Evaluation and Potential Development of Regulations to Reduce Emissions from Locomotives
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The two actions presented for rail:
1. Evaluation and potential development of regulation to reduce idling emissions from all rail yard sources and emissions from other stationary locomotive operations
Timeframe for Board consideration (estimated)
2020
Description of approach
Evaluate and potentially develop a new regulation that would require operators to limit idling of all combustion-powered vehicles and mobile equipment operating at rail yards and other locations, as well as reducing emissions from stationary locomotive operations (e.g., maintenance and testing). The scope could include both freight and passenger rail activities, in and around intermodal, classification, and maintenance rail yards, at seaports, at warehouses, on sidings, at passenger rail stations, and at maintenance and service locations. Compliance options might include operational practices, installation of idle-limiting technology, emission capture and control technology, or other effective techniques. Locomotives with zero-emission capability could be exempt, if operators show that zero-emission operation is maximized. CARB staff would also consider the opportunities to prioritize the earliest implementation in the communities most impacted by air pollution.
Potential impacts
This action could achieve significant reductions in toxic and criteria pollutant emissions, beginning in 2023, providing critical benefits to reduce community health risk and to fulfill State Implementation Plan commitments to attain federal air quality standards. For greenhouse gases, it would achieve moderate reductions, beginning in 2023, and significant reductions after full implementation.
Considerations
- Federally mandated activities
- Funding
- Technology for stationary locomotive control
References
- CARB Locomotive Petition to U.S. EPA
- CARB Final Technology Assessment: Freight Locomotives, December 2016
- U.S. EPA, National Port Strategy Assessment: Reducing Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gases at U.S. Ports, September 2016
2. Evaluation and potential development of regulation to reduce emissions from locomotives not preempted under the Clean Air Act
Timeframe for Board consideration (estimated)
2022
Description of approach
Evaluate and potentially develop a new regulation that would require retrofit, repower, remanufacture, or replacement of freight and passenger locomotives not preempted under the Clean Air Act, beginning in 2025. CARB staff estimates that there are 200 to 300 of these units in California. Locomotives in operation beyond their useful life are typically operated by Class 3 freight railroads, industrial facilities, and passenger railroads, as well as a smaller number run by Class 1 railroads that can readily transfer those units to other states. Although the activity levels on these locomotives are lower than interstate locomotives, the oldest locomotives are the highest emitting (per unit of work performed) in the State. CARB staff would also consider the opportunities to prioritize the earliest implementation in the communities most impacted by air pollution. As an alternative, CARB could also consider a voluntary agreement with the major railroads to secure greater community health benefits by reducing emissions from interstate locomotives (the dominant source of emissions and community health risk at rail yards), if that agreement was developed in a transparent public process and included clear enforcement provisions. In CARB staff’s experience, the Class 1 freight railroads have reliably fulfilled their obligations under two prior agreements.
Potential impacts
This action could achieve significant reductions in toxic and criteria pollutants, beginning in 2025, providing critical benefits to reduce community health risk and to fulfill State Implementation Plan commitments to attain federal air quality standards. For greenhouse gases, it would achieve moderate reductions, beginning in 2025.
Considerations
- Funding
References
- CARB Locomotive Petition to U.S. EPA
- CARB Final Technology Assessment: Freight Locomotives, December 2016
- University of Illinois Report on Zero or Near-Zero Emission Rail in California, June 2016