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With reduced locomotive air emissions soon to be a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandate, Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) Sept. 6 began using a combustion-enhancing fuel additive aimed at reducing air pollution.

By Jan. 1, 2002, EPA's Tier 0 standard requires locomotive engines produced between 1973 and 2001 to produce reduced levels of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter.

TRRA since June has been conducting tests with the fuel additive RxP (produced by St. Petersburg, Fla.-based RxP Products Inc.); results show that soot emitted from locomotive stacks dropped between 40 percent and 92 percent compared with locomotives using untreated fuel.

TRRA also tested the additive in other railroad equipment, including graders and cranes, and found that carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and oxides of nitrogen levels dropped between 50 percent and 72 percent compared with equipment using non-treated fuel.

The 207-mile railroad now adds RxP to every locomotive fueled at its St. Louis site.

"Not only have we reduced air pollution, but because our engines are burning cleaner and more efficiently, we're realizing a net fuel savings of approximately $110,000 annually," said TRRA President W. D. Spencer in a prepared statement.