EPA awards grants to Boston, Houston ports

EPA awards grants to Boston, Houston ports    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded grants to the ports of Boston and Houston to help reduce air emissions from diesel equipment.
   The Port of Houston Authority will receive a $150,000 grant and said it will retrofit rubber tired gantry cranes and terminal tractors with diesel oxidation catalysts and diesel emulsion to reduce harmful components in their exhaust.
   The Massachusetts Port Authority, operator of the port of Boston, has been awarded $82,800, which it said will be used to install oxidation catalysts on 36 land-based diesel vehicles including tractors and reach stackers used at Conley Terminal and delivery trucks operating in South Boston.
   In May 2004, EPA made available $1.5 million in grant funds to benefit sensitive populations who are more susceptible to the effects of diesel exhaust. The grants given to the ports of Boston and Houston are two of 18 funded as part of EPA’s new Clean Diesel Campaign, which seeks to retrofit diesel vehicles with advanced technologies and cleaner fuels to reduce emissions of particulate matter (soot) and other air toxins.