Murphy, Blumenthal, Colleagues Urge EPA to Strengthen Standards for Freight Pollution Sources

Press Release

U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.) who led 46 of their colleagues in encouraging the Environmental Protection Agency to update technology standards for freight-related sources of pollution to address the high levels of air pollution in communities surrounding our nation's freight shipping facilities and freight transportation corridors.

In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, the lawmakers also requested information regarding EPA's regulatory schedule for updating freight-related emissions standards, technology assessments for mobile and non-mobile freight sources, and opportunities available to streamline rulemaking to update several emissions standards by 2025.

"We appreciate the EPA's demonstrated commitment to combatting environmental racism and advancing equal access to clean air, land and water. We specifically applaud the steps the EPA has taken to set criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. We encourage you to expand these efforts to include other freight sources, including locomotives, ocean-going vessels, and aircraft," the lawmakers wrote.

In the 10-20 years since the EPA has updated emissions standards for mobile and non-mobile freight-related emissions sources, new control technologies have become available, including zero-emissions and electric options. There are significant opportunities for reducing toxic air pollution in environmental justice communities while addressing the climate crisis.

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