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$3.5 Million in Recovery Act Funds to Help Cut Diesel Pollution, Create Jobs in Port of Baltimore

Release Date: 08/20/2009
Contact Information: David Sternberg, EPA, 215-814-5548 sternberg.david@epa.gov or Richard Scher, MPA, 410-385-4483 rscher@marylandports.com

PHILADELPHIA (August 20, 2009) – The United States Environmental Protection Agency today announced the Port of Baltimore will receive $3.5 million in Recovery Act funding to help clean the air in and around the Port. The Port will use the funds for clean-diesel technology in essential equipment used for harbor operations, creating jobs and reducing asthma rates and other respiratory illnesses.

“Recovery Act dollars will help the Port protect air quality and the health of Baltimore communities,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. “Investing in clean diesel puts people to work and keeps them working, which helps our economy and our environment.”

The Port of Baltimore was selected from projects competing for a share of $16.1 million. EPA’s mid-Atlantic region received 40 grant applications. The Port was one of seven applicants that won funding.

“We are pleased that the Environmental Protection Agency saw fit to award the Port of Baltimore one of these seven grants,” said Kathy Broadwater, deputy executive director for the MPA. “This generous funding will help us continue our commitment to a cleaner and healthier Port of Baltimore and surrounding community. These stimulus dollars are an excellent example of our government working to retain employment and creating a healthier environment for the country.”

Using the newest, clean-diesel technology built to meet higher air-quality standards, will cut diesel emissions by up to 90 percent, drastically reducing fine particulate, and other pollutants that contribute to ozone smog.

EPA’s $3.5 million Recovery Act grant to the Port of Baltimore will support:

· Collaborating with the Baltimore Port Alliance’s environmental committee in extensive outreach to the maritime community with solid information about ways and technologies to cost-effectively reduce air emissions.

· Assisting with the installation of clean-diesel technology in 142 pieces of diesel-powered equipment used for Port operations:

v Harbor craft
v Locomotives
v Dray-trucks, and
v On-dock handling equipment

This equipment consists of two tugboats, seven locomotives, 50 short haul trucks, and 83 units of cargo handling equipment. The technologies include nine engine repowers, 43 vehicle and equipment replacements, 83 exhaust controls, and seven idling devices.

Through this effort and earlier voluntary programs, the Port of Baltimore is acting to reduce emissions of air pollutants from the movement of goods and cargo through the Port.

In addition to helping create and retain jobs and boost the economy, the clean diesel projects would help to reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February, 2009, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.

For information on EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 visit: https://www.epa.gov/recovery

For information about EPA’s clean diesel initiatives visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel

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