---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 10909"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "10909"
heading: "Solid waste rail transfer facility land-use exemption"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/10909"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part A — Rail"
  - "Chapter 109 — Licensing"
---

# §10909. Solid waste rail transfer facility land-use exemption

- (a) **Authority.—** The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may issue a land-use exemption for a solid waste rail transfer facility that is or is proposed to be operated by or on behalf of a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) if—
  - (1) the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) finds that a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8), local, or municipal law, regulation, order, or other requirement affecting the siting of such facility unreasonably burdens the interstate [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of solid waste by [railroad](/usc/49/10102.md?p=6), discriminates against the [railroad](/usc/49/10102.md?p=6) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of solid waste and a solid waste rail transfer facility, or a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) that owns or operates such a facility petitions the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) for such an exemption; or
  - (2) the Governor of a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) in which a facility that is operating as of the date of enactment of the Clean Railroads Act of 2008 is located, or his or her designee, petitions the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) to initiate a permit proceeding for that particular facility.
- (b) **Land-Use Exemption Procedures.—** Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Clean Railroads Act of 2008, the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) shall publish procedures governing the submission and review of applications for solid waste rail transfer facility land-use exemptions. At a minimum, the procedures shall address—
  - (1) the information that each application should contain to explain how the solid waste rail transfer facility will not pose an unreasonable risk to public health, safety, or the environment;
  - (2) the opportunity for public notice and comment including notification of the municipality, the [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8), and any relevant Federal or [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) regional planning entity in the jurisdiction of which the solid waste rail transfer facility is proposed to be located;
  - (3) the timeline for [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) review, including a requirement that the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) approve or deny an exemption within 90 days after the full record for the application is developed;
  - (4) the expedited review timelines for petitions for modifications, amendments, or revocations of granted exemptions;
  - (5) the process for a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) to petition the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) to require a solid waste transfer facility or a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) that owns or operates such a facility to apply for a siting permit; and
  - (6) the process for a solid waste transfer facility or a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) that owns or operates such a facility to petition the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) for a land-use exemption.
- (c) **Standard for Review.—**
  - (1) The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may only issue a land-use exemption if it determines that the facility at the existing or proposed location does not pose an unreasonable risk to public health, safety, or the environment. In deciding whether a solid waste rail transfer facility that is or proposed to be constructed or operated by or on behalf of a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) poses an unreasonable risk to public health, safety, or the environment, the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) shall weigh the particular facility’s potential benefits to and the adverse impacts on public health, public safety, the environment, interstate commerce, and [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of solid waste by rail.
  - (2) The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may not grant a land-use exemption for a solid waste rail transfer facility proposed to be located on land within any unit of or land affiliated with the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Wilderness Preservation System, the National Trails System, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, a National Reserve, a National Monument, or lands referenced in Public Law 108–421 for which a [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) has implemented a conservation management plan, if operation of the facility would be inconsistent with restrictions placed on such land.
- (d) **Considerations.—** When evaluating an application under this section, the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) shall consider and give due weight to the following, as applicable:
  - (1) the land-use, zoning, and siting regulations or solid waste planning requirements of the [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) or [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) subdivision in which the facility is or will be located that are applicable to solid waste transfer facilities, including those that are not owned or operated by or on behalf of a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5);
  - (2) the land-use, zoning, and siting regulations or solid waste planning requirements applicable to the property where the solid waste rail transfer facility is proposed to be located;
  - (3) regional [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) planning requirements developed pursuant to Federal and [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) law;
  - (4) regional solid waste disposal plans developed pursuant to [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) or Federal law;
  - (5) any Federal and [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) environmental protection laws or regulations applicable to the site;
  - (6) any unreasonable burdens imposed on the interstate [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of solid waste by [railroad](/usc/49/10102.md?p=6), or the potential for discrimination against the [railroad](/usc/49/10102.md?p=6) [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) of solid waste, a solid waste rail transfer facility, or a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) that owns or operates such a facility; and
  - (7) any other relevant factors, as determined by the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1).
- (e) **Existing Facilities.—** Upon the granting of a petition from the [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) in which a solid waste rail transfer facility is operating as of the date of enactment of the Clean Railroads Act of 2008 by the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1), the facility shall submit a complete application for a siting permit to the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) pursuant to the procedures issued pursuant to [subsection (b)](#b). No [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) may enforce a law, regulation, order, or other requirement affecting the siting of a facility that is operating as of the date of enactment of the Clean Railroads Act of 2008 until the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) has approved or denied a permit pursuant to [subsection (c)](#c).
- (f) **Effect of Land-Use Exemption.—** If the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) grants a land-use exemption to a solid waste rail transfer facility, all [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) laws, regulations, orders, or other requirements affecting the siting of a facility are preempted with regard to that facility. An exemption may require compliance with such [State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) laws, regulations, orders, or other requirements.
- (g) **Injunctive Relief.—** Nothing in this section precludes a [person](/usc/49/13102.md?p=18) from seeking an injunction to enjoin a solid waste rail transfer facility from being constructed or operated by or on behalf of a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) if that facility has materially violated, or will materially violate, its land-use exemption or if it failed to receive a valid land-use exemption under this section.
- (h) **Fees.—** The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may charge permit applicants reasonable fees to implement this section, including the costs of third-party consultants.
- (i) **Definitions.—** In this section the terms “solid waste”, “solid waste rail transfer facility”, and “[State](/usc/49/10102.md?p=8) requirements” have the meaning given such terms in [section 10908(e)](/usc/49/10908.md?p=e).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–432, div. A, title VI, § 604(a), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4903; amended Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title XI, § 11316(b), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1676.)

## Notes

### References in Text

The date of enactment of the Clean Railroads Act of 2008, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2), (b), and (e), is the date of enactment of title VI of div. A of Pub. L. 110–432, which was approved Oct. 16, 2008.

Public Law 108–421, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is Pub. L. 108–421, Nov. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2375, known as the Highlands Conservation Act, which is not classified to the Code.

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

For prior section 10909, see note set out under section 10907 of this title.

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–94, § 11316(b)(1), substituted “Clean Railroads Act of 2008” for “Clean Railroad Act of 2008” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–94, § 11316(b)(2), substituted “Upon the granting of a petition from the State” for “Upon the granting of petition from the State”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.