DIAMOND
BAR, Calif., Aug. 2, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, the South Coast Air Quality Management
District (South Coast AQMD) Governing Board adopted Rule 2306,
otherwise known as the Freight Rail Yards Indirect Source Rule
(ISR), which requires rail yard operators to take actions to meet
specific emission reductions targets. The rule is expected to
reduce Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions associated with freight rail
yards by about 10.5 tons per day between 2027 to 2050.
The rule is designed to work together with the regulations
recently adopted by the California Air Resources Board and will
ensure that rail yards in the South Coast Air Basin reduce
emissions. Freight rail yards subject to the rule will be required
to achieve up to 82 percent emissions reductions by 2037 through a
variety of actions including using cleaner technologies or lower
emitting equipment associated with rail yards.
"While there is no single rule or regulation that can achieve
federal air quality standards on its own, today's adoption is a big
step in the right direction," said Vanessa
Delgado, South Coast AQMD's Governing Board Chair. "There
are so many communities, parks and schools that are surrounded and
affected by sources associated with rail yards that will directly
benefit from today's action. We will continue to reduce emissions
where we are able because that is what our communities
deserve."
More than 80 percent of the NOx emissions in the South Coast Air
Basin are from mobile sources, and nearly half of these come from
mobile sources associated with goods movement. Reductions in NOx
are essential to reducing smog and meeting federal clean air
standards. Communities throughout our region are exposed to ozone
and fine particulate matter caused by emissions from mobile sources
going to and from rail yards. Rail yard related emissions overall
contribute about 9% of total smog-forming emissions in our
region.
"The Inland Empire and Los
Angeles regions are all too familiar with the negative
effects of air pollution that come from goods movement. Not only do
these areas suffer from some of the worst air quality in the
country, but to make matters worse, there are railyards that border
so many of our homes," said Yassi Kavezade, Senior Campaign
Advisor, Sierra Club. "We appreciate
the agency for passing this rule and will continue to hold
regulators accountable until it is implemented."
The rule applies to owners or operators of proposed, new, and
existing freight rail yards located within South Coast AQMD's
jurisdiction. As part of the rule, owners and operators of freight
rail yards will be required to report on the planning, development,
and use of zero-emission infrastructure to support state
regulations and meet broader federal and state zero-emission goals.
The rule also requires state and local government agencies to
require rule compliance when they enter, renew, or amend a contract
with the facility owner or operator. The Rail Yards ISR covers
about 25 facilities located throughout the South Coast AQMD
jurisdiction.
South Coast AQMD's Rail Yards ISR was carefully developed over
the course of seven years through extensive outreach, beginning in
2017. Public input and feedback was solicited by engaging with
various stakeholders, including communities impacted by freight
rail yard emissions, potentially affected businesses and
industries, environmental organizations, trade associations, public
agencies, and others.
The Rail Yards ISR will become effective after EPA approves the
Rail Yards ISR and CARB's associated rules on locomotives and
drayage truck fleets.
Freight rail yards covered by the rule are locations where
locomotive switching activities occur or where cargo is loaded or
unloaded from railcars for transportation to or from the rail yard
using the rail yard operator's locomotives. Emissions associated
with freight rail yards are emitted from locomotives, drayage
trucks, cargo handling equipment (CHE), and miscellaneous off-road
equipment like transportation refrigeration units (TRUs).
South Coast AQMD is the regulatory agency responsible for
improving air quality for large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San
Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley. For
news, air quality alerts, event updates and more, please visit us
at www.aqmd.gov, download our award-winning app, or follow us on
Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and
Instagram.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/south-coast-aqmd-governing-board-adopts-rail-yards-indirect-source-rule-302213721.html
SOURCE SOUTH COAST AQMD