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AAPA Hails Passage Of Vessel Air Emissions Bill
The American Association of Port Authorities today praised Congress
for passing H.R. 802, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act, which
will now be transmitted to President Bush for his signature.
The legislation will implement Annex VI of the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, more commonly
known as MARPOL, providing air quality benefits for port communities
in countries that are signatories to the treaty. Annex VI is a global
treaty that establishes emission limits for oxides of nitrogen (NOx),
oxides of sulfur (SOx) and other pollutants from vessels.
Kurt Nagle, AAPA's president and CEO, said the ports association has
strongly advocated for tough new air emissions standards for both
foreign and domestic ships that call on U.S. ports. "While land-based
emissions and some marine emissions are the responsibility of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, AAPA believes that an international
process is the most effective for vessels, the majority of which are
flagged in countries other than the U.S.," he said. "Considering that
emissions from ocean-going ships are predicted to grow by more than 70
percent over the next 15 years, it's imperative that meaningful and
effective air emissions standards be adopted to improve air quality."
A U.S. delegation led by the EPA and U.S. Coast Guard, with support
from AAPA and the World Shipping Council, played a lead role in
negotiating a suite of amendments that will further reduce air
emissions and particulate matter from ships. The IMO's Marine
Environment Protection Committee gave the amendments preliminary
approval at its meeting last April. Those amendments are expected to
be adopted at the Committee's next meeting this October in London.
The American Association of Port Authorities was founded in 1912 and
today represents 160 of the leading public port authorities in the
United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition,
the Association represents more than 300 sustaining and associate
members, firms and individuals with an interest in the seaports of the
Western Hemisphere. AAPA port members are public entities mandated by
law to serve public purposes. They facilitate waterborne commerce and
contribute to local, regional and national economic growth. These
ports are gateways to world trade and are critical components to their
nation’s economic health, national defense and growing cruise
industry. In 2007, commercial seaport and marine cargo operations in
the U.S. generated $3.2 trillion of total economic activity and
provided jobs for 13.3 million Americans, whose earnings and
consumption totaled nearly $650 billion. |