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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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