HomeMy WebLinkAbout6298_CCv0001.pdf RESOLUTION NO. 6298
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDLANDS IN
SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 1397 (ESCUTIA), WHICH WOULD ENACT THE
LOCOMOTIVE EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND MITIGATION PROGRAM
WHEREAS,the South Coast Air Basin is one of two"extreme nonattainment"air basins in
the United States and to achieve attainment of federal and state public health standards requires
extraordinary effort by federal, state and local regulatory authorities working in concert; and
WHEREAS,federal and state health-based ambient air quality standards for ozone and PM 10
are exceeded regularly and by a wide margin in the South Coast Air Basin; and
WHEREAS, the federal Environmental Protection Agency has recently adopted more
stringent 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 standards that will require even greater emission reductions in the
South Coast Air Basin; and
WHEREAS, air pollution emissions from locomotives in the South Coast Air Basin
contribute significantly to exceedances of federal and state ozone and PM10 standards, as well as
to emissions of diesel exhaust, a toxic air contaminant; and
WHEREAS, in order to attain state and federal standards for ozone and PM2.5, it is
necessary that emissions from locomotives be controlled or otherwise mitigated; and
WHEREAS,the federal Environmental Protection Agency has authority to adopt regulations
limiting emissions from locomotives, but state and local regulatory authority to control emission
from locomotives is restricted by federal law. In order to attain state and federal ambient air quality
standards, it is necessary that emissions from locomotives be controlled or mitigated by the federal
government or, if necessary,by state or local governments using authorities available to them; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, the California Air Resources Board entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad Company,and the Union Pacific
Railroad Company, under which the railroads agreed to utilize locomotives in the South Coast Air
Basin that would meet certain emissions limitations; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, the South Coast Air Quality Management District adopted the most
recent revision to its Air Quality Management Plan. The 2003 Plan includes stringent emissions
standards for factories,power plants,on-road and off-road mobile sources and other sources that are
within the regulatory jurisdiction of the South Coast District and the California Air Resources Board
— including sources which, like locomotives, are powered by diesel engines. The percentage of
emission reductions that will be achieved by significant sources subject to state and local authority
is substantially greater than the percentage of emissions reductions that will be achieved by
locomotives under existing federal regulations and the 1998 MOU; and
WHEREAS,the 2003 South Coast District Plan proposes a significant amount of emissions
reductions through means that are yet to be specifically determined; and
WHEREAS,unless and until the federal Environmental Protection Agency adopts regulations
requiring locomotives in the South Coast Air Basin to achieve all feasible emission reductions as
necessary to achieve federal clean air standards, the South Coast Air Quality Management District
should be authorized to adopt a locomotive mitigation fee for locomotive emissions that is
proportionate to the health and environmental harms resulting from those emissions; and
WHEREAS, it is therefore necessary that legislation authorize the South Coast Air Quality
Management District to implement a locomotive emission reduction and mitigation program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Redlands
declares that Senate Bill 1397:
1. is necessary to protect the health and welfare of our residents from cancer causing
toxic air pollutants, especially children and seniors;
2. is essential to reduce diesel emissions from locomotives in Southern California to
meet the deadline for clean air established by the federal government;
3. is critical in ensuring the burden for emission reductions in the region is not unfairly
placed on local businesses, and that significant future reductions are achieved from
locomotives;
4. ensures funding for mitigation measures to reduce emissions from trains,associated
sources and for programs to address accompanying health effects from diesel
emissions.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Redlands hereby urges
California legislators to enact SB 1397 as proposed and urges the governor to sign it into state law
without delay.
ADOPTED, SIGNED AND APPROVED this 6th day of July, 2004.
1
4ayf the City o dlands
Attest:
Cit Jerk
I, Lomie Poyzer, City Clerk of the City of Redlands, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution
was duly adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 6th day of July,
2004,by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Gil, George, Harrison; Mayor Peppler
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Gilbreath
ABSTAIN: None
Lorrie'Nyzer, C*itvyer