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Mayor says EPA closed inquiry into WATCO locomotive-generator noise; railroad exempt from local ordinance
Summary
Mayor Jim Retzer told the council that the city has received neighbor complaints about a locomotive-temperature-maintaining generator; WATCO explained operations to the EPA, which closed its inquiry, and the mayor said the railroad is exempt from the Noise Control Ordinance.
Mayor Jim Retzer briefed the council on neighbor complaints about a generator used to maintain locomotive temperatures that runs in cold weather in 45-minute intervals with 10–15 minute breaks. Retzer said he and Public Works Hammer met with WATCO and affected neighbors and that WATCO provided a full explanation of operations to the EPA; the EPA closed the investigation. Retzer stated the section of rail is a maintenance line and that the railroad is federally regulated and exempt from the city's Noise Control Ordinance.
"The railroad is exempt from the provisions of the Noise Control Ordinance," Retzer told the council while describing meetings with WATCO and neighbors. He said the generator is used as a quieter alternative to running the locomotive engine itself when temperatures drop below 50 degrees.
The update was informational; no regulatory action by the council was taken at the meeting. Retzer asked council members to be aware of ongoing discussions between WATCO, affected residents and city staff.
