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Comment 20 for Public Input on Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds (investmentplan-ws) - 1st Workshop.


First Name: Eric
Last Name: Kett
Email Address: seazen@verizon.net
Affiliation: Sanctuary Advisory Council, CINMS

Subject: Use of Cap-and-Trade Auction Funds to Reduce GHG Emissions and Protect Whales from Ships
Comment:
June 13, 2012

Mary D. Nichols, Chair	
California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street, PO Box 2815
Sacramento, CA  95812

Re: Investment of Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds to Incentivize
Large Ocean-Going Vessels to Reduce Speed

Dear Chair Nichols:

As chair of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory
Council, I am writing with regard to the development of an
investment plan for the use of cap-and-trade auction proceeds to
help reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. 
Specifically, the advisory council supports the use of auction
proceeds to incentivize large ocean-going vessels to reduce speed.

The advisory council provides advice on management, use and
protection of sanctuary waters.  The council is comprised of 42
individuals representing the general public, tourism, business,
recreational fishing, commercial fishing, non-consumptive
recreation, education, research, conservation and Chumash community
interests, as well as local, State and Federal government
agencies.

At our May 2012 meeting, sanctuary and Santa Barbara Air Pollution
Control District staff informed us of the California Air Resources
Board (CARB) process to develop the investment plan.  Staff further
suggested that by allocating some of the auction proceeds to
incentivize large ocean-going vessels to reduce their speed off the
California coastline, there would be substantial reductions in
greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental benefits from
slower moving ships.

In a 2009 sanctuary report endorsed by the advisory council(i) we
recommended that incentive-based approaches to slow ships down be
explored, specifically, to reduce ship strike risks on endangered
whales.  We are familiar with the successful Vessel Speed Reduction
Incentive Program at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles that
offers monetary-based incentivizes to slow ships approaching and
departing these ports, yielding significant air quality benefits. 

Slowing large ocean-going vessels offers a substantial reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions as well as reducing nitrogen oxide and
sulfur dioxide pollution.  Slower ships also provide enhanced
protection of marine mammals by reducing noise and ship strike
impacts on endangered blue, fin and humpback whales.  Therefore,
the sanctuary advisory council supports allocating auction proceeds
to incentivize large ocean-going vessels to reduce their speed off
the California coastline.

A unique and compelling opportunity now arises to develop an
incentive-based program focused on reducing ship speeds to address
the state’s goals under the cap-and-trade program, and help
protect endangered whales off our coast.  I hope the support of our
sanctuary advisory council will be given due consideration as part
of the California Air Resources Board’s public consultation
process.

Sincerely,

/ES/
Eric Kett, Chair
Sanctuary Advisory Council(ii)

cc:  William J. Douros, Acting Deputy Director, NOAA Office of
National Marine Sanctuaries
cc:  Chris Mobley, Superintendent, Channel Islands National Marine
Sanctuary
cc:  Brian Shafritz, Manager, Technology and Environmental
Assessment Division, Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control
District

enclosure: Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory
Council voting results, May 18, 2012.

i. “Reducing the Threat of Ship Strikes on Large Cetaceans in the
Santa Barbara Channel Region and Channel Islands National Marine
Sanctuary: Recommendations and Case Studies.”  Available online
at: http://channelislands.noaa.gov/sac/pdf/sscs10-2-09.pdf.

ii. The council is an advisory body to the sanctuary
superintendent. The opinions and findings of this letter do not
necessarily reflect the position of the sanctuary and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Attachment: www.arb.ca.gov/lists/investmentplan-ws/27-cinms_sac_carb_letter_final_signed.pdf

Original File Name: CINMS_SAC_CARB_Letter_Final_Signed.pdf

Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2012-06-13 15:48:15



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