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Please consider the following Air Resources Board press release
announcing today's board action that will reduce diesel
emissions from commercial harbor craft.  You can review the
release online here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr111507.htm
.
Thank You
Dimitri Stanich
ARB/PIO

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Release 07-53
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2007
	  	  	
Karen Caesar
626)818-0145 
www.arb.ca.gov

ARB approves measures to reduce pollution from commercial harbor
craft

New regulation expected to cut emissions by 50 percent by 2015

SACRAMENTO - The Air Resources Board today approved a measure
designed to reduce harmful emissions from commercial ferries,
excursion vessels such as dinner cruises and tour boats, tugs
and towboats in California waters as much as 50 percent by
2015.

With this rule in place, ARB expects emissions of diesel soot
and oxides of nitrogen, and their negative health impacts, to be
reduced by 40-50 percent by 2015, and 60-70 percent by 2025,
compared to 2004 levels. The new measure for commercial harbor
craft does not include recreational or ocean-going vessels.

"Today's Board action brings new protection to the thousands of
Californians who live and work in port communities," said ARB
Chair Mary Nichols. "While harbor craft play a vital role at our
ports and along our coast, they also contribute significantly to
air emissions most responsible for premature death, respiratory
illnesses, and increased risk of heart disease. With today's
vote, ARB is now regulating yet another diesel source that has
fouled California's air for years."

Roughly 3 tons of diesel soot and 73 tons of NOx are emitted
from commercial harbor craft engines daily. A recent ARB study
revealed that, for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach,
commercial harbor craft is the third highest source of diesel
soot emissions contributing to cancer risk at the ports.
Statewide, approximately 90 premature deaths per year are
associated with emissions from commercial harbor craft.

Currently, about 80 percent of all harbor craft engines in
California are unregulated. The new regulation requires these
dirty, older engines currently in use on ferries, excursion
vessels, tugboats, and towboats to be replaced with newer,
cleaner engines meeting more stringent U.S. EPA marine engine
standards. Replacements are to be phased in starting in 2009,
with the oldest, highest-use engines to be replaced first. In
addition, commercial harbor craft operating in the South Coast
area are required to replace their engines on an accelerated
schedule, in order to help meet federally mandated air quality
deadlines.

The regulation exempts certain existing harbor craft from the
engine replacement requirements of the regulation such as
fishing boats, crew and supply boats, pilot boats, and work
boats, such as those operated by police and fire departments and
other government entities. However, all new harbor craft,
including these vessels, are regulated under this measure and
must use the cleanest available marine engines. Similarly,
replacement engines on all existing harbor craft will need to be
the cleanest available.

The ARB estimates that there are about 4,200 harbor craft
vessels and 8,300 harbor craft engines currently in use in
California, with each vessel typically having more than one
engine. Of these, there are nearly 600 ferries, excursion
vessels, tugboats, and towboats equipped with about 1,900
propulsion and auxiliary engines that will be subject to this
regulation. While these represent only 15 percent of the vessels
(25 percent of the engines), they generate about 50 percent of
the emissions. Additionally, most of their emissions are
generated within the harbor or close to shore and thus have the
greatest impact on adjacent communities. About 40 percent of
these vessels are in the Bay Area, while 30 percent service the
ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The remainder are scattered
throughout the State.

Over the past two years, ARB has addressed the problem of poor
air quality at the ports from several different angles, adopting
measures that reduce emissions from cargo handling equipment,
require use of cleaner fuel in auxiliary ship engines, and limit
onboard ship incineration. In December, ARB will consider two
more regulations, including a measure to provide alternative
power supplies at ports so that ships can avoid using diesel
power while at dock, and a rule requiring retrofit or
replacement of older heavy-duty diesel trucks that service
ports.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.

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