LVXXU

Chapter VII: Addressing Environmental Aspects of TS&D Infrastructure
Figure 7-5 shows the relative scale of energy transport by vehicle type, accounting for the relative travel
distances of each energy product. t It does not reflect the observed sharp increase in liquid fuel transport by rail
and barge since 2012; it illustrates the relative importance of different transport modes for the movement of
different fuel types.
Figure 7-5. Quantities of Energy Transported by Mode (other than pipeline) in 2012, by Fuel Type and Accounting for
Distance Traveled (metric ton-miles per year) 81, u
Metric Ton-Miles/Yr
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
Rail Truck Marine
Vessel
Coal Fuel Oil Gasoline Crude Oil
Freight by rail is the dominant mode for transporting coal within the United States. Energy freight (which does not include pipelines) for liquid fuel
products is dominated by truck and marine transport modes.
Another significant area of interest related to air quality and TS&D infrastructure is criteria air pollutants in
the vicinity of ports and rail yards, where the density of vehicles leads to high concentrations of pollutants and
greater risks to nearby communities. 82 Studies have found that communities living in close proximity to rail
yards 83 and ports 84 are exposed to significantly higher concentrations of diesel particulate matter—including
fine particulate matter (PM 2.5
)—which is harmful to public health. When compared with the overall U.S.
population, research also has found that low-income and minority households are overrepresented in the
aggregate affected population, often by a factor of two or three. 85
t
Data are presented as metric ton-miles to enable comparison between the relative scale of liquid fuels and coal transport. This is
necessary because some energy products are transported over very short distances (e.g., liquid fuels) while others are transported
over much greater distances (e.g., coal).
u
“Gasoline” includes gasoline, aviation turbine fuel, and ethanol. “Fuel oil” include diesel and bunker fuels.
7-16 QER Report: Energy Transmission, Storage, and Distribution Infrastructure | April 2015