Proposed Commitments to Further Reduce Diesel PM Emissions at Four High Priority Railyards

This page last revised March 26, 2013

The Commitments are proposed binding voluntary agreements between the Air Resources Board (ARB), BNSF Railway (BNSF), and Union Pacific Railroad (UP) that cover four high priority railyards in the South Coast Air Basin: BNSF San Bernardino, BNSF Hobart, UP Commerce, and UP ICTF/Dolores.  The Proposed Commitments would reduce the four high priority railyards' 2005 diesel PM emissions, irrespective of growth, by 85 percent or more by 2020.

Introduction

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 further reduce emissions of toxic diesel particulate matter (PM) at four railyards in Southern California with high estimated health risks.  We refer to these as the Proposed Commitments.

Public Notice of 15-Day Extension for the CEQA Functional Equivalent Document 

The public comment period was extended to September 6, 2011. (PDF - 47KB)

Supplemental Staff Report (July 5, 2011)

Supplement to the June 2010 Staff Report on Proposed Actions to Further Reduce Diesel Particulate Matter at High Priority California Railyards provides updated material.  This supplement presents ARB staff's revised estimates of diesel PM emissions and health risk at each railyard. The analysis quantifies the significant 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 Proposed Commitments between the Air Resources Board and Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway to Further Reduce Diesel Particulate Emissions at Four High-Priority Railyards (Proposed Commitments) for each railyard as well as an environmental assessment of the Proposed Commitments (see below).

Environmental Analysis (July 5 - August 19, 2011)

The supplemental staff report includes an expanded assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Commitments.  This part of the supplemental staff report (Appendix F) is referred to as a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Functional Equivalent Document (FED).

There was a 45-day public comment period for the CEQA FED from July 5, 2011 to August 19, 2011 at 5:00 PM.
  • Notice of Public Availability (PDF - 48KB)
  • Supplemental Staff Report including the CEQA FED Evaluating the Proposed Commitments (PDF - 1.90MB)
Subject View Comments Deadline for Comments
(Pacific Standard Time)
Public Comments: CEQA Functional Equivalent Document Evaluating the Revised 2010 Railyard Commitments ceqarycommitments Closed

June Proposed Commitments (January 7, 2011)

ARB staff met with the railroads, incorporated suggested additions, and posted an interim revised version of the Proposed Commitments on the ARB Railyard website on January 7, 2011 for public review.  The Proposed Commitments would establish enforceable emission caps and other requirements, tracking mechanisms and deadlines to further reduce harmful diesel PM through 2020.  The diesel PM emission caps for each railyard have not changed from the June 2010 proposal.

ARB Board Resolution 10-29 (June 24, 2010)

At the June 2010 meeting, the Board adopted Resolution 10-29, which delegated authority to the Executive Officer to approve the Proposed Commitments subject to the preparation of an additional environmental analysis, and suggested that staff, in light of comments received at the hearing, continue to meet with the railroads to strengthen the accountability provisions in the Proposed Commitments.

ARB June 24, 2010 Board Meeting - Proposed Commitments (Public Agenda)

ARB Staff Report and Proposed Commitments (June 15, 2010)

On June 24, 2010, the Board considered the June 2010 Staff Report and public comments.

ARB Meeting Agenda (February 25, 2010)

The Board Meeting to consider additional Staff recommendations to provide further locomotive and railyard emission reductions in Sacramento from 9:00 a.m.

ARB Meeting Agenda (September 25, 2009)

The Board Meeting to consider Staff recommendations to provide further locomotive and railyard emission reductions in Diamond Bar from 9:00 a.m.
- Staff Recommendations to Provide Further Locomotive and Railyard Emission Reductions (PDF-487kb)

ARB Recommendations Document (September 9, 2009)

Based on the Technical Options Document, staff developed recommendations to implement further locomotive and railyard emissions reductions in which staff identified the highest priority options as five locomotive measures.  Staff also developed a separate set of additional recommendations that could support or provide further locomotive and railyard emissions and risk reductions.

Recommendations to Implement Further Locomotive and Railyard Emission Reductions (PDF - 419k)

Staff Presentation - (PDF - 900k)

Technical Evaluation of Options to Reduce Locomotive and Railyard Emissions

In this revised report in 2009, the Air Resources Board (ARB/Board) staff provided a technical evaluation of 37 options that may accelerate further statewide locomotive and localized locomotive and non-locomotive railyard emission reductions.  The technical evaluation of each option is based on the following criteria:  technical feasibility, potential emission reductions, costs, and Carl Moyer Program cost-effectiveness.  The overall purpose of this document was to provide a sound technical basis for the ongoing dialogue on how best to achieve further emissions reductions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and diesel particulate matter (PM or diesel PM) from locomotives and railyard sources.

This revised report was intended only to provide a technical assessment of various options that were available in 2009 or may be available in the near future to accelerate and provide additional emissions reductions from locomotives and major railyards in California.  It was not intended to serve as an implementation blueprint, as it does not evaluate which agency or agencies may have authority to implement such options.  The document also does not evaluate what role, if any, the availability of public funding might play in assuring earlier or further reductions.

Staff also acknowledges that the data used in this report represents a snapshot in time.  Elements such as locomotive fleet composition data are fluid and are influenced by many factors.  In addition, other data used to evaluate technological feasibility, potential emission reductions, and costs are also fluid and subject to change.  The staff expects to provide updates to this 2009 document as technology developments and demonstration project results warrant.

Revised Technical Options Document (August 31, 2009)
Technical Options to Achieve Additional Emissions and Risk Reductions from California Locomotives and Railyards (Report: PDF - 2.9Mb )

      Executive Summary (PDF - 53k)

      I.  Introduction (PDF - 150k)

      II.  Locomotive Options (PDF - 358k)

      III.  Railyard Options (PDF - 250k)

      IV.  Advanced Systems Options for Locomotives and Railyards (PDF - 570k)

      V.  Railyard Operational and Physical Changes (PDF - 97k)

      Appendices (PDF - 1.5Mb)

Draft Report: For more information... (December, 2008)

ARB Meeting Agenda (June 25, 2009)

The Board Meeting to consider an update on ARB efforts to develop recommendations for further locomotive and railyard emission and risk reductions in Sacramento.

- Update on Efforts to Provide Further Locomotive and Railyard Emission Reductions (PDF-487kb)

ARB and Railroad Commitment Archive of Past Meetings and Documents

If you have questions on the Proposed Commitments or the CEQA FED or Recommendations and Technical Option Reports, please contact Harold Holmes, Manager, Rail Strategies Section, at (916) 324-8029.
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