BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— Community and environmental groups reached a settlement today with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Bakersfield Crude Terminal and Plains All American that will reduce air emissions and increase safety at the largest crude-by-rail terminal operating in California.
Today’s settlement of a 2015 lawsuit requires the Bakersfield Crude Terminal in Taft, Calif. to use safer tank cars, swap some diesel equipment for electrical equipment or offset nitrogen oxide emissions, cease unnecessary engine idling of onsite equipment and increase monitoring for flammable or toxic air pollutants.
“Safer tank cars rolling on our rails and less diesel emissions will help protect the lowincome communities of color that are being impacted every day by the transport of fossil fuels,” said Andres Soto, an organizer with Communities for a Better Environment.