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I' /1- /~ Legislative Bill Action ............................................................... priated and may be encumbered in any year in which a Budget Act has not been enacted by July 1 for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. AB 697 would authorize the Controller to make estimates in order to impÎement these provisions. Staff: Liisa Lawson Stark; Status: AsApps; Failed Pas- sage; Position: Co-Sponsor. ENVIRONMENTAL AB 888 (De La Torre). SB 459 (Romero). AB 1222 (Jones). Air Quality. Railroads. South Coast Air Quality Management District. Numerous cities have inquired about the League's position on a package of bills sponsored by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) dealing with air emissions and air quality problems related to railroads. Two of the bills, AB 888 and SB 459 apply only to the area under the jurisdiction of th¿ SCAQMD; one bill, AB 1222, applies statewide. The SCAQMD includes all of Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. After review by the League's Environmental Quality Policy Committee and Board of Directors the League has adopted a support position on A8 1222, the bill with statewide application. To date, some divisions have adopted support positions on both bills and some have either a watch or have not taken a position. Because the other two bills apply only the geographicalwithin the SCAQMD, it .is not appropriate for the League to take a position on them until the appropriate League divisions take positions. . . Below is a short description of the bills (adapted from material provided by the SCAQMD), including their status. AS 888 (De La Torre). Re~rofit Requirement for Rail Yard Equipment. AB 888 would require mobile compression jgnition diesel powered equip- ment operatil19 at rail yards within the SCAQMD jurisdiçtion to be retråfitted or capable of using alternative fuel. Emissions from equipment within rail yards and other intermodal facilities are ex- pected to significantiy increase as train traffic increases due to international trade activity. Train traffic in the SCAQMD area is expected to qua- druple by 2025. In order to attain state and federal standards for ozone and PM2.5, as well as reduce toxic air contaminants, it is necessary that emis- sions from rail yard equipment be controlled or mitigated. Staff: Yvonne Hunter; Status: AsApps; Position: Review and Comment. SB 459 (Romero). Locomotive Emission Mitigation. SB 459 would authorize a mitigation fee for locomotive emissions based on their hours of operation within the SCAQMD jurisdiction. The bill would authorize SCAQMD to use these funds to reduce like emissions from sources operating within the south coast air basin with emphasis on commu- nities most impacted by emissions from railroad operations. Staff: Yvonne Hunter; Status: Passed Senate; Pending in Assembly; Position: Review and Comment. AB 1222 (Jones). Locomotive and Railroad Operations. Remote Sensing. AB 1222 would initiate a statewide remote sensing program to monitor air pollutants emitted from locomotives and railroad operations. Remote sensing would be required in those areas of the state with the highest air poll~tion levels and in upwind areas contributing to the high levels. The bill also will require the California Air Resources Board to establish a program to identify higher emitting locomotives and request voluntary repair or tune-up by the operator. Stan: Yvonne Hunter; Stat~~: AsApps, Sus- pense; Position: Support. S8 928 (Perata/Lowenthal). Solid Waste. AB 939. SB 928 will be the legislative vehicle in the Senate to address a number of recycling and solid waste related issues this legislative session. While a variety of spot bills have been introduced in the Senate to address this topic, the information coming from the Capitol is that one bill will serve as the vehicle, as opposed to ~ividing up the different topics among different bills and authors. For example, SB 420 (Simitian), which simply proposes to increase the AB 939 diversion goals to 75 per- cent by 2015, wilrnot move in its current form. PAGE 10/PRIORITY FOCUS www.cacities.org