(The following story by S. Heather Duncan appeared at Macon.com on April 9.)
MACON, Ga. — New federal limits on air pollution from trains could significantly reduce Middle Georgia soot and smog pollution in the coming years, especially since Macon hosts a large train yard and Middle Georgia relies on rail to ship products such as kaolin and gravel.
But clean air experts warn that the benefits are unlikely to emerge fast enough to help Macon meet national air standards as required in the next few years.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency announced the new train engine rules a few weeks ago. They will require cleaner engine technology on both new and remanufactured locomotives.
The rules also set new guidelines for cutting down on train engine idling, which produces large amounts of nitrogen oxide – a key component of smog and ozone pollution – and fine particle pollution. Both contribute to heart and lung problems, particularly in children, the sick and the elderly.
Some new requirements will begin this year while others will be phased in by 2015.
According to EPA, by 2030 the new train engine standards will reduce soot and other fine particle pollution by 90 percent or about 27,000 tons, and nitrogen oxide emissions (which contribute to smog) by 80 percent or nearly 800,000 tons.
“We’re pleased with the EPA changes,” said Linda Smyth, president of the Middle Georgia Clean Cities Coalition. “All the railroad tracks in the Southeast seem to meet in Macon. … Although it’s difficult for the train companies, we really have an air problem.”
Bibb County and part of Monroe County have been placed in a “nonattainment zone” for failing to achieve safe levels of fine particle pollution. This type of pollution, which includes soot, can penetrate deep into the lungs. The Macon area must reduce fine particle pollution to acceptable levels by 2009.
That’s too soon for the new locomotive rules to help much in the short term, said Jimmy Johnston, stateprogram manager for air quality planning in Georgia. But some of the engine improvements could happen sooner than required if federal grants come through, he said.
Georgia has applied for grants to replace some engines at Brosnan Yard, Norfolk Southern’s large Macon rail yard. The company would have to provide matching funds.
Johnston said state environmental officials have been talking with Norfolk Southern about voluntarily taking other steps to reduce air pollution, such as reducing idling and locating some of their newest switch engines in Macon. Switch engines, used to move cars around rail yards, tend to be some of the biggest generators of fine particle pollution.
RAILROADS
INCREASE EFFICIENCY
Anticipating the new rules, Norfolk Southern already has begun upgrading its 3,800 locomotives, with 73 percent now more efficient than in the past, company spokesman Susan Terpay said.
The average age of a Norfolk Southern locomotive is about 18 years, and the company rebuilds engines every six or seven years to extend the life of the locomotive, Terpay said.
But many old and new engines still idle frequently. Rail companies say some idling is unavoidable because the engine must run in cold temperatures to prevent freezing, and it’s also needed to run operating systems such as brake pressure, communications and air conditioning in the cab.
But Terpay said Norfolk Southern is starting to fit locomotives with a set of engines that can run in various combinations to power only the functions needed, reducing total air pollution. The company already has an idling reduction policy that it follows nationwide and at the Macon yard, she said.
In addition, Terpay said the company is using or testing other new technology to reduce idling, such as an automated shut-down feature and wireless capability so engines can be turned off from a distance.
Other major railways are also cleaning up their emissions. CSX voluntarily monitors and reduces its emissions and started aggressively buying new, cleaner locomotives at a rate of 100 a year, said Gary Sease, a CSX spokesman.
“We understand our obligation to reduce emissions,” he said. “We take that responsibility seriously.”
According to the company’s Web site, CSX is the railroad industry’s charter member of the EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership, designed to promote voluntary reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. The company also has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions through involvement in the EPA’s Climate Leaders Program.
CLEANER FUEL
Charise Stephens, executive director of the Clean Cities Coalition, said she has approached Norfolk Southern about switching to cleaner-burning biodiesel, with little response so far.
Such a change could reduce the amount of fine particle pollution produced by 12 percent per gallon, she said.
“That’s a lot of bang for your buck,” she said.
Stephens said similar efforts have been more successful in states such as Tennessee, whose leadership demonstrates active support for alternative fuel development.
Norfolk Southern has extensive operations in some Middle Georgia counties outside Macon. CSX operates mostly in the Milledgeville area and south of Macon around Cordele and Montezuma. Sandersville, in Washington County, is home to the local Sandersville Railroad.
Like Macon, several rural Middle Georgia counties have unsafe levels of fine particle pollution.
Wilkinson and Washington counties are not in a nonattainment zone, but they both have elevated soot levels for several years and face possible nonattainment designation in the future.
Studies have shown that most of the air pollution generated within the two counties comes from open burning of wood and leaves, but some comes from burning diesel. Both counties see a large amount of diesel truck and train traffic hauling away the kaolin mined there.
The Wilkinson County monitor is in Gordon next to a train track where Norfolk Southern frequently idles its engines, Johnston said. He said the EPD has requested that the company stop the practice there.
Gordon Mayor Kenneth Turner said local officials have also asked Norfolk Southern and local trucking companies to switch to a biodiesel blend. One trucking company agreed, but from the others “we’re getting a receptive ear but no commitments,” Turner said.
In Washington County, Sandersville Railroad has agreed to burn some biodiesel mix in their engines, said Theo McDonald, coordinator of the Washington County Air Quality Task Force.