The Clean Air Act impacts on rail coal

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Public Utilities Fortnightly; (United States)

OSTI ID:6248806

Sharp, R G ^[1]

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1. Transport and Management Consultants, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States)

These factors are examined in this article. In November 1990, President Bush signed the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 into law. Title IV, concerning acid rain control, calls for a two-phase reduction in power plant sulfur-dioxide emissions, culminating in a nationwide cap after the year 2000. A large part of this reduction will be obtained through substituting low-sulfur coals for the higher-sulfur fuels now used. Most commentators have characterized this legislation as a boon for low-sulfur coal producers and the railroads serving them. If, as projected, up to one-eighth of existing coal-burning plants shift to more distant suppliers, a surge in rail traffic would ensue. Whether this traffic originates at eastern or western mines, rail carriers would obtain longer hauls and greater coal volumes. We have examined the rail transport implications of the amendments and found that the potential rail benefits may be exaggerated. Although traffic volume will grow, margins on some new traffic are likely to be eroded by continued rate competition and reduced productivity. To satisfy coal transport needs in the 1990s, factors that challenge rail productivity must be recognized and resolved.

• OSTI ID: 6248806
• Journal Information: Public Utilities Fortnightly; (United States), Journal Name: Public Utilities Fortnightly; (United States) Vol. 127:5; ISSN 0033-3808; ISSN PUFNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
013000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
CAPITALIZED COST
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COST
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
LAND TRANSPORT
LAWS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MIXING
OPERATING COST
PLANNING
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION LAWS
RAIL TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT
US CLEAN AIR ACT