ARB Staff Report and Proposed Commitments (June 15, 2010)
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 reduce emissions of toxic diesel particulate matter (PM) at four railyards in Southern California with high estimated health risks. (PDF - 573k)
Supplemental Staff Report (July 5, 2011)
This supplement presents ARB staff's revised estimates of diesel PM emissions and health risk at each of the four high-priority railyards. The analysis quantifies the 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 Railyards (Revised 2010 Commitments) for each railyard as well as an environmental assessment of the Revised 2010 Commitments. (PDF - 1.90MB)
Update on Proposed Railyard Commitments:
On June 24, 2010, the Board held a public hearing and considered testimony on the draft 2010 Railyard Commitments to reduce diesel particulate matter (PM) emissions from 2005 levels at four railyards.
ARB staff proposed this voluntary approach as a potential path to achieve emission reductions at four high risk railyards. Representatives of impacted communities, as well as the South Coast Air Quality Management District, opposed the draft Commitments and advocated a regulatory approach.
The Executive Officer (EO) has decided not to approve the Commitments, but rather to initiate a public process leading to a more holistic path for reducing emissions from rail and other freight operations. The letters below describe the rationale for the decision, as well as the next steps to protect communities near rail and other freight operations.
