California Issues World's Strictest Marine Diesel Emission Rule

The board says that when the phase-in is complete in 2012, the change will eliminate 15 tons of diesel exhaust daily from vessels that call at California ports - an 83 percent reduction compared to uncontrolled emissions.

"This regulation will save lives," said Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols. "At ports and all along the California coast we will see cleaner air and better health."

Nichols says the cleaner air will reduce the cancer rates and premature deaths associated with living near seaports and trade corridors along California's coast.

A container ship visits San Diego Harbor, pumping black diesel smoke into the air. (Photo by Mary)

Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and over 40 known cancer-causing compounds, the board pointed out in a statement today.

"Currently in California, diesel particulate emissions from ocean-going vessels expose more than 27 million people or 80 percent of California's total population, to cancer risk levels at or above 10 chances in a million," said the board.

The new measure requires ocean-going vessels within 24 nautical miles of California's coastline to use lower-sulfur marine distillates in their main and auxiliary engines and auxiliary boilers, rather than the dirtier heavy-fuel oil called bunker fuel.

Both U.S.-flagged and foreign-flagged vessels are subject to the regulation, which the board says is the most stringent and comprehensive requirement for marine fuel-use in the world.

The regulation will be implemented in two steps, each requiring lower sulfur content in the fuel - first in 2009 and final in 2012.

In 2009, eliminating about 75 percent of the sooty diesel particulates, as well as 80 percent of the sulfur oxides and six percent of the nitrogen oxides is the target.

In 2012, when the very low sulfur fuel requirement takes effect, reductions of diesel particulate matter will be 15 tons daily, the board said.

As a result of the new regulation, the board estimates that sulfur oxides will be reduced by 140 tons daily, a 95 percent reduction, and nitrogen oxides will be reduced by 11 tons per day, a six percent reduction.

Between 2009 and 2015, an estimated 3,600 premature deaths will be avoided, said the board, and the cancer risk associated with the emissions from these vessels will be reduced by over 80 percent.

In addition, the measure will help the South Coast Air Quality Management District meet its federal clean air requirements for fine particulate matter by 2014 and move California closer to its goal of reducing diesel particulate matter 85 percent by 2020.

Reducing emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks is on the board's agenda for fall.

Over the past 10 years the board has adopted regulations affecting cargo-handling equipment, transport refrigeration units, truck idling, off-road equipment, harbor craft, port drayage trucks, onboard incineration, and ships at-berth.

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