PAUL SCHRAG:PORT GETS CLEAN UP MONEY >>>
OK, retrofitting trucks with diesel converters isn’t the first thing you might think about when pondering where federal stimulus money is headed. But Port of Tacoma and state officials have announced that the Port will receive a windfall of more-than $600,000 from the state Department of Ecology as part of a $1.73 million chunk of federal stimulus money being offered to help reduce diesel emissions.
The $638,000 filtered through the state Department of Ecology from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be used to retrofit 116 vehicles used in Port operations with cleaner, updated diesel engine components. The Port of Tacoma, along with other Washington ports, is working now to retrofit various cargo haulers with filters, converters, and other accoutrements that will reduce diesel emissions under a federal program dubbed the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. As part of a larger effort, ports, including our own, have until 2010 to meet diesel emission goals and until 2015 to reach further goals aimed at cleaning up the air around here. Overall, controls on more than 200 pieces of cargo-handling equipment, such as trucks, loaders and forklifts, will be retrofitted with this most recent expenditure.
Each retrofit is expected to reduce particle emissions by 50 percent to 60 percent per diesel engine. This is just one part of a larger effort by the Port to reduce diesel emissions, which includes a fee-free program for trucks operating at and frequently visiting (calling) the Port.
"Our customers and business partners have worked with Port staff and our clean air authorities to develop comprehensive and market-led approaches to environmental stewardship," says Port of Tacoma Commission President Clare Petrich. "Their decisions to voluntarily participate in these efforts are voluntary, and they come at a cost. But they recognize that today that environmental stewardship makes good sense and is good business."
State agencies have called out diesel exhaust as the air pollutant most harmful to public health in Washington. Diesel exhaust causes 70 percent of the cancer risk from airborne pollutants, according to some researchers, and puts healthy people at risk for respiratory disease and worsens the symptoms of those with health problems such as asthma and heart and lung disease.
According to a recent report, most of the trucks moving between terminals at the Port of Tacoma already burn relatively clean, with 86 percent of the fleet â€" more than 2,600 vehicles â€" already in various Ecological agencies’ good graces. The remaining 14 percent may need retrofitting or replacement to meet short-term goals. The Port also plans on determining which vehicles are so-called frequent callers â€" trucks that call at Port of Tacoma terminals more than 10 times per year. Recommendations include targeting those trucks for similar improvements. Only 4 percent of the current fleet at the Port meet long-term goals, set for 2015. The report also suggests the Port of Tacoma work with the Port of Seattle on a regional improvement plan, as more than a quarter of the trucks calling in Tacoma also serve the Port of Seattle.
Why should you care?
According to the California Air Resources Board, every dollar spent cleaning up diesel emissions (through exhaust retrofits, vehicle replacements, clean fuels, idle reduction, etc.) saves three to eight dollars in improved health and lower operating and maintenance costs for diesel fleets.
The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that society gains nine to 16 dollars for every dollar paid for diesel exhaust retrofits.
PHOTO:Flickr/Pulpolox
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