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EPA Ports Initiative Vision
People living and working near ports across the country will breathe cleaner air and live better lives as a result of bold steps taken through a collaboration of industry, government and communities to improve environmental performance and increase economic prosperity.
April 2020 (Vol. 5, Ed. 5)
EPA Ports Initiative Newsletter

Featured News

This newsletter highlights four recently updated or released resources for port stakeholders that includes near-port communities and port operators. 
Please add  TalkAboutPorts@epa.gov to your address book and let us know your thoughts.  
Coming Soon - Community-Port
Collaboration and Capacity Building Resources
toolkit
EPA Updates Community-Port Collaboration  Capacity Building Toolkit : New Web Format Available

Ports Primer for Communities, 
Community Action Roadmap, and 
Environmental Justice Primer for Ports

The three document toolkit has been updated based on feedback received from participants in the EPA Near-Port Community Capacity Building Project series of pilots, other  community stakeholders, port authorities and businesses, and government partners. The documents are designed to be utilized as companion documents to each other.  This update includes the PDF documents as well as creation of web format versions of the Community Action Roadmap, and the Environmental Justice Primer for Ports. 

Ports Primer for Communities
Ports Primer Cover March 2020
The Ports Primer for Communities has been designed to provide assistance to near-port communities interested in becoming more involved in port decisions that may impact local land use, the environment and quality of life. The Ports Primer is intended to help community members participate effectively in the decision-making process and is available in two formats: An interactive PDF document that can be downloaded and a webpage format. Key sections of the Ports Primer for Communities are:
  • The Role of Ports;
  • How Ports Work;
  • Port-Community Relations;
  • Land Use & Transportation;
  • Local & Regional Economy;
  • Environmental Impacts;
  • Tools & Resources; and
  • Glossary of Ports Related Terms.
More Information: Ports Primer for Communities


Environmental Justice Primer for Ports
EJ Primer Cover March 2020
The Environmental Justice Primer for Ports is intended to help port decision-makers better understand the needs of near-port communities, how they can help address these needs, and build productive community relationships during planning activities and operations. This resource contains two sections available as a PDF document that can be downloaded and in a new web format. The sections are the following: 
  • Section A: Provides port decision-makers with an overview of environmental justice principles and how they apply within the context of port operations and decision-making; and
  • Section B Good Neighbor Roadmap: Provides a step-by-step guide to enhance community engagement, build and strengthen relationships, and improve quality-of-life outcomes for near-port communities.


Community Action Roadmap 

The Community Action Roadmap  provides a step-by-step guide to help near-port communities effectively engage in port decisions that may impact local land use, environmental health and quality of life. This resource is available as a PDF document that can be downloaded and in a new webpage format. The following sections are included.
  • Overview of Six Steps of Engagement;
  • Step 1: Prioritize Goals and Concerns;
  • Step 2: Identify Levers for Change;
  • Step 3: Build Relationships;
  • Step 4: Develop an Action Plan;
  • Step 5: Make Your Case;
  • Step 6: Build Momentum; and
  • Community Action Resources
More Information: Community Action Roadmap
 drayage
Drayage Truck Replacements Improve Air Quality in the Mid-Atlantic
Over 270 Drayage Trucks Replaced Preventing the Emission of Over  23,000 tons of Pollutants During Useful Life of Trucks
 
The ports of Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and Virginia in the Mid-Atlantic region have implemented programs to replace aging drayage (or dray) trucks through  Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant funding . Dray trucks play a critical role in transporting cargo from ships to other modes of transportation and warehouses. However, dray trucks often can release significant emissions as they make frequent trips throughout the port and communities, and idle while awaiting cargo. Since 2008, the ports have improved air quality by collectively replacing 272 dray trucks.  Incentives for the drayage truck replacements included funding through the DERA Program, community interest, and making it easy to participate in the replacement programs. 


Improved Air Quality

Throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, completed dray truck replacement projects have prevented nearly 3,000 tons of pollutants from entering the air each year. Tonnage reductions annually by pollutant type are:
  • Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) - 245.3 tons
  • Particulate Matter (PM) - 11.7 tons
  • Hydrocarbon (HC) - 11.0 tons
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO) - 62.6 tons
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) - 2,559.6 tons

Lessons Learned and Looking Forward

Grant project coordinators have identified three key lessons learned for ensuring successful dray truck replacement programs:
  1. Engaging stakeholders and responding to local concerns; 
  2. Fostering relationships and clearly communicating with scrap yards; and 
  3. Working with vendors to make sure replacement trucks and their diesel particulate filters (DPFs) have been properly maintained. 
Looking forward,  funding and new technology could influence the programs' longevity along with improved education to vehicle operators regarding effective maintenance practices.


More Information