Puget Sound ports gear up to tackle diesel pollution

Puget Sound ports gear up to tackle diesel pollution The Puget Sound ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver, British Columbia, plan to enact tough air quality standards by the end of the year in an effort to cut diesel pollution from maritime sources, according to a report released by the three ports on Thursday.
   The omnibus pollution plan seeks to address emissions from ships, trains and landside vehicles such as drayage trucks.
   Proposals in the report include:
   ' Having the ports mandate cleaner fuel, shore-based electrical power and upgraded engines for ocean going vessels.
   ' Start fleet upgrades and institute cleaner fuel rules for cargo handling equipment.
   ' Re-power locomotives with cleaner burning or alternative power engines.
   ' Extend gate hours, implement a tracking system and start a fleet modernization program for trucks servicing the ports.
   The ports' goals are to reduce particulate matter — most visible as soot in diesel engine exhaust — by 70 percent from vessels and 30 percent from cargo-handling equipment by 2010. The ports also hope to cut particulate matter from rail engines by up to 90 percent by 2012 and reduce all truck emissions to 2007 levels within the next 10 years.
   Unlike their counterparts in Southern California who operate in one of the most heavily polluted areas in the nation, the Puget Sound ports have typically been in attainment with federal air quality standards. Recent changes in federal particulate standards however will see several areas in Puget Sound go out of attainment if steps are not taken.
   The ports plan to hold public meetings on the overall plan before voting to approve the various programs by the end of the year. If similar plans are any indication, the Puget Sound will face stiff opposition to several items.
   A truck-licensing scheme being proposed by Southern California port officials has drawn vehement criticism from business and government leaders. Last week the ports approved a rolling multiyear schedule to phase older trucks out of the port drayage industry.
   So far, though, Seattle and Tacoma have only promised to look at the truck-licensing plan in use at the Vancouver port since 2005.