By Mark Edward Nero
The Port of Seattle and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency on May
27 launched the drayage truck scrapping and replacement program ScRAPS 2 (Seaport
Truck Scrappage and Replacements for Air in Puget Sound).
The program’s goal is to help truckers calling on Port of Seattle
terminals to have model-year 2007 or newer engines, or meet 2007 federal emissions
standards, which are aimed at reducing air emissions from port-related activities.
The program, partially funded by federal and state grants, is
expected to provide up to $20,000 to owners who scrap old drayage trucks and replace
them with trucks with model-year 2007 or newer engines. The current level of funding
is expected to provide incentives for about 180 trucks.
“We’re happy to report that truckers are successfully signing
up for the program,” Stephanie Jones Stebbins, Seaport Environmental and Planning
Director at the Port of Seattle, said. “The Port of Seattle put a lot of work into
reaching out to the trucker community to ensure they understood the process and
were able to apply.”
The project is expected to run through mid-2015 or until funds
are depleted. The port also says it is investigating other financing and assistance
programs to help truck owners meet the Clean Truck Program requirements.
“ScRAPS is a proven model of success in helping truck drivers
upgrade to newer, less-polluting engines,” Andrew Green, Director of Air Quality
Programs at the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, said, remarking that to date, scrappage
rebate programs throughout the region have removed more than 400 dirty trucks from
our roads.
More information on ScRAPS 2 is available at http://www.portseattle.org/Environmental/Air/Seaport-Air-Quality/Pages/Clean-Trucks.aspx
