News Release

Brief Outline Of Environmental And Health Concerns Associated
With Railroads

Locomotive Emissions

Locomotive engines are significant contributors to air pollution in many of our nation's cities and ports. Although locomotive engines being produced today must meet relatively modest emission requirements set in 1997, they continue to emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter (PM), both of which contribute to serious public health problems. Source: US EPA Website; Locomotives/ Nonroad Engines, Equipment and Vehicles.

Over a five year period, the average switchyard locomotive will emit over 15 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOX), over 1000 pounds of fine particulate matter (PM), and more than 900 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Source: Washington State Department of Ecology, Focus on Reducing Locomotive Idling at Switchyards.

Diesel particulate matter (PM) consists of both fine and coarse particulates. The fine particulates often combine with mutagenic or carcinogenic chemicals emitted from combustion and are readily respirable and can reach the lowest reaches of the lungs. The fine particles can remain in the atmosphere for days or weeks and can travel through the air for hundreds or thousands of kilometers. The more coarse particles fall rapidly to the earth within minutes or hours and within kilometers of the emission source.

Source: California Environmental Protection Agency, Air Resources Board, Staff Report: Initial Statement of Reasons for Proposed Rulemaking.

Thoughts: If just one locomotive can produce that amount of pollution, how much pollution will be produced in the proposed Picacho Peak yard, considered to be the 6th largest in the US? What will be the impact on the water supply in the CAP canal as these tons of PM are deposited on the nearby canal? What will be the cost to clean that water? Can the water be cleaned? How about the hikers at Picacho Peak who will breathe this air? What would the impact be to the Yuma agricultural fields if locomotives were layering soot on top of them day after day on tracks that would cut right through the middle of those fields?

The policymakers and citizens of Arizona have at the very least a right to answers to these questions and others like them from an entity seeking to put its massive infrastructure where it chooses.

While Union Pacific may point to modern locomotive engines and low sulfur fuel as a means to combat the current emission problems, the fact remains that most of the locomotives on the tracks today are older, high pollution engines and most of EPA's more stringent requirements won't apply for years. Even with higher standards, the sheer number of locomotives operating around the clock will still pose a serious pollution threat.

Soil and Water Contamination

Even with today's modern technology, rail yards can and do pollute the soil and groundwater. For example, in September 2004, a train refueling station was built over the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. That aquifer is the principal source of water for nearly 500,000 people. The refueling station was built with the most modern of techniques to ensure the public that no contamination would occur. By December 2004, it was discover that contaminated wastewater had infiltrated the aquifer. It was only after court order in late February 2005, that the refueling station was temporarily shut down.

The public record is loaded with examples of soil and water contamination associated with rail facilities. From a superfund site in Slidell, Louisiana, to the toxic plume under neighborhoods in Eugene, Oregon, to the Anchorage, Alaska railroad terminal, many railroad facilities are associated with contamination.

Contamination can result from railcar repair, refueling, and oil change, but also from the loads of contaminants carried on the trains, which can and do occasionally spill.

Health

While environmental considerations also have a direct relationship to health, there are also examples of specific health considerations that result from substantial and concentrated railroad activity, and therefore on this level where major infrastructure is sited also truly matters to everyone.

For example, California Air Resources Board officials have expressed great concern over recent studies that cancer risks for those who are located near to rail yards face cancer risks from soot as much as 140% greater than those in other parts of the same region.

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