Active Agreements

Railway Association of Canada

Memorandum of Understanding regarding locomotive emissions with the Railway Association of Canada

Full text of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (HTML) (PDF; 76.8 KB)

Purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding
Signatories (Period in effect)
Targets
Results
Contact
Background
- Responses to Comments

Purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes a framework through which the Railway Association of Canada (RAC), its member companies (Annex 1), Environment Canada (EC), and Transport Canada (TC) will address emissions of criteria air contaminants (CAC) and greenhouse gases (GHG) from railway locomotives operated by railway companies in Canada.

Signatories (Period in effect)

The MOU has been negotiated between Transport Canada, Environment Canada and the Railway Association of Canada, on behalf of its member companies (Annex 1). This agreement is in effect until December 31, 2010

Targets

GHG-related commitments: to achieve by 2010 aggregate GHG emissions intensity levels.

CAC-related commitments: to increase the number of locomotives meeting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards and to retire older locomotives.

Results

The Railway Association of Canada has published its fifth annual report on the performance of the railway industry under the Memorandum of Understanding from 2006-2010. The report, entitled Locomotive Emissions Monitoring Program 2010, covers the operating year 2010.

Also available:

Contact

Patricia MacLellan
A/Manager
Strategies and Outreach
Transportation Division
Environment Canada
351 St. Joseph Blvd
Gatineau QC  K1A 0H3
Telephone. 819-953-0637

Background

On April 26, 2007, the Government introduced mandatory reduction targets for all major industries that produce greenhouse gases. The Government also set smog-forming emissions targets that will help clean our air and protect the health of Canadians. The complete text is posted on the regulatory framework website.

The transportation sector, as a major contributor to both air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, will also have to meet stringent targets and standards. Regarding locomotive emissions, the Government will

"support an MOU [Memorandum of Understanding] with the Railway Association of Canada that is consistent with the U.S. air pollution standards and that ensures that the rail industry continues to improve its greenhouse gas emission performance during the period 2006-2010. Once the MOU expires, the voluntary approach will be replaced with a regulatory regime. The Minister of Transport will implement new regulations, under the Railway Safety Act, to take effect in 2011."

Fulfilling this commitment, Environment Canada, Transport Canada and the Railway Association of Canada agreed on a draft MOU that meets the criteria of Environment Canada's policy framework for Environmental Performance Agreements.

Responses to Comments

The draft MOU was posted on Environment Canada's Environmental Performance Agreements website for a 15-day public consultation period, which ended on April 20, 2007. Based on the comments received, it was decided to not modify the draft MOU. The MOU was signed by the Ministers of Environment and Transport and the President of the Railway Association of Canada on May 15, 2007.

Also available are the comments received by Environment Canada on the draft MOU, and responses to those comments.