Diesel Emissions
Emissions Task Force
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Divided into 6 sub groups
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Locomotive Group
Car Group
Ventilation Group
Fuel Group
Emissions Testing Group
Funding Group
Metra's Testing Timeline
3 Phases
 Phase 1 – Rail cars
 Phase 2 – Station Platforms
 Phase 3 – Engineer locomotive cabs, cab
cars, and shops
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Phase 1 – Rail Cars
Three sampling sites per train, first two
cars after engine and rear cab car
 Testing runs already completed on Rock
Island, Burlington Northern, Milwaukee
District, and Union Pacific as of this week.
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Diesel Exhaust Components
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Particulate matter
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
Carbon (elemental and organic)
Aldehydes
Benzene
Carbon monoxide
Nitric Oxide
Nitrogen Dioxide
Sulfur Dioxide
Metra's Testing Protocol
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Direct read instruments
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Provides real time data collection
 Sampling for Total Particulate, PM 2.5,
Carbon, Carbon Monoxide, Nitric Oxide,
Nitrogen Dioxide, and Sulfur Dioxide
 Includes same aethalometer used in Tribune
article
Metra's Testing Protocol
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Active sampling instruments
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Provides laboratory analytical results
 Sampling for Polynuclear Aromatic
Hydrocarbons, Benzene Vapors and Carbon
Metra's Testing Protocol
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Metra Locomotive Tiers
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Unregulated
 Tier 0
 Tier 0+
 Tier 1
Relevant Regulatory Agencies
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EPA – Environmental Protection Agency
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Establishes National Ambient Air Quality
Standards
 Establishes Locomotive Standards
Relevant Regulatory Agencies
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OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
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Deals with occupational exposure and
establishes permissible exposure limits for
employees
Relevant Regulatory Agencies
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No exposure guidelines for elemental
carbon or black soot have been
established for the general public (Metra's
ridership)
Metra In-House Committees
All Groups have had a committee meeting
 Emissions Testing Group
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Established no regulatory agency has a
threshold for carbon 2.5 or nano-particles and
therefore has no level established
 Asking group to come up with
recommendation based on a study or
guideline
Metra In-House Committees
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Locomotive Group
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Exhaust after treatment (Doc)
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25% particulate reduction on Tier 0, Tier 1, Tier 0+
Engine changes to turbocharger and possible
injectors
Metra In-House Committees
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Car Group
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Filters
 Air intake on cars
 Car pressurization
 Ventilation design of older cars for future
changes during rehabilitation
Metra In-House Committees
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Ventilation Group
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Working with Amtrak to discuss contracts and
agreements with adjacent building owners for
maintenance and operation at CUS
 Procedures for shutting down equipment and
using standby power at all locations
Metra In-House Committees
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Fuel Group
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Switching to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
(ULSD) April 1, 2011
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Has industry proven reduction in particulate of 8%
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Fuel additives were discussed and not a
verifiable reduction
 Alternate fuels
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Grants have recently been awarded to look at
Bio-Diesel
Metra In-House Committees
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Funding Group
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Small allocation are only available which we
will pursue
 Metra’s needs are significant to reduce these
emissions and will require a large capital
investment
Phase 2 – Station Platforms
Air sampling completed at Chicago Union
Station in July 2010
 Sampling to be performed at Ogilvie
Transportation Center and LaSalle Street
Station in January 2011
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Phase 3 – Engineer Cab Cars
Plans to test engineer locomotive cab and
cab cars after station platforms
 Identify any engineer exposure during a
work day
 Test our shops and layover facilities
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