Long Beach: Clean air effort succeeding

Long Beach: Clean air effort succeeding    The Port of Long Beach said air pollution fell for the third year in a row in 2009, with declines of up to 50 percent for key pollutants.
   Efforts to replace older trucks with cleaner equipment, slow ships as they move to and from the port, and supplying docked ships with electric power are having a positive effect on air quality, said Nick Sramek, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. 'Our air quality programs are expanding and delivering better results each year. Trucks, trains and ships are running cleaner than ever before.'
   The port said some of the pollution reduction can be attributed to a recession-related drop in cargo volume, but said its air pollution decline far outpaced the decline in trade.
   While container shipments were down 24 percent from 2005 to 2009, diesel particulate matter fell 52 percent; nitrogen oxides, which contribute to smog formation, were down 35 percent; sulfur oxides, which cause respiratory symptoms, dropped 46 percent.
   The port said its Port's Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) is on target to meet or exceed a goal to reduce diesel particulate matter emissions at the Long Beach and Los Angeles by 72 percent by 2014, from 2005 levels.