TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft resolutions to oppose the CARB/Railroad MOU governing diesel particulate emissions from locomotives and equipment; and
To support the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) rules relating to Diesel Particulate Control Measures for Clean Urban Transit Buses, Clean On-Road Solid Waste Collection Vehicles, and Clean On-Road School Buses for both public and private fleets.
DISCUSSION
[Description/Discussion]
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
[Fiscal Impact]
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
The need to improve air quality is established under Environmental Goal E4 of the City of Long Beach 2010 Strategic Plan. A specific Strategic Action was established under the Environment Goals of the 2010 Plan to collaborate with the Air Quality Management District (AQMD), Regional Water Quality Control Board, and other agencies in regional efforts to reduce pollution. (E1 .9) The 2010 Plan also called for the Long Beach Unified School District and Long Beach Transit to explore opportunities to reduce emissions from diesel bus fleets through conversion to clean air technology or other means compatible with operating and financial constraints. (E4.3) The AQMD recently undertook significant measures that are consistent with the goals of the 2010 Plan relative to diesel emissions from railroad operations and fleet vehicles, including public transit and school buses. These actions include a formal request to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to delay the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding - for the purposes of conducting public hearings - between CARB, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads that the AQMD considers "deeply flawed and is fraught with problems which cut across legal, technical and policy areas." The second action undertaken by the AQMD to improve air quality is the recommendation to adopt rules relating to Diesel Particu...
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