SOUTH COAST BOLSTERS LEGAL ARGUMENT TO CHARGE RAILROAD FEES

South Coast air district officials are bolstering legal arguments to convince legislators to back a bill enabling the district to assess fees on railroads to mitigate locomotive emissions. The legislation is considered critical for the district to overcome regulatory blockades for federal sources of pollution, but is being strongly opposed by the railroads, which argue the district is preempted by federal law from charging the fees. SB 459 (Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles), which contains the South Coast air district's...