Washington, D.C. —Congressmen John Moolenaar (R-MI), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Craig Goldman (R-TX) introduced the LOCOMOTIVES Act to limit the State of California’s ability to place unsustainable regulations on trains crossing into the state. The legislation revises Section 209 of the Clean Air Act to close a loophole that allows the California Air Resources Board to request waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency, which would require interstate trains to abide by environmental standards stricter than the federal government’s, creating inconsistency across state lines and interfering with interstate commerce.
Rep. Moolenaar quoted the Supply Chain Federation in its press release.
This bill is in response to CARB’s In-Use Locomotives Regulation. In 2023, the California Air Resources Board requested a waiver from the EPA prohibiting trains older than 23 years from operating in the state unless they operate on a zero-emissions configuration. Although the waiver was withdrawn, California can resubmit a similar request anytime. If California’s waiver request had been granted, effectively two-thirds of all currently operating trains could not cross into the state, leaving them unable to access two of the largest ports in the country.
Last year, the Supply Chain Federation and Rebuild SoCal Partnership authored a joint op-ed opposing the regulation, citing issues in costs, significant infrastructure challenges, lack of available technologies, and incompatibility with other states.
As efforts to expand state-level regulatory authority continue, the LOCOMOTIVES Act is a crucial step in preserving federal consistency, protecting freight fluidity, and preventing supply chain disruptions. The Supply Chain Federation will continue to monitor and engage as this bill advances and additional legislation emerges.
If you have any questions, please contact SCF Chief Public Policy and Advocacy Officer Sarah Wiltfong at sarah@supplychainfederation.com.
