(The following story by Andrew Edwards appeared on the San Bernardino County Sun website on May 10.)
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Mayor Pat Morris and members of a regional activist group called for BNSF Railway to immediately install the best available emissions-reduction technology at its rail yard here.
“We want the best technology, the state-of-the-art equipment that is placed in the Long Beach and Los Angeles facilities,” Morris said at a community meeting Thursday, referring to the rail company’s proposed cargo-transfer facility near the harbor.
BNSF has trumpeted its plans to incorporate advanced environmentally friendly technology at the harbor. Company representatives have said the firm will also try to reduce pollution in the Inland Empire.
The purpose of Thursday’s meeting was not to discuss the rail company’s plans but air pollution problems at its 168-acre rail yard in Westside San Bernardino.
The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice joined Morris in urging action on pollution.
“We demand the new technology here now because it’s a crisis,” said Jan Misquez, the group’s policy director.
The forum followed last month’s release of a draft report that used mathematical modeling to conclude that elevated cancer risks exist in neighborhoods near the 168-acre rail yard.
That report, released by the state Air Resources Board, estimated that 33 tons of diesel pollutants were generated within a mile of the San Bernardino rail yard in 2005.
The railroad and air board agreed to do the study.
BNSF spokeswoman Lena Kent, who attended the meeting, said the railway has already sought to stem emissions by using cleaner fuel and installing equipment that prevents locomotives from unnecessary idling.
However, she said some changes – such as replacing diesel-burning cranes with electrically powered machines, are hard to implement.
“You can’t shut the facility down to do a major remodel without negatively impacting the goods-movement industry,” she said.
A draft plan outlining steps to reduce pollution at the San Bernardino yard could be released by early summer.