February 2006
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD)
is the agency mandated to protect the public’s health from air pollution and
to achieve federal and state clean air standards. From legislation to
rulemaking to technology development, AQMD is undertaking a number of
efforts to mitigate locomotive emissions, which are a significant source of
smog-forming and toxic emissions.
Legislation
AQMD cosponsored three legislative proposals during
2005 aimed at reducing emissions from railroad operations. AB 1222 (Jones)
signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005, requires the California
Air Resources Board to implement a pilot program using remote sensing
equipment to collect emissions data from locomotives to help identify
higher-emitter locomotives. AB 888 (De la Torre) would authorize the AQMD
to develop rules that require heavy-duty diesel equipment operating in rail
yards to be retrofitted with control equipment or replaced with cleaner
technologies to reduce toxic diesel emissions. Finally, SB 459 (Romero)
would allow AQMD to impose a fee on railroad companies operating within the
region if the railroads do not implement specified measures to reduce
emissions from their operations. AB 888 and SB 459 are two-year proposals
that will be considered in 2006.
Rulemaking
AQMD adopted in October 2005 Rule 3503 – Emissions Inventory and Diesel Related Risk Assessment for Rail
Yards – which will require the Southland’s 19 major freight rail yards to conduct
emissions inventories, followed by a health risk assessment for the toxics
emissions. AQMD will consider two additional rules to target locomotive
emissions in February 2006.
Technology Advancement
Advancements in engine technology and fuels have led to
cleaner alternatives currently available to reduce emissions from
locomotives. Cleaner hybrid engines and low sulfur diesel fuel are ready
for deployment. AQMD’s Technology Advancement office also continues to fund
projects for the development, demonstration and deployment of future
technologies. To date, AQMD has funded the demonstration of 20
low-emission locomotives.
As part of AB 1222, AQMD is contributing funding for a pilot program to
measure diesel emissions from locomotives using remote sensing technology.
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