Committed to green rail yard

Re “Railroad’s ‘green’ claim is way off track,” Opinion, March 10

Angelo Logan misleads readers about BNSF Railway’s commitment to cleaning up its yards throughout California. BNSF entered into historic agreements in 1998 and 2005 with the California Air Resources Board, whose authority includes the South Coast Air Basin. As a result, BNSF will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions 65% by 2010 via retrofitting locomotives with emission reduction kits, purchasing cleaner locomotives and yard equipment, and evaluating new technologies such as liquefied natural gas and multi-engine switch locomotives.

Moreover, the health risk assessment to which Logan referred, to which the railway agreed under the Air Resources Board agreement, found that a majority of the effects of air quality around the Commerce rail yards are from other sources, including nearby highways.

BNSF’s proposed Southern California International Gateway facility would be the greenest intermodal rail yard in the United States and provide much-needed jobs. The facility would also provide flexibility to consider further improvements at Hobart.

Growth requires the goods movement industry to set the standard for environmental stewardship, and BNSF is committed to doing so.

Mark Stehly

Fort Worth, Texas

The writer is the assistant vice president for environment and research development at BNSF Railway.