U.S. EPA Responds to CARB’s Petition to Strengthen Locomotive Emission Standards

In 2017, the California Air Resources Board petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) to exercise its authority to again adopt more stringent emission standards for locomotives. On November 9, 2022, U.S. EPA responded to CARB's petition, stating:

U.S. EPA will develop options for possible regulatory actions, examine current locomotive rules, and consider appropriate actions to ensure that their rules continue to meet Clean Air Act requirements.
U.S. EPA will undertake a notice and comment rulemaking process to reconsider existing locomotive preemption regulations to ensure they don’t inappropriately limit California’s and other states’ authorities under the CAA to address their air quality issues.
U.S. EPA noted that the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides an enormous opportunity for locomotives to transition to zero emissions and committed to explore opportunities to leverage these historic resources moving forward.

CARB appreciates the thoughtful response from EPA to our concerns and looks forward to their efforts regarding revisions to existing locomotive regulations and evaluating how best to address air pollutant emissions from the locomotive sector. By working with its federal partners, CARB will ensure California can rapidly and effectively address unhealthful emissions from locomotives and the communities that are impacted by them.

U.S. EPA Response to CARB Petition: U.S EPA Letter to CARB

The Locomotive Petition to U.S. EPA is a request for rulemaking, seeking the amendment of emission standards for newly built locomotives and locomotive engines and lower emission standards for remanufactured locomotives and locomotive engines.

The petition asks U.S. EPA to update its standards to take effect for remanufactured locomotives in 2023 and for newly built locomotives in 2025. The new emission standards would provide critical NO_x and PM reductions, particularly in the disadvantaged communities that surround railyards.

CARB Petition: CARB Locomotive Standards Petition to U.S. EPA

Letter of Receipt: U.S. EPA Letter of Receipt