The letter summarizes the freight railroads' commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in response to the President's call for businesses to cut emissions intensity by 18% over the next decade. It notes that railroads are already three times more fuel efficient than trucks. The railroads plan to achieve a projected goal of a 15% reduction in emissions intensity by 2012 through innovative fuel efficiency initiatives, improved operating practices, and cooperation with the Department of Energy on research. The letter requests the Department of Energy's continued support for public-private efforts to improve railroad fuel efficiency.

1. ASSOCIATION OF AImCAN RAILROADS
50 F STREE, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001
Telephone: (202) 639-2400
Fax: (202) 639-2286
Edward R. Hamberger
President and Chief Executive officer
September 12, 2002
The Honorable James Connaughton
Chairman
Council on Environmental Quality
722 Jackson Place, N.W.
Washington, DC 20503
Dear Mr. Chairman:
the President's
the nation's Class I freight railroads,
I am pleased to address, on behalf of
reduction in the intensity of their
call for American businesses to achieve an I18 percent
the next decade.
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over
friendly mode of surface transportation.
Railroads are by far the most environmenally to
trucks, offer substantial opportunities
Freight trains, which can carry the load of up to 500 and bridge
respon ily, and reduce massive highway
decrease traffic congestion, use land
infrastruct1ure expenses.
that
Department of Transportation has stated
Interms of energy consumption, the gas
Because the amount of greenhouse
railroads are three times more fuel-efficient than trucks. of
is directly related to the energy efficiency
emissions released per unit of transportation service fewer GHG than
means~ that railroads emit three times
the mode providing that service, this fact, if just ten percent of the freight
moving by
trucks for the same transportation service. of millions of gallons of fuel -- and
highway were shifted to rail, the nation would save hundreds activity)
(the leading GHG associated with human
emit 2.5 million fewer tons of carbon dioxide
-- each year.
to 406
fuel efficiency by 72 percent, from 235
Since 1980, railroads have improvj. their 2.6 billion gallons
thisimrv en saved the nation some
ton-miles per gallon,. In 2001 alone, Put another way, a gallon of diesel
fuel
of diesel fuel and 30' million tons of carboAdoie

2. fuel
in 1980. In 2001, the same amount Of
moved one ton of freight an average of 235 miles
of 406 mules.
moved one ton of freight an average
cutting their
to continue to make great strides in
Looking to the future, railroads expect save fuel by
implementing innovative ways to
GHO emissions. Railroads are aggressively auxiliary power units that allow the
reducing locomotive idling, including the intr4Auction of
railroads and their suppliers have
main locomotive engine to be shut down. Sep.arately, and lower pollution.
would jnave greater fuel efficiency
cooperated to design locomotives that DC and
have resulted in recent years in 1 'he development of the higher horsepower resulting
These efforts traditional units
new engines to do the work of three
AC locomotives, which enable two Railroads are also improving operating
in even greater fuel efficiency and lower pollution. further reduce fuel consumption and
practices to enhance asset utilization -- a change that will ihDEsOfc
on a cooperatv etr
emissions. Most recently, railroads have embarked of improving railroad fuel
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energ~y to explore methods
efficiency.
would
ciae announcement, he said that the nation
in the President's February 14, 2002 We will
lookig at every sector of our economy.
need to "move forward on many fronts, emissions... .We will build on [past]
successes
challenge American businesses to further redue
J"
with new agreements and greater reductions
reduce
I freight railroads will seek ways to
in response to the President's challenge, Class of their
an iS percent reduction in the intensity
emissions, with a projected goal of for traffic levels (as measured in ton
greenhouse gas emissions adjusted safe and
transportation-related while at the same time providing the
miles) by the year 2012 (using 2002 as a baseline), the demands of the nation's economy. In
necessarw to meet
economical transportation services Surface
make use of existing data that the federal the
their activities in this regard, the railroads wUIill submit, including
requires Class I freight railroads to
Transportation Board (STB) already carry -- both of which are
andI the total ton miles they
total gallons of diesel fuel they consume Reports.
derived from the STB's R-lI Annual
The idusty's o corsil
ffors, also depend upon DOE's funding the above- as
to improve railroad fuel efficiency
desriedoenetri industry'efotf courper 1 'tive venture
to do. As DOE acknowledged, a joint
DOE had previously indicated it was prepared the public and a win for industry.
We
research program caiSn be a win for federal
industry/government in-kind contributions -- coupled with
concur with DOE that industry expertise and laboratories -- are necessary for an
government funding and the resources of DOE's national
executed.
effective program to be planned and
industry's
ith you on a regular basis as to the
I look forward to communicating w
area.
continuing progress in this important
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3. in the environment, and in the
Thank you for Your interest in the railroIad industry,
nation's future.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Hamberger
cc: The Honorable Andrew Card
Chief of Staff to the President
The Honorable Norman Mineta
Secretary of Transportation
The Honorable Spencer Abraham
Secretary Of Energy
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