There’s been a dramatic reduction in air pollution from sources at the Port of Oakland since the port implemented stricter air quality policies in 2008, according to a new report by the University of California at Berkeley’s Institute of Transportation Studies.
The study reveals a 50 percent decline in diesel particulate matter emissions from drayage trucks and a 40 percent decline in nitrogen oxide emissions in the harbor area following implementation of the clean trucks component of the port’s Comprehensive Truck Management Program, or CTMP.
“This study indicates that we are on the right path,” port Executive Director Omar Benjamin said. “We have been and continue to work with our partners to achieve our goal that, by the year 2020, the Port of Oakland will have cut the health risk from diesel particulate matter at our seaport by 85 percent.”
UC Berkeley measured ambient conditions in the port area where there’s concentrated truck traffic. Air samples were taken in November 2009 and June 2010. The data were used for an independent, academic and peer-reviewed study that looked for changes in diesel particulate matter and nitrogen oxides emissions from drayage trucks in the area.
The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners unanimously adopted a major maritime air quality policy statement in March 2008, along with actions to reduce diesel emissions that are related to health risk.
The CTMP is part of the port’s overall Maritime Air Quality Improvement Program – a master plan regarding long-term strategy, initiatives, programs and projects to reduce health risk related to seaport sources of diesel pollution.
