Comment Log Display

I am a member of the Conservation Working Group of the Channel
Islands National Marine Sanctuary and I am Project Coordinator of
Gray Whales Count, a 501(c)(3) corporation for research and
education.

We care about our environment and our ocean. The Santa Barbara
Channel area is special.

Large cargo ships traveling off our coast, through the Santa
Barbara Channel and the National Marine Sanctuary impact our
environment, our ocean, our lives. They produce significant GHG and
toxic air emissions that impact. our coastal communities. Ship
strikes also pose a threat to endangered Blue whales, Humpback
whales, and Fin whales, as well as Gray whales, sometimes called
California Gray whales, who participate in one of the longest
migrations of any mammal. Ships cross their route at least twice,
entering and exiting the Channel.

Slowing down cargo ships meets multiple objectives in your Draft
Cap-and-Trade Investment Plan including: reducing GHG emissions and
other air pollutants, improving public health, and better
protecting whales. I support including vessel speed reduction in
your Final Plan as a priority for funding and request Cap-and-Trade
money be directed to the Vessel Speed Reduction Initiative. It is a
lot of win-win-win.