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  - Health costs to Californians, so far this year, of port related pollution in California.
The Ports of LA  Long Beach Clean Air Action Plan passed in November 2006, and 1500 clean trucks service the ports.
Port Pollution Facts
  • In Long Beach, 20% of children under 17 have been diagnosed with asthma - nearly twice the national average.
  • $67 million: The cost of respiratory problems associated with ports in CA.
  • Diesel Exhaust is responsible for 84% of the cancer risk from air pollution in the Southern California Air Basin.
  • $19 BILLION: Cost on health system due to port pollution. average.
  • Each day the Port of LA emits over 30 tons of NOx, while a half a million cars emits less than 24 tons and the average power plant emits less than 5 tons.
  • 2,400 - Estimated number of premature deaths caused by diesel emissions.
  • 800,000: Number of children that pollution reduction could save from lung disease.
  • Each day the Port of Los Angeles emits over 30 tons of NOx, while a half a million cars emits less than 24 tons and the average power plant emits less than 5 tons.

Shoreside Power

In late 2007, we appealed to the California Air Resources Board, California’s air quality agency to adopt regulations which would require ships docking at California’s ports to turn off their polluting engines and plug into electrical sources—what is known as “shoreside power”. We appealed to CARB implement an aggressive timeline for shoreside power compliance, no matter which kind of technologies were used to achieve it.  This aggressive timeline was especially important given that technologies are available now, and the sooner shoreside power is utilized, the faster ship emissions at dock would be reduced to zero.

After hearing from you, CARB adopted a shorepower regulation for the ports in California. CARB requires a uniform compliance across technologies, but the timeline was not as aggressive as we wished. We continue to monitor this regulation.

Here's what we did:

Air quality is the most pressing issue facing public health in California. Marine emissions from ships docking at our ports are responsible for 42% of all NOx emissions and 30% of all diesel particulate matter (DPM) in California. The California Air Resources Board's own study, Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure Assessment, found that "hotelling" emissions from ocean going vessels (OGVs) are the NUMBER ONE cause of elevated cancer risk from on-port sources. And, as trade volumes increase, ships are expected to contribute roughly three-quarters of the DPM from goods movement sources by 2020.

Ship emissions can be curved to zero through the use of shoreside power, or "cold ironing" -- technology that is available today. California's Air Resources Board can pass regulations ensuring 100% use of shore-power by 2016 on December 7, 2007.

Email Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board, demanding that CARB pass marine vessel regulations that ensure a uniform aggressive compliance timeline for shore-side power, regardless of technology.

After emailing Mary Nichols, be sure to cc CARB's Executive Officer, Mr. James Goldstene.

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