EPA adopts clean air rule for ships

EPA adopts clean air rule for ships    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it has finalized a rule setting engine and fuel standards for large U.S.-flagged ships.
   The rule, under the Clean Air Act, complements a key piece of the EPA's strategy to designate an emissions control area (ECA) for thousands of miles of U.S. and Canadian coasts. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency, is set to vote in March on the adoption of the joint U.S.-Canada ECA, which would result in stringent standards for large foreign-flagged and domestic ships operating within the designated area.
   The EPA said the final rule provides more flexibility in complying with the fuel sulfur requirements than proposed. First, vessels may now use other methods such as scrubbers to achieve sulfur dioxide emission reductions equivalent to those obtained by the use of lower sulfur fuel.
   Second, a fuel availability relief provision has been added for use only by vessels with diesel engines operating on the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway. This provision allows operators to buy the lowest sulfur marine residual fuel available if the fuel that meets the near-term 1.0 percent (10,000 ppm) fuel sulfur standard is not available.
   The EPA said the rule is a 'major milestone' in its strategy to cut harmful marine diesel emissions and said the regulation harmonizes with international standards and will lead to significant air quality improvements throughout the country.
   Air pollution from large ships, such as oil tankers and cargo ships, is expected to grow rapidly as port traffic increases.
   The EPA estimates that in 2030 its efforts now will prevent between 12,000 and 31,000 premature deaths and 1.4 million work days lost.
   “The estimated annual health benefits in 2030 as a result of reduced air pollution are valued between $110 and $270 billion, which is up to nearly 90 times the projected cost of $3.1 billion to achieve those results,” the agency said.