GWRSI to Pay Over $40M to Settle Locomotives CAA Breaches
1/24 1:27 PM
GWRSI to Pay Over $40M to Settle Locomotives CAA Breaches
OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the
Department of Justice today announced a settlement with Genesee & Wyoming
Railroad Services Inc. and numerous affiliated companies for violation of Clean
Air Act locomotive regulations.
The complaint, also filed today, alleges that GWRSI's diesel-fuel
locomotives with rebuilt engines failed to meet applicable EPA emission
standards, and that GWRSI did not perform required emissions-related
maintenance or keep records of maintenance performed. GWRSI estimates that it
will spend approximately $42 million to comply with consent decree requirements
which will reduce nitrogen oxides from its locomotives by approximately 469
tons per year and particulate matter emissions by 14 tons per year.
Due to cost and other considerations, locomotives and their engines are
typically rebuilt or remanufactured multiple times during their operational
lives. EPA regulations require that rebuilt locomotive engines use the latest
technology for that model year locomotive to reduce emissions.
The consent decree requires GWRSI to comply with this requirement for
rebuilt engines and take steps to ensure that it does not purchase or sell
locomotives that have been rebuilt without conforming to applicable emissions
standards. It also requires that GWRSI timely perform critical
emissions-related maintenance. To mitigate excess pollutants associated with
the alleged violations, the settlement requires GWRSI to remove from service
and permanently destroy 88 older locomotives that are required to meet any EPA
emission standards. GWRSI has further agreed that it will replace any
locomotives it has scrapped only with locomotives subject to and meeting EPA
emission standards. The consent decree requires GWRSI to pay a $1.35 million
civil penalty.
Logged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, the consent
decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.
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