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Last week, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., introduced the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, which aims to reduce air pollution caused by ships, trains, trucks, terminal equipment and harbor craft.

Created in conjunction with the South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the plan proposes to reduce particulate matter emissions by more than 50 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 45 percent from all port-related sources within five years.

The plan requires all diesel-powered line-haul locomotives entering the ports to meet the EPA’s “Tier 2” emission standards by 2011. In addition, the locomotives’ engines must incorporate a diesel oxidation catalyst or particulate filter and 15-minute idle restrictors, and use ultra low sulfur diesel.

The plan also calls for Pacific Harbor Line Inc. (PHL) to replace all switchers’ engines with Tier 2-compliant engines featuring 15-minute idle restrictors and begin using emulsified or clean diesel fuels by 2008. PHL will replace 16 of its 20 switchers with environmentally friendly models beginning in early 2007.

The two largest U.S. container seaports, L.A. and Long Beach handle more than 40 percent of the nation’s containerized cargo.