Port of L.A. spends $16 million on environmentally friendly upgrades

Port of L.A. spends $16 million on environmentally friendly upgrades The Port of Los Angeles last week outlined plans for a $16.63 million suite of near-term air quality improvement measures planned for implementation over the next 12 months.
   The 2005-2006 Port of Los Angeles Clean Air Program (POLACAP) commits more than $9 million in incentive funding to begin modernization of 869 yard tractors, a pollution source that accounts for 78 percent of the total NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions produced in the port and is also the single-largest source of port-related diesel particulate matter (PM) emissions within the communities surrounding the port. Upon its completion, the program will reduce NOx and PM air pollutants by an estimated 2,250 tons and 405 tons, respectively.
   'Because yard tractors are classified as 'off-road' vehicles, they are less stringently regulated by state air quality standards; but we believe they are the major source of air pollution from within the port boundaries,' said Ralph Appy, the port's director of environmental management. 'This is an aggressive program that will significantly reduce diesel emissions that impact our neighboring communities.'
   Over the next year, the port will replace all pre-1996 model year yard tractors and 50 percent of all Tier 1 (1996-2002 model year) yard tractors. The port plans to replace the remaining Tier 1 yard tractors and all Tier 2 (2003-2004 model year) yard tractors in later phases of the POLACAP program through 2008.
   Nearly $2.2 million in additional 2005-2006 funding within the POLACAP will subsidize the purchase of lower-sulfur diesel fuel to power auxiliary engines on oceangoing vessels ($1.4 million), ancillary cargo handling equipment used by terminal operators ($550,000 of incentive funding), and marine harbor craft ($220,000).
   The four-year, $52 million program also underwrites the cost of new in-port switching locomotives and subsidizes the purchase of hundreds of cleaner-burning diesel trucks driven by operators who make as many as 700 trips to and from the port each year.