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Comment 56 for To Consider Proposed Control Measure for Ocean-Going Vessels At Berth (ogvatberth2019) - 15-1.

First NameElaine
Last NameRegan
Email Address13eregan@gmail.com
Affiliation
SubjectProposed Control Measure for Ocean-Going Vessels At Berth
Comment
I am one of approximately 40,000 residents who live in Downtown San
Diego.

Cruise ships visiting the Port of San Diego dock extremely close to
our high-density residential neighborhood and I am very concerned
about the toxic pollution caused by ships not connected to shore
power. These ships contaminate all of downtown, but are especially
dangerous for residents in the half-mile radius of the terminal
(which includes the residential populations of high-rise
condominiums, apartment complexes and hotels in the high-density
districts known as Columbia, Marina and Little Italy). Many of
these residents are literally one block from the cruise ship
terminal - a distance of about 800 feet. There are approximately
1400 hotel rooms  across the street from the ships.

I am concerned that CARB is not taking the proximity of the 
residential population to the docked ships into consideration
during its rule making process. The San Diego cruise ship terminal
situation is very different than that of Los Angeles and warrants
different regulations.  A "one size fits all" scenario does not
provide the safeguards needed to protect the the health and welfare
of the thousands of people living in Downtown San Diego.

1. The January 1, 2021 deadline for ships in fleets being required
to connect to shore power is fine but, to safeguard the residents
of Downtown San Diego, ALL cruise ships docking at the Port of San
Diego should be required to meet this deadline, no exceptions.
Cruise lines have had years to convert their ships so this should
not create an undue burden for them, and would greatly reduce the
pollution affecting downtown residents' lungs and homes. 

2. Maintain (or shorten) the current time frame standards 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 is unacceptable. The Port of San Diego, and the visiting
ships, need to make sure that the connections are maintained and
labor is available to connect in one hour. Please do not lower
standards to allow more than two hours to connect to shore power. 

3. As I understand it, the San Diego Port Authority allows cruise
ships to re-engage their engines 1/2 hour before leaving the berth.
This seems to be a reasonable and workable time-frame so increasing
it to one hour, resulting in addiitonal pollution, is not
necessary. The risks to the health of downtown residents increases
the longer the cruise ships are allowed to pollute downtown.

4. By January 1, 2021, please provide the necessary resources to
the Port of San Diego so they may build the additional
infrastructure to provide a second connection to shore power.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Elaine Regan
San Diego

Attachment
Original File Name
Date and Time Comment Was Submitted 2020-05-01 12:44:06

If you have any questions or comments please contact Clerk of the Board at (916) 322-5594.


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