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newsrel -- New Regulations to Reduce Diesel Pollution

Posted: 05 Dec 2007 13:13:11
Please consider the following Air Resources Board press release
announcing the board's consideration of regulations to curb
diesel emissions from California ports.  You can also review the
release online here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr120507.htm
.
Thank You
Dimitri Stanich
ARB/PIO

_________________________________________________________________



Release 07-58
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2007
	  	  	
Leo Kay
916-322-2990
Karen Caesar
(626) 575-6728
www.arb.ca.gov

ARB proposes new regulations to reduce diesel pollution at
state's ports

Port electrification, cleaner trucks also have greenhouse gas
benefits

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- ARB Chairman Mary Nichols highlighted two
port-related emissions reductions programs today that, if passed
by the full Board later this week, will dramatically reduce
diesel particulate matter pollution from ships and trucks
throughout the state by 2014.

The first regulation requires operators of certain types of
ocean-going vessels to shut down their diesel auxiliary engines
while docked at the state's busiest ports in favor of using
shore-based electrical power. The second regulation is aimed at
cleaning up emissions from the aging fleet of dirty diesel
trucks that hauls goods around the clock to and from ports and
rail yards throughout the state.

"These first-of-their-kind measures will continue our work to
slash port-related emissions," Nichols said. "Residents from San
Pedro to Oakland will breathe easier as a result of our
aggressive actions to clean up diesel emissions from ports
throughout the state. We owe it to the long-suffering ports
communities to continue our quest of reducing all the emissions
we can from ships, trucks and trains."

ARB adopted strategies in December 2005 that require cleaner
engines in cargo handling equipment and clean fuel on ships.
Combined with the measures before the Board this week, ARB
regulations will reduce diesel particulate matter emissions from
container and cruise ship terminals by almost two-thirds by 2010,
and by an estimated 75 percent by 2014. Overall diesel soot
emissions will decline by 1,800 tons per year in 2014.
Shore Power

The new regulation will require certain fleet operators of
container, passenger and refrigerated cargo ships ("reefers") to
turn off their auxiliary engines -- which power lighting,
ventilation, pumps and other onboard equipment -- while a ship
is docked for most of its stay in port. The rule will affect
almost 95 percent of the ship visits in these three categories.
Once docked, operators would then be expected to receive their
electricity from shore-based sources or meet percentage
reductions through other means. Ports affected by the regulation
are those most visited: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, San
Diego, San Francisco and Hueneme in Ventura County.

A 2005 ARB exposure study at the ports of Los Angeles and Long
Beach shows that more than two million people live in areas
around the ports with predicted cancer risks of greater than 10
in a million due emissions from docked ocean-going vessels. From
that study and other data, ARB estimates that about 61 premature
deaths per year can be attributed to exposure to diesel exhaust
generated from ships in port.

Container, passenger and reefer vessels call at California ports
almost 6,000 times each year, accounting for nearly 85 percent of
the emissions from all docked ships. In 2006, approximately 1.8
tons per day of diesel particulate matter and 21 tons per day of
oxides of nitrogen (NOx), a key ingredient of smog, were emitted
from the diesel-fueled auxiliary engines of docked ships. The
regulation is expected to reduce diesel and smog-forming
emissions from docked container, passenger and reefer ships by
nearly 50 percent relative to levels otherwise expected to be
emitted in 2014, and 80 percent by 2020.

Next year, ARB expects to introduce a similar rule that will
reduce emissions from bulk ships, tankers and vehicle carriers.
Port Trucks

ARB staff estimates that California has about 20,000 port or
"drayage" trucks that frequently visit the ports and rail yards
and have the greatest impact on local air quality. Drayage
trucks are a significant source of diesel particulate matter,
contributing three tons per day statewide. With regards to the
smog precursor NOx, port trucks emit 61 tons per day.

The regulation is expected to reduce diesel particulate matter
emissions from drayage trucks from baseline 2007 levels some 86
percent (2.6 tons per day) by 2010. Emissions of NOx are
expected to be reduced from 2007 baseline levels by 62 percent
(42 tons per day) by 2014.

ARB estimates that the proposed regulation will prevent 1,200
premature deaths from 2009 through 2020, with benefits being the
most dramatic in the communities where port trucks are heavily
concentrated.

Phase one of the new regulation requires all pre-1994 drayage
truck engines be retired or replaced with 1994 and newer engines
by the end of 2009. In addition, trucks with 1994-2003 engines
will need to be either replaced or retrofitted to achieve an 85
percent reduction in diesel particulate matter by the same
deadline. The second phase of the regulation requires all
drayage trucks to meet 2007 emissions standards by the end of
2013.

The rule also requires compliant trucks working at the 14 ports
and 11 rail yards affected by this regulation to be entered into
a special registry by late 2009. (Affected ports are Benicia,
Crockett, Hueneme, Humboldt Bay (Eureka), Long Beach, Los
Angeles, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Redwood City, Richmond,
Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Stockton. Affected
intermodal rail yards are: Oakland Union Pacific (UP) and
Oakland Burlington (BNSF); Hobart BNSF; LATC UP; Commerce UP;
Commerce Eastern BNSF; Richmond BNSF; ICTF UP; San Bernardino;
Stockton Intermodal BNSF; and Lathrop Intermodal UP.)

Next year, the Board will consider a similar measure which will
focus on reducing emissions from in-use private heavy duty
diesel truck fleets.
Additional Benefits

In addition to substantially helping local communities, the port
truck regulation, if passed, will help the entire Los Angeles
region meet federally mandated air quality standards by 2014. In
terms of greenhouse gas, it will help to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions by 55,000 - 89,000 tons per year (3 - 5 percent). The
shore power regulation is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by
roughly 40 percent by 2020, equivalent to about 200,000 tons per
year.

Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust increases the risk of
developing lung cancer and respiratory disease, and can cause
premature death.


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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