US senators want air pollution reduced at ports, railyards

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A group of U.S. senators, all Democrats, are asking federal regulators to do more to cut air pollution around port cities and railyards.

New Jersey Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker joined New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin and Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley on Wednesday in a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce emissions at ports and freight railyards.

The lawmakers say many of the ports and railyards are located near lower-income neighborhoods and those residents are disproportionately exposed to high levels of air pollution resulting in serious health problems.