Clean Ports USA
Navigating
Toward
Cleaner Ports
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National Clean Diesel Campaign
www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/ports
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'Because there are so many
ways to reduce emissions, every
port can find a way to partici-
pate in Clean Ports USA.''
Meredith Martino
Manager of Government Relations
and Environmental Policy
American Association of
Port Authorities
Why Reduce Diesel Emissions from Ports?
Reducing exposure to diesel exhaust from vehicles,
equipment, and marine vessels at ports is important for
public health and the environment. The exhaust, which
contains particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides
(NOX), increases ozone levels and contributes to region-
al haze. This pollution has been linked to respiratory and
cardiovascular illnesses. Diesel exhaust is also the larg-
est anthropogenic source of black carbon emissionsa
contributor to climate change.
Clean Ports USA, part of the U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (EPA)'s National Clean Diesel Campaign
(NCDC), partners with ports and fleet owners, as well as
national, state, and local entities, to reduce diesel emis-
sions through the use of verified emission control tech-
nologies and innovative operational strategies.
Why Take Action Now?
With freight shipments forecasted to increase, port
authorities need to move additional cargo more
efficiently and with fewer environmental impacts. Inno-
vative ports are getting ahead of the curve by develop-
ing emission inventories and taking advantage of fund-
ing and technology assistance available through Clean
Ports USA to improve the environmental performance of
their fleets.
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How Do Ports Benefit?
By taking voluntary action, port leaders:
Enrich their bottom line by saving fuel and
increasing operational efficiency.
Measure, track, and reduce emissions.
Lower public health risks for asthma, respiratory
illnesses, and cardiovascular disease for port
employees and local communities.
Enhance relationships with neighboring
communities.
Improve customer relationships by providing
incentives to fleet partners.
Receive national recognition.
Cost-Effective Strategies
Many technological and operational solutions
reduce diesel emissions from cargo-handling
equipment, marine and port vessels, ferries, trucks,
and rail equipment, while also supporting the port's
business interests through improvements in equip-
ment maintenance, safety, and reliability.
Clean technology strategies include:
Maintaining and operating engines properly.
Retrofitting equipment, vehicles, and vessels with
EPA-verified aftertreatment technologies.
Repowering old engines with newer, cleaner
engines that use cleaner fuel or highway
engines manufactured to stricter EPA standards.
Replacing diesel equipment with more efficient
models that meet more stringent EPA standards.
Using idle reduction technology, including aux-
iliary power units (APUs), cold ironing, or shore
power.
Using cleaner fuels such as ultra-low sulfur die-
sel, electricity, emulsified fuel, biodiesel blends,
liquefied petroleum gas, or natural gas.
Using hybrid or genset yard locomotives.
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Operational strategies include:
Improved container management, such as IT
in-gate management, cargo tracking, and
employee identification; efficient container
stacking; and direct intermodal transfers.
Efficient freight movement, such as on-dock
rail in lieu of trucks and use of full rail loads.
Reduced idling from gate efficiencies, terminal
designs, and Web-based appointment systems
or chassis pools that shorten queues; as well as
idling restrictions and technologies.
NCDC provides a great online resource for port
authorities looking to become environmental leaders
by reducing diesel emissions. Visit www.epa.gov/
cleandiesel/ports for additional information, including:
Examples of port authorities' clean air
action plans.
Case studies of EPA grant-funded projects.
Information on emission reduction technologies
and strategies.
Funding opportunities.
Sample language for contract specifications for
cleaner construction techniques.
Funding Opportunities
EPA provides grants and innovative financing mecha-
nisms to port authorities and state and local agencies
for verified, cost-effective technologies and to help
bring emerging technologies to port communities.
The Diesel Emissions Reduction provisions in the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 are significant funding
sources for leading port authorities and state and local
agencies as part of Clean Ports USA. Priority is given
to projects that maximize public health benefits in
areas receiving a disproportionate amount of air pol-
lution from ports, rail yards, terminals, and distribution
centers. Visit www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/grantfund.htm
for the latest information on funding opportunities.
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Did You Know?
Eliminating unnecessary freight idling can save
thousands of gallons of diesel fuel per day.
Low sulfur fuels have a cleaning effect on the
engine, which reduces maintenance costs and
extends oil change intervals.
Switching to fuels with lower sulfur levels
reduces sulfur dioxide and PM emissions and
enhances the effectiveness of retrofit tech-
nologies.
Diesel particulate filters used with ultra-low
sulfur diesel fuel reduce PM by 90 percent.
Diesel oxidation catalysts reduce PM by 20 to
40 percent.
(Clean Ports USA has proven
to be an invaluable resource to
port authorities. With funding and
support from the National Clean
Diesel Campaign and regional
diesel collaboratives, port authori-
ties are reducing emissions for the
benefit of their communities and
workers.':
Michael Leone, Executive Director
MASSPORT
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For More Information
To learn more about Clean Ports USA, visit
www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/ports.
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