Letters

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-TX), Chairman of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, led fellow T&I Committee Republicans in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deny California Air Resource Board’s (CARB’s) authorization request to establish new emissions standards, procedures, financial assessments, and reporting requirements on railroad operations through its In-Use Locomotive Regulation.  Under the Clean Air Act, EPA must approve CARB’s petition.

31 additional T&I Republicans joined Chairman Graves and Chairman Nehls in sending the letter to EPA Administrator Regan.

T&I Republicans are among a growing list of organizations representing rail, agriculture growers and shippers, local governments, manufacturers, other U.S. businesses, and labor unions that oppose the rule.

In the letter, T&I Republicans highlight how the proposed rule will raise costs for shippers and cost jobs. Additionally, Members point to CARB’s own acknowledgment that the rule will lead to the elimination of several short line railroads. Many of these Class II and III railroads are small businesses which comprise 29 percent of freight rail operations in the United States.

Click here to read the full letter to the EPA.