Three Pacific Northwest ports update emission-reduction goals

Ports in Seattle and Tacoma, Wash., and Vancouver, British Columbia, last week jointly announced goals to cut diesel emissions by 75 percent per ton of cargo moved by 2015 and 80 percent by 2020 from a 2005 emission baseline.

"Factoring in projected cargo growth, this will result in overall reductions of 70 percent by 2015 and 75 percent by 2020," port officials said in a joint statement.

The Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma and Port Metro Vancouver also plan to reduce greenhouse gases 10 percent per ton of cargo moved by 2015 and 15 percent by 2020.

The goals are part of a 2013 Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy Update the ports adopted last week. An update to the 2007 Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, it commits the ports, five regulatory agencies, shipping lines, railroads, environmental organizations and other stakeholders to work together through 2020.

The 2013 update was based on the results of the 2011 Puget Sound Maritime Air Emissions Inventory, which found maritime-related air pollution has decreased since 2005, primarily due to significant, voluntary investments by the maritime industry and government agencies in cleaner technologies and fuels, and more efficient operation systems, port officials said. To develop the update, the three ports partnered with other government agencies in the region, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington State Department of Ecology and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

"With their tenants and customers, the three ports use diesel-powered ships, trains, trucks and other equipment to move goods and passengers through the ports to other destinations," port officials said. "The strategy creates an integrated approach to improve air quality and reduce port-related emissions in the shared airshed to safeguard public health and the environment while supporting economic growth."