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Comment 47 for To Consider Proposed Control Measure for Ocean-Going Vessels At Berth (ogvatberth2019) - 15-1.

First NameAnn
Last NameFathy
Email Addressannfathy@gmail.com
Affiliation
SubjectProposed Control Measure for Ocean-Going Vessels At Berth
Comment

I am a resident of downtown San Diego, along with 40,000 other
people. I live three blocks from the B Street pier. The cruise
ships dock extremely close to our high-density neighborhood and the
pollution caused when the ships are not connected to shore power is
toxic. The ships contaminate the whole downtown, but are especially
dangerous for residents in the half-mile radius of the terminal,
including the high-density populations of Columbia, Marina and
Little Italy Districts, with high-rise condominiums, apartment
complexes and hotels. Over 1400 hotel rooms are across the street
from the ships and many residents are literally one block from the
cruise ship terminal, a distance of about 800 ft. 

I don't believe CARB is considering the proximity of the ships to
the residential population in its rule making. A one size fits all
scenario for rule-making does not work since the health and welfare
of thousands of people is being put at risk. The San Diego cruise
ship terminal is very different than LA's and should be treated
differently. 

1. I am pleased that ships in fleets will be required to connect to
shore power Jan 1, 2021. I want ALL cruise ships to meet this
requirement, no exceptions, at the San Diego cruise ship terminal.
Cruise lines already had years to convert their ships. If they want
to dock in San Diego they should not pollute the neighborhood and
people's lungs and homes. 

2. Maintain the current timeframe standards, or make them tougher,
to connect to shore power. One hour after the ship docks to berth
is acceptable. Changing this connection time to 2 hours after Ready
to Work, in our situation, is unacceptable. Vessels and the Port
need to make sure that the connections are maintained and labor is
available to connect in one hour. Please do not lower standards and
allow more than two hours to connect to shore power. 

3. San Diego's Port Authority allows cruise ships to re-engage
their engines 1/2 hour before leaving the berth. I want that to
continue. A one hour timeframe to pollute, is not necessary. Every
hour the cruise ships are allowed to pollute downtown, puts our
health at increased risk.

4. In order for the Port of San Diego to meet the connection
requirements already proposed, it needs money to build the
additional infrastructure to provide a second connection to shore
power. Please provide the resources to make this happen before Jan
1, 2021.

Sincerely,

Ann Fathy
A member of the Embarcadero Coalition

Attachment
Original File Name
Date and Time Comment Was Submitted 2020-05-01 12:19:53

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