Contact: Cal Baier-Anderson, (202) 572-3306-w, canderson@edf.org
Media Contact: Dan Cronin, (202) 572-3354-w, dcronin@edf.org 

(Washington, DC – September 16, 2009) Environmental Defense Fund applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) decision to review the adequacy of the controversial ozone national air quality standard issued under the Bush administration in 2008. Today, EPA committed to issue a new proposal by December 21, 2009 and to complete its review by August 2010.

In March 2008, the Bush EPA established an ozone health standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb), at a level substantially less protective than unanimously recommended by EPA's panel of expert science advisors on the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). CASAC recommended the standard be set between 60-70 ppb. Further, in an unprecedented move, the Bush Administration's regulatory czar ordered EPA scientists to scrap a separate science-based ozone standard to protect crops, forests, and other plants hard hit by ground-level ozone. 

"EPA's commitment to protect human health from dangerous smog is a breath of fresh air," said Cal Baier-Anderson, Ph.D., a toxicologist with Environmental Defense Fund. "For millions of kids, smog can make it difficult to attend school, to play outside and to breathe on polluted day."

The Clean Air Act requires that the EPA protect public health "with an adequate margin of safety" in establishing the nation's air quality standards. In 2001, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that EPA was required to establish these standards based exclusively on the protection of public health.

EPA estimates that the suite of innovative technologies, processes and products that have been developed to meet the nation's air quality standards and other Clean Air Act programs have not only delivered extraordinary results, but that the nation's pollution control industry has thrived, generating over $200 billion in revenues and supporting more than 3 million jobs. The monetary benefits to society have outweighed the costs by a factor of more than 40 to 1.

The EPA's notice to reconsider can be viewed at http://www.edf.org/documents/10412_EPA_Report_To_Court.pdf

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(Austin, TX – September 16, 2009) Environmental Defense Fund applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) decision to review the adequacy of the controversial ozone national air quality standard issued under the Bush administration in 2008. Today, EPA committed to issue a new proposal by December 21, 2009 and to complete its review by August 2010.

In March 2008, the Bush EPA established an ozone health standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb), at a level substantially less protective than unanimously recommended by EPA's panel of expert science advisors on the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). CASAC recommended the standard be set between 60-70 ppb. Further, in an unprecedented move, the Bush Administration's regulatory czar ordered EPA scientists to scrap a separate science-based ozone standard to protect crops, forests, and other plants hard hit by ground-level ozone.

"EPA's commitment to protect human health from dangerous smog is a breath of fresh air," said Elena Craft, a PhD scientist with Environmental Defense Fund. "For kids in large Texas cities, smog can make it difficult to attend school, to play outside and to breathe on polluted days."

The Clean Air Act requires that the EPA protect public health "with an adequate margin of safety" in establishing the nation's air quality standards. In 2001, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that EPA was required to establish these standards based exclusively on the protection of public health.

"With the health of our communities and our kids at stake, Texans should be calling for EPA to restore scientific integrity," concluded Craft. "The science is clear that stronger standards will save lives and prevent illness, especially for children and the elderly."

EPA estimates that the suite of innovative technologies, processes and products that have been developed to meet the nation's air quality standards and other Clean Air Act programs have not only delivered extraordinary results, but that the nation's pollution control industry has thrived, generating over $200 billion in revenues and supporting more than 3 million jobs. The monetary benefits to society have outweighed the costs by a factor of more than 40 to 1.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), with the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) and H-GAC, in conjunction with air quality consultants Emisstar LLC, partnered on the grant application for SmartWaySM program funds to tackle one of the largest and most difficult-to-address sources of pollution at any port: drayage trucks.

"This collaborative effort represents exactly the type of partnerships needed to address the serious air quality issues in our region," said Dr. Elena Craft, an air quality specialist with EDF, which pioneered the effort. "When business, civic, and environmental communities come together to address seemingly insurmountable issues, great progress can be made," she said.

Drayage trucks are diesel-fueled, heavy-duty trucks that transport shipping containers. The DERA award will fund a bridge loan program that provides resources for retrofits or for newer, less-polluting trucks. The program targets owners of the more than 3,000 trucks operating at the Port of Houston, where most truckers are self-employed, owner-operators, or employees of one of the more than 150 private companies that are Port of Houston terminal operators. DERA funding will be combined with local funding sources leveraged from the state and the port to support cleaner vehicles.

Over the life of the program, the following emission reductions are anticipated: 1,638 tons of nitrogen oxide; 26.7 tons of particulate matter; 27.4 tons of volatile organic compounds; 239 tons of carbon monoxide; and 3,636 tons carbon dioxide.

Representing a unique partnership across a diversity of sectors, the bridge loan program represents a breakthrough in reducing truck emissions one of our most challenging areas.

"The commitment and broad-based support of local leaders illustrates that the quality of the air we breathe is everyone's responsibility," said Alan Clark, H-GAC Director of Transportation Planning.

"The Port of Houston Authority is pleased to continue its support of programs that help in the reduction of air emissions," said PHA Chairman James T. Edmonds. "The Clean Truck program is just one part of an important series of strategies in the Port of Houston Authority's Clean Air Strategy Plan, an environmental stewardship program designed to help improve air quality in our region."

CONTACT: 
Chris Smith, Environmental Defense Fund, (512) 659-9264 or csmith@edf.orgShelley Whitworth, Houston-Galveston Area Council (713) 499-6695 or shelley.whitworth@h-gac.com
Lisa Ashley-Whitlock, Port of Houston Authority (713) 670-2644 or lwhitlock@poha.com
 

Contact: Elena Craft, Environmental Defense Fund, 512.691.3452-w or 512.632.4946-c

Media Contact: Chris Smith, Environmental Defense Fund, 512.691.3451-w or 512.659.9264-c or csmith@edf.org

(Washington, D.C. – July 1, 2009)  Today, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed rigorous clean air standards for large U.S.-flagged ships. The proposal would cut pollution from U.S.-flagged tankers, container ships and other large vessels that are big emitters.

Environmental Defense Fund welcomes this proposal, which demonstrates pivotal leadership in addressing shipping emissions as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) considers the U.S. application for a protective Emission Control Area that would slash pollution from both U.S. and foreign-flagged ships. The IMO meets July 13-17 in London, where it will begin evaluating the U.S. application for protective clean air standards.

"Ships are floating smokestacks that deliver soot and smog straight to the heart of our most crowded coastal cities, home to 87 million Americans, so we are very pleased with this most recent action," said Elena Craft, EDF Air Quality Specialist. "Here in Houston for example, we urgently need improved clean air standards to protect the kids and families hard hit by pollution delivered by more than 8,000 vessels visiting our port every year." 

In March, the United States applied to designate U.S. coastal waters as "Emission Control Areas" (ECAs) under international law. An ECA would provide the strongest clean air standards available under international law. It would dramatically improve clean air standards for all ocean-going ships in the exclusive economic zone of the U.S., an area that typically extends about 200 nautical miles from the coast. 

The container ships, tankers and other large sea-going vessels that dock at more than 100 U.S. port cities burn low grade "residual fuel" or "bunker fuel" that is a major source of air pollution. EPA analysis indicates that protective clean air standards that apply to all ships operating within the exclusive economic zone of the U.S. would annually save as many as 14,000 lives, prevent 4,800 hospital admissions, and prevent 4.9 million acute respiratory symptoms. Government officials estimate that foreign-flagged vessels make up 90 percent of the ship calls on U.S. ports.  

Today's proposal bolsters the ECA application by proposing to apply clean air standards to U.S. flagged ships under the federal Clean Air Act.   

EDF strongly supports the well-documented ECA application submitted by the U.S. to the International Maritime Organization. EDF calls for EPA to consider expanding today's complementary rulemaking proposal carried out under the Clean Air Act. The proposal should evaluate clean air standards that apply to both foreign- and U.S.-flagged ships operating in the exclusive economic zone of the U.S., as a backup plan to protect human health.  

Ocean-going ships are also responsible for about 3 percent of the world's total greenhouse gas pollution. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN AIR AGENCIES
PUGET SOUND CLEAN AIR AGENCY

Coalition Contacts:
Heather Grzelka, Communications, American Lung Association, 202-715-3450, hgrzelka@lungusa.org
Paul Billings, Vice President, American Lung Association, 202-785-3355 x 3988, pbillings@lungusa.org
Sean Crowley, Marketing-Communications Director, EDF, 202-550-6524, scrowley@edf.org
Vickie Patton, Deputy General Counsel, EDF, 720-837-6239, vpatton@edf.org
Bill Becker, Executive Director, National Association of Clean Air Agencies, 301-806-6111 (c), bbecker@4cleanair.org
Dennis McLerran, Executive Director, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, 206-689-4004, DennisM@pscleanair.org
Kimberley Cline, Communications Specialist, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, 206-689-4070, KimberleyC@pscleanair.org

(Washington, D.C. – March 30, 2009) A new report released today finds that more than 87 million Americans live in port areas that are not meeting federal health-based air quality standards. The report, Protecting American Health from Global Shipping Pollution, documents the public health effects associated with air pollution from global shipping, including container ships, tankers, cruise ships, and bulk carriers. The report, co-authored by the American Lung Association, Environmental Defense Fund, National Association of Clean Air Agencies, and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, is available online at: www.edf.org/documents/9466_ECA_report_March2009.pdf.

The coalition strongly encourages and supports action by the U.S. government that to apply to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the establishment of an Emission Control Area: an area where rigorous pollution limits apply to global shipping activity. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson will announce the U.S. application to the IMO during a noon news conference today in Port Newark, NJ. Foreign-flagged vessels make 90 percent of the ship calls on U.S. ports. Leading researchers estimate that shipping pollution is associated with 60,000 global deaths annually. EPA's Analysis shows that the establishment of an Emission Control Area could dramatically reduce lethal particulate pollution in U.S. coastal communities.

COALITION STATEMENTS

Statement of Captain Charles D. Connor, U.S. Navy (Ret.), American Lung Association President and CEO: "In my career as a U.S. Navy Captain, I saw firsthand the staggering amounts of pollution that cruise ships, container ships, tankers and other ocean-going vessels released into the atmosphere. These ships dock at more than 100 ports along our coastline and along navigable waterways far inland. Their smog-and soot-forming emissions threaten the health of those living far from our nation's maritime ports."

Statement of Vickie Patton, Deputy General Counsel, Environmental Defense Fund: "The dangerous air pollution from these floating smokestacks is a serious health threat to tens of millions of Americans who live and work in port cities. Cleaning up these big ships will chart a course for cleaner air and healthier communities."

Statement of Bill Becker, Executive Director, National Association of Clean Air Agencies: "These big ships are big emitters. We need all hands on deck to help state and local air pollution control officials reduce the pollution from global shipping and restore healthier air in our communities."

Statement of Dennis McLerran, Executive Director, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency: "Approval of an Emission Control Area for the coasts of North America at the earliest possible date will save hundreds of lives across the U.S. and Canada. In the Pacific Northwest, ocean-going ships travel hundreds of miles inland before reaching the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma and we will see significant air quality improvements in a wide area of Washington State when an ECA is put in place."

BACKGROUND

An Emission Control Area, or ECA, would provide the strongest clean air standards available under international law. It would dramatically improve fuel quality and reduce smog-forming oxides of nitrogen for all ocean-going ships in the exclusive economic zone of the United States, an area that typically extends about 200 nautical miles from the coast. To secure these vital protections, the U.S. government must submit an application to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) demonstrating the need to prevent, reduce and control global shipping emissions. The IMO would review the application at its July meeting and take final action on the U.S. request in 2010.

Container ships, tankers and the other large sea-going vessels that dock at more than 100 U.S. port cities burn low grade "residual fuel" or "bunker fuel" that is a major source of air pollution, including the formation of particulate pollution. Residual fuel contains sulfur levels 1,800 times greater than U.S. law allows for other diesel engines. A recent study by two leading researchers on shipping pollution, Corbett and Winebrake, shows shipping-related particulate pollution contributes to approximately 60,000 global deaths annually, with impacts concentrated in coastal regions on major trade routes.

In October 2008, the IMO, with active participation from the U.S. government, adopted new baseline global emission standards for ocean-going ships and their fuel. The IMO also provided for more rigorous, heightened protections in designated Emission Control Areas (ECAs). The fuel used to power these ships currently contains about 27,000 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur. In an ECA, the sulfur in fuel will be limited to 10,000 ppm in August 2012 and then to 1,000 ppm in January 2015.

Within an ECA, ships must also achieve an 80 percent reduction in smog-forming oxides of nitrogen starting in 2016.

EPA air quality analyses shows the pollution reductions required in an ECA will reduce exposure to lethal particulate pollution for millions of Americans.

Ocean-going ships contribute to unhealthy air quality across the United States. According to EPA, in 2001, these large ships emitted approximately:

• 745,000 tons of smog-forming oxides of nitrogen (NOx), a precursor to ground-level ozone. Ozone can aggravate asthma and decrease lung function in addition to other health effects;

• 450,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a key contributor to acid rain that can also be transformed into lethal particulate matter; and

• 54,000 tons of fine particulates (PM2.5), microscopic sized particles, which can be breathed deep into the lungs, bypassing the body's defense systems. They are implicated in thousands of premature deaths each year. Other harmful health effects also result from breathing fine particulates.

Ocean-going ships are also responsible for about 3 percent of the world's total greenhouse gas pollution.

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American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. The American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research, education and advocacy. For more information, visit www.lungusa.org.

Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.

National Association of Clean Air Agencies comprises the air pollution control agencies in 53 states and territories and over 165 metropolitan areas across the country. NACAA's members have primary responsibility for ensuring that everyone in our nation breathes clean, healthful air. For more information, visit www.4cleanair.org.

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is the regional air quality agency for the area including the major container ports of Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. We work together the clean the air we breathe and protect our climate through education, incentives and enforcement. For more information, visit www.pscleanair.org. 

Officials are submitting an application to the International Maritime Organization (IMO, the international body that governs global shipping regulations) for an Emission Control Area (ECA) — an area where stricter pollution limits apply.

An Emission Control Area would provide the strongest clean air standards available under international law, dramatically improving fuel quality and reducing smog-forming oxides of nitrogen for all ocean-going ships in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, an area that typically extends about 200 nautical miles from the coast. 

Fuel from sea-going ships a major source of pollution

The container ships, tankers and other large sea-going vessels that dock at more than 100 U.S. port cities burn low grade “residual fuel” or “bunker fuel” that is a major source of air pollution. More than 87 million Americans live in ports and coastal communities that fail to meet basic federal health standards for ground-level ozone and particulate pollution.

The residual fuel contains sulfur levels 1,800 times greater than U.S. law allows for other diesel engines.  A recent study by two leading researchers on shipping pollution, Corbett and Winebrake, shows shipping-related particulate matter emissions contribute to approximately 60,000 global deaths annually, with impacts concentrated in coastal regions on major trade routes. 

To secure the health benefits of these protections as soon as possible, the IMO must promptly act on the U.S. application.

New report urges IMO to approve U.S. ECA application

In our new report, Protecting American Health from Global Shipping Pollution [PDF], Environmental Defense Fund and our partners — the American Lung Association, the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency — respectfully ask the IMO to grant the U.S. application for an ECA. 

The IMO will consider the request at the July 2009 meeting of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 59).  The IMO will make its final decision in 2010.       .

A U.S. ECA would dramatically cut ocean-going ship pollution

ECA standards would apply to all ships entering and exiting U.S. ports, including foreign-flag ships, which make 90 percent of all calls on U.S. ports.

When fully implemented in the U.S., the requirements for ship engines and fuel in the pollution-reduction area would cut:

• smog-forming oxide of nitrogen (NOx) emissions by about 80 percent from current levels,
• particulate pollution (PM) by approximately 85 percent and
• sulfur oxides (SOx) by around 95 percent.

Sweeping clean air benefits for millions of Americans

An ECA would provide sweeping health benefits for millions of Americans. The map above (see larger, detailed version) depicts the estimated reductions in annual concentrations of harmful particulate pollution in 2020 if the U.S. were to establish an ECA for the entire coastline of the U.S. mainland.

ECAs require fuel to be over 60 percent cleaner than the global average by 2010 and 96 percent cleaner in 2015, resulting in emissions reductions far greater and faster than global standards would require.

Every state in the lower 48 would benefit from an improvement in air quality if large ocean-going ships in U.S. waters met the rigorous pollution control standards that would be required in an ECA — even land-locked states. And in some metropolitan areas, like Houston, the expected reductions could mean the difference between meeting and not meeting the health-based federal clean air standards.

Ocean-going ships are big sources of air pollution

Ocean-going ships like cruise ships, container ships and tankers carry passengers and cargo all over the world. These ships are critical to global trade and our national economy. But besides delivering goods and people, these large ships deliver air pollution. Today the use of ocean-going ships to transport freight is on the rise, and nearly all the ships are powered by diesel engines.

Diesel pollution is one of the most dangerous and pervasive sources of air pollution in the U.S. These floating smokestacks churn out a noxious brew of pollutants that contribute to a host of ill health effects, ranging from respiratory problems to premature death (see health threats from diesel). Shipping-related PM emissions contribute to approximately 60,000 global deaths annually, with impacts concentrated in coastal regions on major trade routes.

Pollution from ships contributes to unhealthy air

Ocean-going ships  are a significant source of air pollution across America. EPA estimates that in 2001, ocean-going ships in the U.S. emitted:

• as much oxides of nitrogen (NOx, a key ingredient of ozone smog) as put out by 94 coal-fired power plants (an estimated 745,000 tons).
• as much particulate pollution (sometimes called soot) as is emitted from 117 coal-fired power plants (more than 54,000 tons).
• 40 percent of all mobile source sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions.

Our 2008 report Floating Smokestacks: A Call for Action to Clean Up Marine Shipping Pollution [PDF] shows the growing public health threat of these vessels.

Large ships pollute as much as millions of new cars

Another way to grasp the amount of smog-forming pollution that these large ships produce is to look at their emissions in major ports and compare the numbers with new automobiles meeting today's emissions standards.

	Pollution produced by large ships
Los Angeles/Long Beach	equivalent to 11,000,000 new cars
Seattle/Tacoma	equivalent to 13,300,000 new cars
Houston/Galveston	equivalent to 6,000,000 new cars
Lower Mississsippi	equivalent to 18,100,000 new cars
Great Lakes	equivalent to 590,000 new cars
New York/New Jersey	equivalent to 7,800,000 new cars

Marine shipping is a huge global warming emitter

Ocean-going vessels are also responsible for 3 percent of global warming emissions worldwide (an estimated 912 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas). In U.S. waters alone, these vessels emitted about 55.6 million metric tons of CO₂ 2006.

The global shipping industry as a whole accounts for more annual greenhouse gas emissions than almost any individual nation in the world. Only the United States, China, Russia, India and Japan emit more carbon dioxide than the global marine shipping fleet.

October 2008 meeting resulted in more protective rules

In October 2008, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) updated the clean air provisions (Annex VI) of the MARPOL treaty to be more protective. (MARPOL is the international treaty for preventing pollution from ocean-going ships.)

The new standards require modest global reductions in:

• oxides of nitrogen (NOx),
• particulate pollution (PM), and
• sulfur oxides (SOx) pollution.

They also put in place the framework for more rigorous reductions to be made in ECAs. 

To ensure that an ECA is put in place for ocean-going ships in U.S. waters, Environmental Defense Fund and our partner organizations respectfully call on the IMO to approve the U.S. application.  The application for stronger standards will be on the table at the July 2009 meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC59).

Working together, from the local level to the international level, we can achieve cleaner, healthier air by reducing ship and port-related pollution.

Download full report and executive summary

• New - Protecting American Health from Global Shipping Pollution: Establishing an Emission Control Area in U.S. Waters [PDF] (March 2009)
• Executive Summary [PDF] - Protecting American Health from Global Shipping Pollution
• Floating Smokestacks: A Call for Action to Clean Up Marine Shipping Pollution [PDF]
• Executive Summary [PDF]