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Last week, Union Pacific Railroad signed a voluntary agreement with the California Air Resources Board under which the railroad will reduce diesel emissions at its nine largest yards in the state.

UP plans to spend about $20 million during the next three years to implement an emissions reduction program launched last fall. By June 2008, the Class I expects to reduce particulate emissions between 15 percent and 20 percent by eliminating non-essential locomotive idling; using lower sulfur diesel fuel sooner than required; stepping up a locomotive testing and repair program; and evaluating remote sensing technology to identify locomotives that emit pollutants at a high rate.

Since 2000, UP has reduced emissions at its Davis Yard in Roseville, Calif., 15 percent by changing processes and using technology, such as conducting locomotive tests further away from residences and installing automatic stop/start systems to limit locomotive idling. The Class I plans to use the same approach at its other California yards.