Central ND News

WASHINGTON – In 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that could have significant implications for the national rail network. The rule, which allows the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to impose stricter regulations on in-use locomotive emissions than the national standard, has sparked opposition from U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer and his colleagues.

Senator Cramer, along with Senator Pete Ricketts and a group of Senate colleagues, penned a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan expressing their concerns about CARB's In-Use Locomotive Regulation. The senators highlighted the potential negative impact of the rule on the rail industry, supply chains, and the economy.

According to the senators, CARB's regulation could jeopardize the interoperability of the national rail network and pose financial burdens on freight railroads. They emphasized that forcing railroads to convert to zero-emission locomotives, which are not currently commercially available, could have devastating consequences for the industry and the economy as a whole.

The senators also raised concerns about the implications of CARB's regulation on the supply chain and the use of unproven technology in locomotives. The letter was co-signed by several senators, including Shelley Moore Capito, Joe Manchin, and John Boozman, among others.

In support of the senators' stance, industry stakeholders such as the Red River Valley & Western Railroad Company, the Association of American Railroads (AAR), and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) have also voiced their opposition to CARB's rule.

President Vic Meyers of the Red River Valley and Western Railroad Company expressed gratitude to Senator Cramer for advocating for the short line railroad industry. AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies highlighted the role of rail in reducing transportation emissions and emphasized the lack of commercially viable zero-emission technologies.

ASLRRA President Chuck Baker commended Senator Ricketts and his colleagues for their leadership in opposing CARB's regulation. Baker underscored the potential negative consequences of the rule on small railroads and the broader supply chain if allowed to proceed.

The collaborative efforts of Senator Cramer, Senator Ricketts, and their colleagues, supported by industry stakeholders, aim to address the challenges posed by CARB's In-Use Locomotive Regulation and safeguard the integrity of the national rail network.