The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Wednesday proposed tougher emissions standards under the Clean Air Act for large U.S. ships that would bring them in line with international standards to improve air quality.
The rule follows a proposal last March by the United States and Canada
to designate thousands of miles of the two countries’ coasts as an
Emission Control Area (ECA). The International Maritime Organization
(IMO), a United Nations agency, begins consideration of the ECA plan
this month, which would result in stringent standards for large ships
operating within 200 nautical miles of the coasts of Canada and the
United States.
“These emissions are contributing to health, environmental and economic challenges for port communities and others that are miles inland. Building on our work to form an international agreement earlier this year, we’re taking the next steps to reduce significant amounts of harmful pollution from getting into the air we breathe,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
Air pollution from large ships, such as oil tankers and cargo ships, is expected to grow rapidly in line with port traffic increases. By 2030, the domestic and international strategy is expected to reduce annual emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from large marine diesel engines by about 1.2 million tons and particulate matter (PM) emissions by about 143,000 tons. When fully implemented, the coordinated effort would reduce NOx emissions by 80% and PM emissions by 85% compared to current emissions, the EPA said.
EPA estimates that in 2030, this effort would prevent between 13,000 and 33,000 premature deaths, 1.5 million work days lost, and 10 million minor restricted-activity days. The estimated annual health benefits in 2030 as a result of reduced air pollution are valued between $110 and $280 billion at an annual projected cost of approximately $3.1 billion–as high as a 90-to-1 benefit-to-cost ratio.
The proposed rulemaking is designed to reflect the IMO’s stringent ECA standards and broader worldwide program. The rule adds two new tiers of NOX standards and strengthens EPA’s existing diesel fuel program for these ships. It represents another milestone in EPA’s National Clean Diesel Campaign.
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