Press Release: California Signs Agreement to Reduce Locomotive Pollution

For Immediate Release (C-14-97)
Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670
May 15, 1997

555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-9670
FAX (916) 445-5563

The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) has negotiated an agreement with the major railroads operating and traveling through Southern California to reduce smog-forming emissions from their locomotive fleets by up to two-thirds by the year 2010, Secretary for Environmental Protection James M. Strock announced today.

"This new agreement with the railroads puts California first in line to receive the new cleaner locomotives far ahead from the  rest of the nation. The new, cleaner locomotives will be introduced into California as early as 2005. By Cal/EPA working cooperatively with the federal government and the railroad industry we have won another major victory in the battle for cleaner air in our state," Strock added.

In a unique set of agreements involving the railroads, Cal/EPA's Air Resources Board (ARB), the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe and the Union Pacific railroads voluntarily agreed to replace locomotives operating in the South Coast Air Basin with new, cleaner locomotives. The action will reduce the railroads' fleet average emissions of nitrogen oxides ( NOx), one of the major ingredients in ozone, by 67 percent beginning in 2010. Combined, these two carriers account for more than 90 percent of the railroad traffic through the South Coast Air Basin.

The agreement means that Southern California will see a reduction of about 23 tons a day in nitrogen oxides, equivalent to eliminating the NOx from about 1.5 million cars and light trucks.  Particulates will be reduced by about 50 percent by the agreement, as well as hydrocarbons, another contributor to ozone.

This means the Basin's 13 million residents in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties will receive the full benefit of lower-emitting locomotives years ahead of a federally-mandated locomotive rule which calls for locomotive replacement to begin in 2000 and continue gradually for 40 years or more. The federal locomotive rule, known as "Rule 213," is scheduled for a public hearing in Michigan and is not expected to be finalized until late this year.

The federal EPA's signature on the "statement of principles" means the EPA accepts the agreement between the railroads and ARB and will credit California with emissions reductions to help meet the state's federally-mandated Clean Air Act goals by 2010.

"This agreement fulfills one of the most important elements of the 1994 State Implementation Plan (SIP)," said ARB Chairman John Dunlap. "We will continue seeking new and innovative pollution control strategies to be sure that we achieve our clean air goals."

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