City, State and Federal Government Take Action for Cleaner Port of New York and New Jersey; Truckers Gain Access to Millions of Dollars to Slash Air Pollution
Category:Air Type: News Source: EPA Date: Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
(Elizabeth, N.J.) Leading the way to cleaner air and healthier communities, the E.P.A. (EPA) and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) unveiled a comprehensive arrangement that will cut harmful pollution from the east coast's busiest port. The states launched a $28 million truck replacement program, partially funded by $7 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which will replace old trucks with vehicles that meet stricter pollution standards. The agreement, signed by a wide array of federal, state and local partners, details the specific steps the partners will employ to reduce harmful diesel pollution from the Port of New York and New Jersey. E.P.A. Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck, PANYNJ Chairman Anthony R. Coscia, PANYNJ Executive Director Christopher O. Ward and Robert Martin, Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection were joined by other state and local partners as they put the final signatures on the milestone arrangement today in Port Elizabeth. The innovative pact outlines actions such as investing in pollution reduction technologies and developing air pollution inventories. The New York City metropolitan area has unhealthy air and does not meet air quality requirements for ozone and fine particulate matter. Diesel exhaust particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and pose serious health risks, including aggravating the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory problems in healthy individuals.
To memorialize their goals, the milestone document was signed by EPA, PANYNJ, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, The City of New York Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability, New York City Economic Development Corporation, New York Shipping Association and the cities of Bayonne, Elizabeth, Jersey City and Newark.
"Trucks and equipment used at ports are a significant source of pollution in the communities that surround them," said Judith Enck, E.P.A. Regional Administrator. "Efforts like the Port Authority's new truck replacement plan and the much broader sustainability arrangement signed today will go a long way toward cutting this pollution and improving air quality and public health. Reducing dirty diesel emissions will protect the health of truck drivers and other workers at the port, along with the nearby community. I applaud the Port Authority for its leadership."
Port Authority Chairman Anthony R. Coscia said, "The Clean Truck Plan is the latest in our efforts to achieve cleaner air at and around our port. On top of our other investments -- including $600 million to build on-dock rail and $60 million to acquire and preserve environmentally sensitive property -- we believe this Plan will help build on our legacy as good environmental stewards."
Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward said, "We have worked closely with all stakeholders to make sure that this new Plan will help clean up the pollution at our ports, and, in the process, ensure that we do not overburden our already struggling port and trucking industry. I want to thank E.P.A. Region two Administrator Judith Enck and the entire E.P.A. for their generous support of this program, and I want to thank all of the members of our Truck Working Group for coming together around such a critical initiative."
The truck replacement Plan will replace about 600 model year 1993 and older trucks with cleaner, 2004 and newer trucks. Trucks manufactured in 2004 and later meet EPA's later pollution requirements and are up to 98% cleaner than older trucks. Under the program, the PANYNJ will cover 25% of trucker's costs for newer trucks. PANYNJ also projects to phase out additional older trucks serving the port as part of a broader strategy to reduce diesel emissions from their operations. Their phase out Plan consists of two steps: a ban on pre-1994 trucks beginning January 1, 2011 and a ban on pre-2007 trucks beginning January 1, 2017. There are in excess of three million truck trips to and from the Port of New York and New Jersey marine terminals each year, resulting in nearly 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and 55 tons of fine particle pollution. Nitrogen oxide is a precursor to smog, which can contribute to severe respiratory ailments. Likewise, fine particles are linked to lung and heart problems. Nationwide, diesel engines emit 7.3 million tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and 333,000 tons of soot annually. This pollution is linked to thousands of premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks and millions of lost work days.
The Truck Replacement Plan is part of a broader Clean Air Strategy on which E.P.A. and the Port Authority worked closely with a consortium of state and local government agencies and industry, labor and environmental groups to reach a broad consensus on a landmark arrangement between EPA, PANYNJ, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the City of New York Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability, New York City Economic Development Corporation, New York Shipping Association and the cities of Bayonne, Elizabeth, Jersey City and Newark. This diverse group worked together to reduce emissions associated with maritime operations - including ships, harbor craft, cargo handling equipment, locomotives and trucks - within the Port District. This arrangement memorializes PANYNJ's Clean Air Strategy for the Port of New York and New Jersey, which identifies measures to reduce maritime and port-related emissions such as by using cleaner fuels, supporting development of low emission warehouses on port fields, promoting shore power electrification (cold ironing) and other green ideas. The truck replacement Plan is a significant component of the port's overall clean air strategy.
To learn more about EPA's efforts to reduce air pollution in New York and New Jersey or to obtain the full text of the agreement, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/air.
New California air-quality rules would dramatically increase green cars on the ... The proposed regulations, which supporters say would keep California at the forefront of the clean cars movement, are intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 34 percent and smog-forming pollution by 75 percent by 2025. "We continue to face clean ...How to Make Your Air Travel Green They include ones focused on renewable energy (wind farms), energy efficiency (compact fluorescent light bulbs and technologies to reduce tailpipe emissions from long-haul freight trucks) and reforestation in the Amazon forest and domestic wildlife ...Contra Costa Times editorial: California air board's vision of green cars ... Unlike earlier efforts by California to reduce auto pollution with catalytic converters and bans on leaded gasoline, the auto industry is working with state officials. That's in large part because General Motors and Chrysler agreed not to sue ...
