POLA Emissions Report Shows Continued Progress

By Mark Edward Nero

The Port of Los Angeles has largely continued to preserve clean air gains that have reduced key pollutants, lowered health risk in surrounding communities and improved the quality of life in the greater Los Angeles area, according to the latest release of an annual report.

The detailed inventory’s latest findings, which were publicly revealed Aug. 18, are based on data collected during calendar year 2015 and reviewed by regional, state and federal air regulatory agencies.

The results show the port continues to exceed its 2023 targets for reducing diesel particulate matter and sulfur oxides (77 percent and 93 percent, respectively) and is within striking distance of its 2023 target of reducing NOx emissions 59 percent.

The port also held the line on reducing the health risk of port-related emissions by lowering them 85 percent.

The baseline for the levels is 2005, the year before the port adopted a massive environmental effort known as the San Pedro Bay Clean Air Action Plan.

Overall, diesel particulate matter (DPM) emissions remain down 85 percent from all sources related to port operations, replicating the port’s record set in 2014, according to the report. Likewise, sulfur oxides (SOx) emissions are down 97 percent, nearing total elimination. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions are down 51 percent, just one percent shy of the 52 percent reduction rate in 2014.

The emissions inventory also shows that greenhouse gas emissions were 10 percent below the 2005 baseline, but the 2015 GHG emissions were higher than port emissions in 2014, when they were 16 percent below the 2005 baseline. The increased 2015 GHG emissions are mostly attributed by the port to congestion issues experienced in the first part of 2015. With congestion now behind it, the port says it anticipates a return to larger GHG emissions reductions for 2016, as it continues its efforts to achieve a goal of reducing GHGs 80 percent by 2050, based on 1990 levels.

Cargo handling equipment upgrades played a key role in offsetting congestion-related emissions in 2015, as the upgrades helped diesel particulates remain stable compared to 2014 with only a small increase in NOx emissions.

Replacing and retrofitting off-road terminal equipment has been a mainstay of the Clean Air Action Plan since its inception, and the use of the cleanest available engines jumped to 45 percent of all cargo handling equipment, up from 30 percent in 2014.

The POLA’s full 2015 air emission inventory can be seen at https://www.portoflosangeles.org/pdf/2015_Air_Emissions_Inventory.pdf.

POSD Sees Significant Air Emission Reductions

By Mark Edward Nero

The Port of San Diego says it has seen significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants produced by its maritime operations, due in part to the efforts of its Green Port program, which aims to reduce environmental impacts of business operations and improve the health of the San Diego Bay.

The progress in reducing air emissions is described in a report released in early November. According to the report, greenhouse gas emissions from non-military ocean-going vessels, harbor craft, locomotives, on-road vehicles and cargo handling equipment were reduced by 42 percent in 2012 compared to the baseline year of 2006.

Additionally, other harmful air pollutants were also significantly reduced, including: nitrogen oxides by 50 percent; diesel particulate matter by 75 percent; and sulfur dioxide by 94 percent, according to the document.

After the baseline measurements were taken in 2006, the port put into place emissions control strategies to reduce the largest sources of emissions from its maritime operations. In 2009, a vessel speed reduction program was developed and in 2010, a clean truck program was implemented. Additionally, shore power was installed at the port’s cruise ship terminal in 2010 to reduce emissions from berthed cruise ships.

“By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, we have a positive impact on climate change while also improving air quality for local communities,” Port Commission Chair Bob Nelson said. “This environmental monitoring shows that our strategies have been effective as we strive for ‘green’ maritime operations.”

Overall, maritime activities are cleaner than they used to be, according to data in the report. For example, the report states, ocean-going vessels in the San Diego Bay produced fewer emissions on a per-vessel basis in 2012 than in 2006. The port continues to implement emission reduction strategies: in early 2014, a shore power system began operating at the port’s cargo facility, the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, thereby reducing emissions from berthed cargo ships.

Also, in 2013, the port adopted a Climate Action Plan that provides a long-term strategic vision for the Green Port Program, and calls for 10 percent reductions of all greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and 25 percent by 2035 compared to 2006 numbers.

The port’s next maritime emissions inventory is scheduled to be conducted in 2018.

POLA Data Shows Continued Air Emissions Reductions

By Mark Edward Nero

The Port of Los Angeles continues to make strides in cutting pollution from ships, trucks, trains, cargo-handling equipment and harbor craft, according to the latest annual inventory of emissions from port-related mobile sources.

The port’s 2013 Inventory of Air Emissions shows the port has set new records with diesel particulate matter down 80 percent, nitrogen oxides (NOx) down 57 percent and sulfur oxides (SOx) down 90 percent over eight years of clean air measures. The findings also reflect progress in curbing greenhouse gases, which are down 23 percent since 2005.

The Inventory of Air Emissions tracks the progress of a comprehensive suite of clean air measures, requirements and incentives to reduce harmful emissions from mobile sources associated with port operations that was passed under the name Clean Air Action Plan in 2006.

The latest findings are based on data from the 2013 calendar year and compared with data collected annually since the baseline year of 2005.

The clean air plan incorporates 2014 and 2023 regional goals for reducing emissions, and the port says it met both diesel particulate matter reduction goals two years ahead of schedule and, as of the 2013 inventory, exceeded the 2023 target of 79 percent. The port surpassed its 2014 NOx reduction goal of 22 percent in 2009 and is two percentage points shy of its 2023 target – 59 percent – for NOx.

The Port of LA also says it’s within three percentage points of its 93 percent SOx reduction target, the same for 2014 and 2023. With two new vessel requirements that took effect Jan. 1, 2014, the port’s expected to meet the goal.

The first requirement is California’s shore power regulation, which establishes rules for container, refrigerated and cruise vessels to run on shore-side electricity while at berth in Los Angeles and five other ports. Plugging into shore power reduces ship engine emissions by up to 95 percent per vessel call.

The second regulation requires ships within 24 nautical miles of California to run on the cleanest available marine fuel whose sulfur content is at or below 0.1 percent. The mandate represents a significant drop from 2012 sulfur content limits of 1.0 percent for marine gas oil and 0.5 percent for marine diesel oil. Effective Jan. 1, 2015, the requirement extends to waters within 200 nautical miles of all of North America.

Currently, only 6.1 percent of all SOx emissions throughout the area surrounding the San Pedro Bay ports are attributable to port operations – down sharply from 25 percent in 2005, according to the air emissions inventory data. Likewise, port-related diesel emissions are now at 4.8 percent, compared with 10 percent; and NOx emissions have shrunk to 3.5 percent from five percent.

The full 200-plus pages of the 2013 air emissions report can be read at http://www.portoflosangeles.org/pdf/2013_Air_Emissions_Inventory_Full_Report.pdf

POLB: Air Emissions Down Significantly

By Mark Edward Nero

The Port of Long Beach has seen significant decreases in numerous types of pollution since it started tracking them in 2005, according to a newly-released air emissions inventory.

The inventory, which was completed in July, was publicly revealed for the first time during the Long Beach harbor board’s Sept. 22 meeting. The 300-plus page document states that sulfur oxides emitted from oceangoing vessels plummeted by 90 percent in 2013 when compared to the 2005 baseline, while diesel particulate matter dropped by 82 percent and nitrogen oxides fell 54 percent.

Part of the decline, however, can be attributed to fewer vessel calls at Long Beach.

According to the inventory, the port saw 1,921 vessels arrive in 2013, compared with 2,690 in 2005, a drop of 29 percent.

Of the 1,921, 911 were containerships, compared with 1,332 in 2005 a 32 percent drop.

However, despite the decrease in vessel arrivals over the eight years, the average number of TEUs aboard each vessel has climbed from 5,037 in 2005 to 7,388 last year.

One of the primary purposes of the POLB’s annual emissions inventories is to provide a progress update toward achieving an established standard of reducing diesel particulate emissions by 72 percent, nitrous oxide by 22 percent and sulfur oxide by 93 by 2014 compared to 2005 levels.

By 2023, the port wants have to reduced its emissions by 77 percent for DPM, 59 percent for NOx, and 93 percent for SOx, something that the latest inventory states the port is on track to do.

POLA Study: Air Pollution Down Significantly

New data shows air pollution associated with operations at the Port of Los Angeles is at its lowest level since the port adopted a formal plan to reduce harmful emissions in 2006.

The port’s 2012 air emissions inventory shows that LA’s seven years of aggressive clean air strategies have been record-setting. The results include a 79 percent drop in diesel particulate matter since the start of pollution reduction efforts.

The emissions inventory also shows that the amount of diesel particulate emissions related to moving 10,000 20-foot containers through the port in 2012 was 81 percent lower than the emissions output related to moving the same number of containers through LA in 2005.

“Every year really does count and our systematic approach has accelerated our progress,” Los Angeles Harbor Commission President Cindy Miscikowski said in a statement released by the port. “Much of the credit is shared by our industry partners who have invested in technology that in some cases surpass government regulations.”

The port’s air emissions inventory tracks the progress of a comprehensive suite of clean air measures, requirements and incentives to reduce harmful emissions from all sources associated with port operations: ships, trucks, trains, cargo-handling equipment and smaller harbor craft. The latest findings are based on data from the 2012 calendar year and compared with data collected annually since the baseline year of 2005.

In addition to exceeding the port’s 2014 goal for diesel particulates, the latest data shows a record plunge in emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx), which have fallen 56 percent and 88 percent respectively since 2005.

The results exceed the port’s 2014 goal for NOx and put the port within striking distance of its goal to cut SOx emissions 93 percent by 2014. Both NOx and SOx are key components of smog.

For SOx alone, 2012 marked the greatest reduction in a single year since 2005, according to port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz.

“This past year, SOx emissions were cut in half,” she said. “That doesn’t happen without teamwork, which shows how far we’ve come and what ports, ocean carriers, regulatory agencies and others can do together.”

The SOx findings are especially significant to the port because they reflect major progress in tackling vessel emissions. Ships remain the biggest generators of port-related air pollution and they pose the greatest challenge because they are a mobile source regulated by international convention.

The Port of LA’s full 2012 air emissions inventory report can be read at http://www.portoflosangeles.org/pdf/2012_Air_Emissions_Inventory.pdf.