Source: San Jose Mercury News, 7/3/09
Ships approaching California ports now face tough new standards on the amount of air pollution they emit. Under the California Air Resource Board’s (CARB) new rules that went into effect last month, any ship longer than 400 feet or heavier than 10,000 gross tons coming to or from a California port must burn a much cleaner type of fuel within 24 nautical miles of the coastline.
The rules are the first time that ships have faced such rules, largely because many ships using California ports are not based in the U.S. However, the new rules will be in effect for ships of any national origin and carry a stiff $50,000 fine for those found in violation.
Environmental and public health advocates have long supported such a rule, citing the need to improve air quality around ports. According to the Air District t he rules (which will include an even tougher emissions standard in 2012) will reduce particle pollution by 83 percent and sulfur dioxide pollution by 90 percent, avoiding an estimated 3,600 premature deaths statewide by 2015. Opponents, however, have claimed that the state has no authority to regulate ships beyond state waters and have pressed the issue in courts.
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