EPA turns up heat on diesel train emissions
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to increase its oversight of pollution from diesel-powered trains based on its latest study of rail transportation emissions.
According to a news report in today’s Washington Post, the federal government had based its original assessments of diesel train emissions on “faulty estimates,” and “grossly understated the amount of pollution generated annually.”
“That means that diesel locomotives would be releasing more than 800,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and 25,000 tons of soot every year within a quarter of century, in contrast to the Environmental Protection Agency’s previous projections of 480,000 tons of nitrogen dioxide and 12,000 tons of soot,” the newspaper reported.
The EPA plans to draft rules that focus on improved train emissions.
“Any rule would likely force manufacturers to redesign their engines and install controls on trains’ exhaust,” the Post said.