348109.1
RESOLUTION NO. ____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BARSTOW OPPOSING CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD’S IN-USE LOCOMOTIVE
REGULATION
WHEREAS, the City of Barstow was founded as, and continues to be, a railroad and logistic hub; and
WHEREAS, thousands of Barstow residents and surrounding community members are employed, directly and indirectly, by railroads, and the wider logistics industry; and WHEREAS, rail is the most efficient method to move goods across the West and into America, with every container moved by rail being one less container moved by truck; and WHEREAS, the California Air Resources Board has adopted a well-intentioned, but unworkable in practice new regulation, the In-Use Locomotive Regulation, which will severely curtail the rail industry’s ability to meet the supply chain challenges for the nation for the present and future by forcing railroads to use technology that does not yet exist and by converting lofty aspirational goals into impossible to meet requirements; and WHEREAS, the new regulation, if implemented fully, would threaten thousands of wellpaying local jobs; and WHEREAS, the new regulation, if implemented fully, could prevent the Barstow community from having the opportunity for the Barstow International Gateway Project to come to fruition; and
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BARSTOW CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Recitals. The City Council finds that all the facts, findings, and conclusions set forth above in this Resolution are true and correct.
SECTION 2. Opposition to California Air Resources Board’s In-Use Locomotive Regulation. The City Council of the City of Barstow declares its opposition to the California Air Resources Board’s In-Use Locomotive Regulation, and further requests the United States Environmental Protection Agency to not approve the pending request by the California Air Resources Board that the United States Environmental Protection Agency authorize the In-Use Locomotive Regulation pursuant to section 209(e) of the Clean Air Act. Instead, the City Council urges the United States Environmental Protection Agency to reject the California Air Resources Board’s approach to locomotive regulation and support a more collaborative approach to accelerate the commercial viability of lower- and zero-emission locomotives, while maintaining jobs, the local Barstow, and wider California and national, economy and the national supply chain.
348109.1
SECTION 3. Certification and Comment Letter. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution as required by law. The City Council directs the City Manager, or designee, to transmit a copy of the Resolution, along with a formal opposition comment letter, to the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the City’s elected federal and state representatives.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Barstow at a regular meeting of said Council held on ______________________, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
_______________________________
Dr. Paul A. Courtney, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________ ____________________________ City Clerk City Attorney