The California Air Resources Board will consider regulating emissions from locomotives operating in the state on Thursday.

Resolution 23-12, “Proposed In-Use Locomotive Regulation,” will attempt to ban the use of locomotive engines more than 23 years old by 2030. The order would prohibit idling for longer than 30 minutes if locomotives have an automatic shutoff.

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“Staff estimates that cumulatively, from 2023 to 2050, the Proposed Regulation will reduce emissions by over 7,300 tons of PM2.5, 386,200 tons of NOx, and 21.6 million metric tons of GHGs, relative to the baseline,” the item summary states.

The proposal highlights the adverse health effects caused by locomotive rail cars that run near California cities such as Commerce, Oakland, and San Bernardino. The rail cars run on diesel, creating toxic emissions known to lead to cancer and worsen asthma, heart illness, hospitalizations, lung disease, and premature death, according to the board’s resolution.

“Disadvantaged communities are often more affected by these emissions because of their close proximity to where locomotives are operated,” the item summary reads.

The board will present its environmental analysis, complying with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, outlining the beneficial effects the proposal could have on the environment, as well as other operational factors. Implementing the rule could lead to new jobs or expanding manufacturers focused on zero-emission locomotive technologies.

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The summary states the total estimated cost of implementing this ban would be $13.8 billion from 2023 to 2050. However, the estimated statewide quotation that would result in a decrease in negative health impacts is $32 billion.

If passed, the ban would be regarded as the first and strictest of its kind in the nation. California must get authorization from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to process the rule.