Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports
description
Transcript of Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports
![Page 1: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
1
Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports
Meredith Martino Manager, Government Relations and
Environmental Policy
March 1, 2010
American Association of Port Authorities703.684.5700 • www.aapa-ports.org
![Page 2: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
2
AAPA Overview
• AAPA - a hemispheric alliance of 160 port authorities, including 13 in Caribbean
• Members include 300 related organizations
• Association promotes info sharing/education & training
Committed to keeping seaports navigable/secure/sustainable
![Page 3: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
3
Seaports Deliver Environmental Stewardship
• AAPA members embrace sustainability as standard business practice, balancing economic prosperity pursuit with natural resources protection
• Throughout Western Hemisphere, seaports engaging in cutting-edge programs, initiatives that protect water, air, soil
Port authorities are committed to significantly reducing environmental impacts on their surrounding communities and natural resources
![Page 4: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
4
The Regulatory Environment
Policy milestones have been reached on some issues…
• Ballast water• EPA’s Vessel General Permit entered into effect in December 2008
• Air emissions • North American Emissions Control Area expected to be approved this month by the
IMO
• EPA Regulations to implement ECA standards in U.S. waters were finalized in December 2009
footer goes here
![Page 5: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
5
Pending/Potential Regulations
…but still have new aspects that are developing
• Ballast water• Draft Coast Guard rulemaking on discharge standards accepted comments through
December 2009
• Air emissions • EPA finding that it can regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act
• This finding enables the agency to move forward with a climate change regulatory program without Congressional action or approval
• Chamber of Commerce and others are legally challenging this finding
footer goes here
![Page 6: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
6
Beyond Regulations
Agency processes may play out outside the Federal Register
• Executive Orders
• Policies and guidance documents from the President’s Council on Environmental Quality
• Direction from Office of Management and Budget
• Voluntary programs and initiatives from the Administrator or Secretary’s office at EPA, Department of Transportation and other agencies
footer goes here
![Page 7: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
7
Marine Spatial Planning
“Ocean zoning” is getting a lot of attention
• CEQ is leading efforts to develop a National Ocean Policy
• Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning is a key part of those efforts
• MSP maps various uses of the coasts and oceans and overlays them into a single plan
• Environmental groups, aquaculture, oil and gas industries all have a stake in this process
footer goes here
![Page 8: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
8
AAPA Supports Marine Spatial Planning That Recognizes, Includes Human Use Aspects Of The Coastal Environment
Pressures confronting those responsible for managing coastal resources include:
• facilitation of commerce
• preservation of habitat
• access to energy sources
• coastal community growth, including increased public access
Marine spatial planning:• Offers opportunities to plan for
the future
• Ensures needs of all are met
• Protects human uses of the waterfront
![Page 9: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
9
Health Impact Assessment
Going beyond calculating health risks
• While Health Risk Assessments look at specific risks associated with a project (air quality impacts, etc), HIA is much broader
• Similar in scope to an Environmental Impact Assessment, an HIA looks broadly at how a project or policy would impact community health
• Topics evaluated can include access to health care, disease impacts (cardiovascular problems, diabetes, etc) and others
• EPA held an HIA scoping meeting on Port of Los Angeles project
• San Pedro-based community groups want to include this as a standard review of projects
footer goes here
![Page 10: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
10
Sustainable/Livable Communities
Administration is taking a bigger picture look at planning
• The Obama Administration finally has most of its political appointees in place
• Larger, cross-cutting themes are beginning to emerge across agency lines and budgets
• EPA has created an Office of Sustainable Communities and eliminated its Sector Strategies program
• Department of Transportation has identified Livable Communities as one of its priorities in the FY ‘11 proposed budget
• Goal is to coordinate commerce, housing and transportation
footer goes here
![Page 11: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
11
Environmental Justice
“Social” pillar of sustainability continues to receive attention
• Federal government is paying more attention to how environmental impacts affect nearby communities, especially low-income and minority populations
• National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee had a Goods Movement Working Group that issued a report on reducing air emissions in September 2009
• Port of Seattle represented port industry in the group
• Key recommendation is to increase impacted communities’ “capacity and effectiveness to engage in and influence decisions related to goods movement”
footer goes here
![Page 12: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
12
Potential Legislative Action
• Focus on Capitol Hill continues to be economic recovery and jobs
• Growing budget deficit is a hindrance to new or expensive programs
footer goes here
Congressional priorities don’t necessarily match Administration
![Page 13: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
13
Trucking Regulation/F4A
Addressing trucks air emissions may play out legislatively
• Environmental and labor interests are pushing hard to amend the FAA Authorization Act to allow local governments to more strictly regulate trucking industry to address a variety of concerns, including environmental
• Port authorities have taken a variety of approaches to reduce emissions from drayage trucks
• AAPA does not think there is a need at this time for Congress to amend F4A
• Many ports are implementing clean truck programs to reduce truck emissions in port communities
footer goes here
![Page 14: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
14
Climate Change Legislation
• House of Representatives passed comprehensive climate bill last fall
• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee marked up a bill without any Republican participation
• One-party action has effectively killed climate change legislation for the near future
footer goes here
Legislation stalled but threat of EPA action may break impasse
![Page 15: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
15
DERA Funding and Reauthorization
Ports continue to do well, program set to expire next year
• Diesel Emissions Reduction Act funds grants to reduce diesel emissions from targeted sectors and public fleets
• Ports/marine received approximately 20% of the available funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
• FY ‘09 and FY ‘10 competition results are expected to be announced soon
• FY ‘11 request was $60 million – level funding from last year but less than authorized amount of $200 million or identified needs of $1 billion
• Program set to sunset next year
• AAPA is part of a coalition of manufacturers, environmental groups and users to work on reauthorization
footer goes here
![Page 16: Environmental Policy Issues on the Horizon for U.S. Ports](https://reader035.fdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062409/568150be550346895dbeddfb/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
16
American Association of Port Authoritieswww.aapa-ports.org ● 703-684-5700
Meredith [email protected]