Events & Activities
 

EPA to Present the Latest Information on the Ports Initiative at Upcoming Events

 

Port of Virginia Launches Truck Reservation System

 

Puget Sound Air Emissions Inventory Shows Reduced Maritime-Related Air Emissions 


Port of Seattle awards $175,000 for port-community engagement

 

Port of New Orleans Receives Environmental Leadership Award 

 

San Francisco Bay Area to Become First U.S. Region to Use Renewable Diesel Ferries

 

Port of Oakland Trials Electric Truck with Zero-Emissions

 

Port of Long Beach Begins Pilot Program to Reduce Emissions From Gantry Cranes and Yard Tractors

 

Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles Offer Seed Money for New Goods Movement Technologies

 

Georgia Ports Break Ground for Mega On-Dock Rail Project
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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.
May 2018 (Vol. 3, Ed. 2)
Ports Initiative Newsletter


Featured News:
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Quick Ports Stats
Since 2008, ports have partnered with EPA through the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) on clean diesel grants for ports-specific projects totaling $138 million and another $56 million for multi-sector projects that involve ports. Find m ore information on funding for ports at Ports Initiative website.  
 dera
Port Project Funding - 2018 Clean Diesel Grants
Deadline for Proposals: June 12, 2018
  
On April 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of approximately $40 million in grant funding for the implementation of projects aimed at reducing emissions from the nation's existing fleet of older diesel engines. Under this competition, between 20 and 80 grants are anticipated to be awarded to eligible applicants.

Eligible Applicants, Fleets and Technologies
 
Applicants
Eligible applicants include regional, state, local or tribal agencies, or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality. Nonprofit organizations may apply if they meet certain criteria. 

Fleets
The following types of fleets may qualify for funding: b uses; m edium or heavy duty trucks; m arine engines; l ocomotives; energy production; and n on-road engines or vehicles used in c onstruction, h andling of cargo (including at a port or airport), a griculture, and mining.

Technologies
  • Retrofit technologies that are verified or certified by either EPA or CARB
  • Idle-reduction technologies that are EPA verified
  • Aerodynamic technologies and low rolling resistance tires that are EPA verified
  • Early replacement and repower with certified engine configurations
Application Evaluation Criteria Changes 
 
Project Sustainability Criteria
Revised criteria includes additional points to applicants and project partners that have developed in the past five years, or plan to develop by the end of the project period: 
  • Up to 10 points for 1) a publicly available baseline mobile source emission inventory or refinement of an inventory completed before 2013; or 2) publicly available long term air quality plan or refinement of a plan completed before 2013
  • Up to 5 additional points to applicants and project partners that have a commitment to developing a publicly available Community Engagement Plan for meaningful engagement of the affected communities.
Environmental Results Criteria
Increased the total number of points for this criteria from 20 to 30.

Notes: The additional points are available to applicants from any sector. See Request for Proposals for full details on project eligibility and application process.  

Goods Movement Specific Criteria

Under the project sector criteria, up to 10 points are available to applications for projects at goods movement facilities such as ports, rail yards, terminals, or distribution centers.
Learn More: www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-national-grants.

Questions:  cleandiesel@epa.gov . 
pilots
EPA Community Engagement Pilot Projects
Progress Continues on Building Capacity Between Communities and Ports
  
EPA capacity building pilot projects kicked off in 2017 in New Orleans, LA; Seattle, WA; and Savannah, GA. The pilots are advancing partnerships between ports and near-port communities by equipping industry and communities with information, skills and tools to effectively develop and implement collaborative actions. Goals are to improve environmental and public health outcomes for communities and environmental performance at ports. EPA's collaboratively developed draft capacity building engagement tools, technical assistance, training workshops, and meetings are advancing the efforts. 
 
New Orleans Pilot Update
  • The Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED) remains an active pilot participant and has identified community resilience as a priority focus for the pilot project. Technical assistance, including training workshops, is being provided by EPA to support CSED and implementation partners in conducting assessments of local conditions and development of community resilience strategies. 
  • Planning is underway for the evaluation of tools and methods for determining environmental health, including air quality impacts, for various transportation resilience measures.
  • The Port of New Orleans and the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice are no longer active participants in the pilot.
  • Go to New Orleans Capacity Building Pilot Project for more information.
Savannah Pilot Update
  • A series of highly productive meetings were conducted on February 27-28, 2018 involving local project partners to build upon the outcomes of the needs assessment previously conducted.
  • Activities included facilitated stakeholder dialogues and training sessions involving community leaders, port officials, city government officials, and community/business roundtable members.
  • Go to Savannah Capacity Building Pilot Project for more information.
Seattle Pilot Update
  • Since the Seattle pilot kickoff meetings, Just Health Action and key neighborhood leaders have organized a community-based action team to expand the voices and reach of community stakeholders.
  • Port of Seattle officials have been invited to participate in action team dialogues.
  • Project partners have collaborated to identify priorities that will be addressed during upcoming site visits as pilot project implementation advances.
  • The Port of Seattle approved $175,000 for environmental justice communities to partner with the port.
  • Go to Seattle Capacity Building Pilot Project for more information.
Go to the Pilot Projects Overview to learn more about EPA's Port and Near-Port Community Collaboration efforts.