diff --git a/torchx/schedulers/local_scheduler.py b/torchx/schedulers/local_scheduler.py
index a7c3cbfa7..73fadd73e 100644
--- a/torchx/schedulers/local_scheduler.py
+++ b/torchx/schedulers/local_scheduler.py
@@ -27,7 +27,17 @@
 from dataclasses import asdict, dataclass
 from datetime import datetime
 from types import FrameType
-from typing import Any, BinaryIO, Callable, Dict, Iterable, List, Optional, TextIO
+from typing import (
+    Any,
+    BinaryIO,
+    Callable,
+    Dict,
+    Iterable,
+    List,
+    Optional,
+    TextIO,
+    Tuple,
+)
 
 from torchx.schedulers.api import (
     AppDryRunInfo,
@@ -658,29 +668,11 @@ def _popen(
         as file name ``str`` rather than a file-like obj.
         """
 
-        stdout_ = self._get_file_io(replica_params.stdout)
-        stderr_ = self._get_file_io(replica_params.stderr)
-        combined_: Optional[Tee] = None
-        combined_file = self._get_file_io(replica_params.combined)
-        if combined_file:
-            combined_ = Tee(
-                combined_file,
-                none_throws(replica_params.stdout),
-                none_throws(replica_params.stderr),
-            )
-
-        # inherit parent's env vars since 99.9% of the time we want this behavior
-        # just make sure we override the parent's env vars with the user_defined ones
-        env = os.environ.copy()
-        env.update(replica_params.env)
-        # PATH is a special one, instead of overriding, append
-        env["PATH"] = _join_PATH(replica_params.env.get("PATH"), os.getenv("PATH"))
-
-        # default to unbuffered python for faster responsiveness locally
-        env.setdefault("PYTHONUNBUFFERED", "x")
+        stdout_, stderr_, combined_ = self._get_replica_output_handles(replica_params)
 
         args_pfmt = pprint.pformat(asdict(replica_params), indent=2, width=80)
         log.debug(f"Running {role_name} (replica {replica_id}):\n {args_pfmt}")
+        env = self._get_replica_env(replica_params)
 
         proc = subprocess.Popen(
             args=replica_params.args,
@@ -700,6 +692,47 @@ def _popen(
             error_file=env.get("TORCHELASTIC_ERROR_FILE", "<N/A>"),
         )
 
+    def _get_replica_output_handles(
+        self,
+        replica_params: ReplicaParam,
+    ) -> Tuple[Optional[io.FileIO], Optional[io.FileIO], Optional[Tee]]:
+        """
+        Returns the stdout, stderr, and combined outputs of the replica.
+        If the combined output file is not specified, then the combined output is ``None``.
+        """
+
+        stdout_ = self._get_file_io(replica_params.stdout)
+        stderr_ = self._get_file_io(replica_params.stderr)
+        combined_: Optional[Tee] = None
+        combined_file = self._get_file_io(replica_params.combined)
+        if combined_file:
+            combined_ = Tee(
+                combined_file,
+                none_throws(replica_params.stdout),
+                none_throws(replica_params.stderr),
+            )
+        return stdout_, stderr_, combined_
+
+    def _get_replica_env(
+        self,
+        replica_params: ReplicaParam,
+    ) -> Dict[str, str]:
+        """
+        Returns environment variables for the ``_LocalReplica``
+        """
+
+        # inherit parent's env vars since 99.9% of the time we want this behavior
+        # just make sure we override the parent's env vars with the user_defined ones
+        env = os.environ.copy()
+        env.update(replica_params.env)
+        # PATH is a special one, instead of overriding, append
+        env["PATH"] = _join_PATH(replica_params.env.get("PATH"), os.getenv("PATH"))
+
+        # default to unbuffered python for faster responsiveness locally
+        env.setdefault("PYTHONUNBUFFERED", "x")
+
+        return env
+
     def _get_app_log_dir(self, app_id: str, cfg: LocalOpts) -> str:
         """
         Returns the log dir. We redirect stdout/err