Environment: Long Beach/Los Angeles

San Pedro Bay Ports Release Draft of 2017 Clean Air Action Plan Update

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles on July 19 released the draft of their proposed 2017 Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) Update. The document outlines a new set of near-term and long-term strategies aimed at reducing air pollution from all port-related sources, assisting the state in meeting greenhouse gas reduction goals, and ultimately achieving zero emissions for trucks and terminal equipment.

The document’s release kicks off a public review and comment period that extends through September 18.

The draft incorporates feedback from nearly two years of dialogue with industry, environmental groups, regulatory agencies and neighboring communities. The ports conducted multiple small-group meetings and a public workshop prior to releasing a discussion document last November detailing their goals, priorities and strategies for public review and comment.

Grouped under four categories, the 2017 CAAP’s near-term and long-term strategies include:

Clean Vehicles, Equipment Technology and Fuels

• Starting in 2018, phase in clean engine standards for new trucks entering the port drayage registries followed by a truck rate structure that encourages the use of near-zero and zero emissions trucks, with the goal of transitioning to a zero-emissions drayage fleet by 2035.

• Reduce idling and support the state’s efforts to transition terminal equipment to zero emissions by 2030.

• Update the Vessel Speed Reduction Program, expand the use of state-approved alternative technologies to reduce at-berth emissions, and encourage clean technology upgrades to attract the cleanest vessels to the San Pedro Bay ports.

Freight Infrastructure Investment and Planning

• Expand use of on-dock rail, with the long-term goal of moving 50 percent of all inbound cargo leaving the ports by rail.

• Develop charging standards for electric cargo handling equipment.
  

Freight Efficiency

• Develop a universal truck appointment system for the entire port complex with the goal of minimizing truck turn times.

• Create a voluntary Green Terminal Program to recognize terminal operators achieving high levels of freight movement efficiency.

• Continue to explore short-haul rail, staging yards, intelligent transportation systems and other supply chain efficiency improvements.

Energy Resource Planning

• Develop infrastructure plans to support terminal equipment electrification, alternative fuels and other energy resource goals.

• Continue to develop and implement viable energy conservation, resiliency and management strategies.

The updated CAAP captures projects underway as well as future projects, including those that will require further study to determine how and when to demonstrate new technology. A roadmap for conducting feasibility assessments is among the supporting documents.

Supporting documents also include a preliminary analysis estimating the cost of implementing the 2017 CAAP at $7 billion to $14 billion. Given the magnitude of the investment, the draft plan calls for the ports to intensify their funding advocacy and increase collaboration with their partners to finance the new strategies.

The 2017 CAAP sets new clean air goals focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The plan carries over previous 2023 targets for cutting other primary pollutants aimed at reducing diesel particulate matter (DPM) 77 percent, sulfur oxides (SOx) 93 percent, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) 59 percent below 2005 levels.

The most recent emissions inventories show the ports have already surpassed the 2023 DPM and SOx reduction targets and are within striking range of the NOx target. The 2017 CAAP identifies the tougher measures needed to ratchet down harmful emissions to zero or near-zero levels.