An independent study by the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley) shows a dramatic reduction in air pollution at the Port of Oakland.
The study reveals a 50% decline in diesel particulate matter emissions from drayage trucks and a 40% decline in nitrogen oxide emissions in the port area following the implementation of the clean trucks component of the port’s Comprehensive Truck Management Program (CTMP).
In March 2008, the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners adopted a major maritime air quality policy statement along with actions to reduce diesel emissions that are related to health risk. The CTMP is part of the port’s overall Maritime Air Quality Improvement Program (MAQIP) aimed at achieving its goal of reducing health risk related to seaport sources of diesel pollution.
Beginning in January 2010, drayage trucks with engine year models between 1994 and 2003 were required to be retrofitted with a diesel particulate filter to enter Port of Oakland maritime facilities. The filter is verified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to reduce a truck’s diesel emissions by at least 85%. CARB, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Port of Oakland funded grants for truck retrofits and replacements.
The UC Berkeley study measured ambient conditions directly above 7th Street in the port area where there is concentrated truck traffic. Air samples were taken in November 2009 and again in June 2010 after the CTMP clean trucks component was implemented.
“This study indicates that we are on the right path. Air pollution comes from many sources in the Bay Area including emissions from port-related activities. We have been and continue to work with our partners to achieve our goal that, by the year 2020, the Port of Oakland will have cut the health risk from diesel particulate matter at our seaport by 85%,” said Omar R. Benjamin, executive director of the Port of Oakland.
Richard Sinkoff, the port’s director of environmental programs and planning, added that this year Oakland is aiming to complete the first half of its shore power programme, which will allow ships to plug into the electric power grid and turn off their diesel auxiliary engines in port. Once completed, the shore power programme will provide additional air quality benefits by significantly reducing diesel emissions from ships at dock.
