating the Revised 2010 Commitments (PDF - 1.90MB)

Subject	View Comments	Deadline for Comments (Pacific Standard Time)
Public Comments: CEQA Functional Equivalent Document Evaluating the Revised 2010 Railyard Commitments	ceqarycommitments	Closed

June 2010 Revised Commitments (January 7, 2011)

ARB staff met with the railroads, incorporated suggested additions and posted an interim revised version of the 2010 Commitments on the ARB Railyard website on January 7, 2011 for public review. The Revised 2010 Commitments would establish enforceable emission caps and other requirements, tracking mechanisms and deadlines to further reduce harmful diesel PM through 2020. The diesel PM emission caps for each railyard have not changed from June 2010 proposal.

ARB Board Resolution 10-29 (June 24, 2010)

At the June 2010 meeting, the Board adopted Resolution 10-29, which delegated authority to the Executive Officer to approve the 2010 Commitments subject to the preparation of an additional environmental analysis, and suggested that staff, in light of comments received at the hearing, continue to meet with the railroads to strengthen the accountability provisions in the proposed 2010 Commitments.

ARB June 24, 2010 Board Meeting - Proposed 2010 Commitments (Public Agenda)

ARB Staff Report and Proposed Commitments (June 15, 2010)

On June 24, 2010, the Board considered the June 2010 Staff Report and public comments.

Questions
If you have questions on the 2010 Commitments or the CEQA FED, please contact Harold Holmes, Manager, Rail Strategies Section, at (916) 324-8029.

ARB and Railroad Commitment Archive of Past Meetings and Documents

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