Responding to the concerns of citizens in various parts of the Commonwealth about the detrimental effects of coal dust emissions on their quality of life, the General Assembly initiated an informal study of the subject following introduction of legislation at its 1991 Session. A formal study of ways to reduce emissions from coal carrying railroad cars was established in 1992 (Senate Joint Resolution No. 1) and continued in 1993 (Senate Joint Resolution No. 201), 1994 (Senate Joint Resolution No. 27, 1995, Senate Joint Resolution No. 267), and 1996 (Senate Joint Resolution No. 34).

In recent years, some citizens and businesses residing along various railroad lines have reported periodic problems arising from coal dust emissions. Occurring primarily during the hot, dry months of summer, incidents of coal dust blowing from trains have generated complaints of the dusting settling on homes, automobiles, decks and outdoor furniture, necessitating their repeated cleaning. Citizens depict the coal dust as a costly nuisance that requires doors and windows to remain closed and children to be kept indoors.

Many complaints of coal dust emissions came from areas of the Commonwealth situated along tracks used for coal transport by Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS), a large Virginia-based railroad. Responding to the concerns of legislators and their constituents, as well as its interest in reducing material loss during transit, NS retained a consultant to conduct a comprehensive study of the issue. The Joint Subcommittee, at each of its meetings, received updates on the study's progress, and a report was presented to the panel in January of 1994.

Throughout its study, the Joint Subcommittee has endeavored to seek solutions to abate the fugitive coal dust problem without over-solving it, thereby balancing the interests of affected citizens and businesses, rail companies and coal producers and protecting the Commonwealth's economic vitality. This attempt at balance led to several continuations of the study until, at its 1996 Session, the General Assembly provided for the final extension of the mandate of the Joint Subcommittee for the sole purpose of permitting a year-long evaluation of the effectiveness of Subcommittee for the sole purpose of permitting a year-long evaluation of the effectiveness of dust-suppressing technology put in place through cooperative efforts by coal producers and the railroad industry. This evaluation is now complete and the profiling and crusting program appears to be sufficiently successful in reducing the amount of coal dust blown from moving trains that the present study can be ended. However, the Joint Subcommittee recommends to the General Assembly a draft joint resolution requesting annual informational updates on coal dust suppression activities to enable prompt legislative action, should that prove necessary.