California Ports Emit Tons of Pollution

from "Public Policy Update", Breathe Easy news magazine, Fall 2006/Winter 2007 )

With their dirty diesel ships, constant truck traffic, and heavy equipment operating day and night, California’s ports are major polluters. While the American Lung Association of California supports the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) new plan to reduce emissions associated with the goods movement industry, advocates will be following it closely to ensure that CARB moves forward quickly to adopt critical measures to implement the plan.

Regulations are needed immediately to require shore-side electrical power (so ships don’t sit at the dock idling their engines 24 hours a day), cleaner marine fuels, and replacing and retrofitting older trucks that service the ports. These measures would help reduce diesel emissions that threaten the health of thousands of Californians, especially in nearby neighborhoods.