Massachusetts HD 453: An Act establishing time limits for idling trains

Bill Text

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 453 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3268

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
John Barrett, III
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing time limits for idling trains.
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PETITION OF:

NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
John Barrett, III 1st Berkshire 1/13/2023
Smitty Pignatelli 3rd Berkshire 1/24/2023
Carole A. Fiola 6th Bristol 2/9/2023
Rodney M. Elliott 16th Middlesex 6/22/2023
Mike Connolly 26th Middlesex 6/26/2023
Norman J. Orrall 12th Bristol 6/26/2023
Ryan M. Hamilton 15th Essex 6/27/2023
Lindsay N. Sabadosa 1st Hampshire 6/28/2023
Tram T. Nguyen 18th Essex 6/28/2023
Michelle L. Ciccolo 15th Middlesex 6/28/2023
Susan Williams Gifford 2nd Plymouth 6/28/2023
Brian W. Murray 10th Worcester 6/30/2023
Rob Consalvo 14th Suffolk 7/3/2023
Sal N. DiDomenico Middlesex and Suffolk 7/12/2023
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf 17th Worcester 8/3/2023
James Arciero 2nd Middlesex 8/3/2023

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 453 FILED ON: 1/13/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3268
By Representative Barrett of North Adams, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3268) of
John Barrett, III, Smitty Pignatelli and Carole A. Fiola for legislation to establish idling time
limits for trains. Transportation.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 852 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act establishing time limits for idling trains.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:

1 Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
2 Section 28. No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit a locomotive train engine to
3 idle longer than 30 minutes. The department of environmental protection shall investigate all
4 reported cases of train idling in excess of 30 minutes. During its investigation, the department
5 shall conduct emission tests to determine the level of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon
6 monoxides, and sulfur dioxide being released from the train.
7 Emission levels shall not exceed those of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
8 trains as previously determined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. If it is

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9 determined that these emission levels have been exceeded, the violator shall be fined no less than
10 $5,000 for each violation.