EPA Ports Initiative Newsletter

November 29, 2022

Newsletter Items:

Register for the December 6 IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Session
November IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Session Materials
EPA Responds to Petitions to Address Harmful Emissions from Locomotives

*Puede encontrar información sobre este evento en español en el boletín del 7 de noviembre que se encuentra aquí.*

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) provides EPA with $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and technology and to help ports develop climate action plans to reduce air pollutants at U.S. ports. This new funding program will build on EPA’s Ports Initiative that the Agency established to ensure that our nation’s ports, a critical part of our infrastructure and supply chain, help address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities.

See below for legislative text enabling this historic funding program.

EPA wants to hear from you on how to build the Clean Ports funding program in the IRA! EPA hosted a listening session on November 9th, and will host an identical listening session on:

December 6, 2022 1:00-3:00 PM ET

This session will begin with a brief overview of the legislation and conclude with an interactive listening session. We encourage all to attend, whether you work at a port, work with near-port communities, or simply are interested in helping ports transition to zero-emissions. Participants of the November 9th listening session are welcome to attend – please note that this session will start with the same questions posed on November 9th, which follow below.

Participants should come prepared to share your feedback on the program, including:

What types of zero-emission port technologies or related planning support do you see as most critical for delivering emissions reductions?
What do you see as the biggest hurdles to transitioning to zero-emission port equipment?
How do you see this program complementing other available funding programs (e.g., at EPA, other federal or state programs) that can support efforts to reduce emissions at ports?
How would you like to see funding for zero-emission port technology, related planning and permitting, and development of climate action plans work together? Should the funding opportunities be sequenced or combined?
How can we help ensure this program addresses concerns of near-port communities and advances environmental justice?

Spanish interpretation and live captioning will be available.

If you are unable to attend, you may also submit suggestions about program implementation to cleanports@epa.gov. Alternatively, you can submit feedback through January 18 as part of EPA’s Request for Information on IRA Provisions for Office of Air and Radiation Implementation.

Information about the IRA Clean Ports funding listening sessions can be found on the EPA Ports Initiative website.

November IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Session Materials

The November 9th IRA Clean Ports Funding Listening Session materials are now available!

You can view the session’s presentation slides in English and Spanish on the EPA Ports Initiative Events webpage. (Recordings of the webinar will be posted to the website soon.)

EPA Responds to Petitions to Address Harmful Emissions from Locomotives

On November 9th, EPA responded to petitions from the California Air Resources Board, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association to address harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions from locomotives. As part of EPA’s response to these petitions, the Agency is taking immediate steps to develop options and recommendations to address pollution from new locomotives as well as those already operating in communities nationwide. EPA has formed a rail study team to evaluate a range of technology and policy options. EPA also plans to propose revisions to existing locomotive preemption regulations to ensure they don’t inappropriately limit California’s and other states’ authorities under the Clean Air Act to address their air quality issues.

Read the Agency’s petition responses.
EPA will be seeking engagement opportunities with partners including state agencies, non-governmental organizations, environmental justice organizations, and industry stakeholders, to gather input for these efforts. Individuals interested in joining EPA’s stakeholder distribution list for updates on these efforts can contact us using the ServiceNow portal.

Legislative Text Enabling IRA Clean Ports Funding Program:

Click here to view the enrolled bill (see pp. 247-248 of the PDF version for the Clean Ports Program).

EPA Ports Initiative

For more information on resources and best practices to address diesel emissions at ports, please visit EPA's Ports Initiative website.

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