EPA Issues “National Port Strategy Assessment: Reducing Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gases at U.S. Ports”


On September 22, 2016, EPA issued a report titled “National Port Strategy Assessment: Reducing Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gases at U.S. Ports” (the “Assessment”).[1]  According to EPA, the Assessment supports the goal of EPA’s “Ports Initiative”[2] to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases through collaboration among industry, government, and communities.  Notably, EPA urges state and local governments, ports and port operators, Tribes, communities and other stakeholders to use the Assessment to inform their priorities and port-related decision making, and to achieve more emission reductions across the United States.

Industry stakeholders should closely monitor developments that come on the heels of the Assessment.  It bears watching, for example, whether state and local governments will take action – and what kind of action (voluntary measures, or command and control regulations) – to  reduce port-related emissions.

Key Findings

Recognizing the vital role ports play in the United States economy – and that ports are set to expand significantly to meet economic and infrastructure demands going forward – EPA developed this  national scale assessment to examine current and future emissions from various diesel sources operating in port areas and to consider potential strategies to reduce emissions from port-related trucks, locomotives, cargo handling equipment, harbor craft, and ocean-going vessels.

Key findings in the Assessment include:

Table 1-1. Examples of Strategy Scenarios Assessed

Sector

Scenario   Description

Drayage Trucks

Replace older   diesel trucks with trucks that meet cleaner EPA standards and plug-in hybrid   electric vehicles.

Rail

Replace older   line-haul locomotive engines with cleaner technologies, including electric   locomotives.

Improve fuel   economy.

Replace older   switcher locomotive engines with cleaner technologies and Generator Set   (GenSet) technology.

Cargo Handling  Equipment

Replace older yard truck,   crane, and container handling equipment with cleaner technologies, including   electric technologies.

Harbor Craft

Replace or repower   older tugs and ferries with cleaner technologies, including hybrid electric   vessels.

Ocean-going Vessels

Switch to lower   sulfur fuel levels that are below EPA’s regulatory standards, and liquified   natural gas for certain vessel types.

Utilize shore power   to reduce hoteling of container, passenger, and reefer vessels.

Apply Advanced   Marine Emission Control Systems for container and tanker vessels.

Table 1-2. Examples of Effective Port Strategies to Reduce NOx and PM2.5 Emissions                       

  Strategy    Scenario  

  Percent reduction from BAU    [Business as Usual]  

  NOx  

  PM2.5  

  2020  

  2030  

  2020  

  2030  

Replace older drayage trucks

19-48%

48-60%

43-62%

34-52%

Replace older switcher locomotives

16-34%

17-43%

22-44%

24-47%

Replace older CHE

17-39%

13-25%

18-37%

12-25%

Replace or repower harbor craft

10-24%

25-38%

13-41%

28-37%

Reduce OGV hoteling emissions with shore power [footnote omitted]

4-9%

7-16%

3-8%

7-16%

Table 1-3. Examples of Effective Port Strategies to Reduce CO2 Emissions

Strategy Scenario

Percent reduction from CO2 BAU

2030

2050

Replace older drayage trucks with plug-in hybrid electric trucks

0-4%

6-12%

Replace older locomotives with electric locomotives,   GenSets, and fuel efficiency

3-6%

11-23%

Replace older CHE with electric technologies

7-18%

27-45%

Reduce OGV hoteling emissions with shore power [footnote   omitted]

2-5%

4-10%

After the National Port Strategy Assessment: What’s Next?

EPA already supports voluntary efforts to reduce diesel emissions through its Clean Diesel Campaign and SmartWay program.  It remains to be seen whether the Assessment will lead state and local governments to promote their own voluntary initiatives or mandatory regulations, and what other developments, if any, will take place as a result of EPA’s assessment.


[1] Available at: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/420r16011.pdf.  

[2] Available at: https://www.epa.gov/ports-initiative.


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National Law Review, Volume VI, Number 279