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9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This concurrent resolution urges the Environmental Protection Agency to update
12 switcher locomotive emission standards.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 ▸ recognizes the railroad's economic impact in Utah;
16 ▸ describes the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) emission standards for
17 switcher locomotives;
18 ▸ recognizes that higher emission standards for switcher locomotives would reduce
19 harmful emissions in the state;
20 ▸ acknowledges that federal law prohibits states from adopting more stringent
21 emission standards for switcher locomotives; and
22 ▸ urges the EPA to develop and make more stringent emission standards for switcher
23 locomotives.
24 Special Clauses:
25 None
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27 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
28 WHEREAS, railroads continue to play a vital role in Utah's economy;
29 WHEREAS, there are approximately 60 switcher locomotives operating in Utah;
30 WHEREAS, the vast majority of the switcher locomotives operating in Utah are
31 certified to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Tier 0 or Tier 0+ emission standards;
32 WHEREAS, the Utah Division of Air Quality finds replacing and repowering switcher
33 locomotives to be a cost-effective emission control strategy;
34 WHEREAS, replacing or repowering a switcher locomotive certified to the Tier 0+
35 emission standard to meet Tier 4 emission standards would result in an 89% reduction in
36 nitrogen-oxide emissions and an 88.5% reduction in direct particulate-matter emissions;
37 WHEREAS, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7543(e) prohibits states from
38 establishing emission standards for locomotives;
39 WHEREAS, current EPA repowering standards only require switcher locomotives
40 certified to the Tier 0 emission standard to be repowered to meet the Tier 0+ emission standard
41 and such repowering may continue indefinitely; and
42 WHEREAS, the EPA has continued to tighten the National Ambient Air Quality
43 Standards for fine particulate matter and ozone without providing improved locomotive
44 repowering emissions requirements to help meet said standards:
45 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
46 Governor concurring therin, hereby requests that the EPA develop and make more stringent
47 switcher locomotive repowering standards requiring operators to meet Tier 4 or better emission
48 standards across their entire fleets in a timely and cost-effective manner.
49 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
50 the United States, the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Office of the
51 Administrator, and each member of Utah's congressional delegation.