If they haven't hit the mark already, the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach are close to reaching their 2005 goal of cutting harmful air pollution from port-related operations by at least 45 percent within five years. Port officials aren't declaring victory yet, but the results of their latest emissions inventory suggest they could today if they wanted. Data released last week by the Port of Los Angeles shows harmful air emissions dropped an average of 47 percent from 2005 to 2009. When adjusted for the decline in cargo, the drop in emissions still averages more than 41 percent - just shy of the five-year goal.
The decline of airborne gunk is a measurement of L.A.'s 2009 air emissions inventory data released last week compared with a similar inventory for 2005 - the baseline year used to set goals in the Clean Air Action Plan. Similar results are expected from the Port of Long Beach, which is due to release its 2009 emissions inventory at its June 14 Harbor Commission meeting.
The ports set the five-year goal in 2006 when they adopted the joint CAAP. The plan called for reducing emissions from the top three pollutants - diesel particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides - an average of 45 percent by 2011. The target was based on what officials thought was possible if all available control measures were implemented. Expected growth in cargo volume also was factored in, but that was before the economy tanked.
L.A. port officials say Starcrest Consulting Group, the firm that prepares the inventory for both ports, is still crunching the numbers to see whether they hit the mark ahead of schedule. But even if they did, their clean-air efforts will continue as the ports' focus has shifted to longer-term goals unveiled two months ago in their proposal to update the CAAP. Due to be finalized by early August, the update sets higher pollution reduction goals for 2014, 2020 and 2023. The goals are tied to regional efforts to meet federal air quality standards.
Compared with five years ago, emissions of DPM are down 52 percent; NOx emissions are down 33 percent and SOx emissions are down 56 percent at the L.A. port - which accounts for the 47 percent average. Adjusted for the decline in trade based on a per-TEU formula, DPM emissions are down 47 percent; NOx emissions are down 26 percent, and SOx emissions are down 51 percent - which accounts for the more than 41 percent average.
By 2014, the ports want to reduce DPM emissions by 72 percent, NOx emissions by 22 percent, and SOx emissions by 93 percent compared with 2005 levels. The 2009 numbers show that the L.A. port already has exceeded its 2014 goal for NOx reduction and is more than halfway to meeting the 2014 target for cutting DPM and SOx.
Built into the 2014 NOx emissions-reduction goal is the understanding that the ports will strive to do better, but there are key unknowns. The main question is about container volume, which is beginning to grow again. Even with changing volumes factored in, the realities on the ground could diminish some of the existing clean air gains if volumes spike.
Applying the TEU formula is critical because the ports have committed to showing pollution can go down while cargo volumes go up. The fate of port development projects - and the economic viability of L.A. and Long Beach into the future -- hinges on demonstrating they can grow green.
L.A. port officials say that the clean truck programs were a major factor in the air quality gains achieved in 2009. Other important measures were the low-sulfur fuel programs for vessels, improvements in rail operations and locomotive fleet composition, and ongoing modernization of cargo-handling equipment. They also acknowledge that lower cargo volumes, down 14 percent in 2009 from 2008 on the L.A. side, played a role.
For 2010, officials expect implementation of the Jan. 1 ban on pre-2004 trucks, the state's vessel speed reduction program and clean fuel regulations for ships, and continued upgrades of cargo-handling equipment and locomotives to lead to more air quality gains.
Overall, the latest inventory shows that the ports are continuing to shrink the share of harmful emissions their operations contribute to the South Coast Air Basin.
L.A. Port 2009 Air Inventory
-- The Cunningham Report
