Los Angeles goes green with EPA grant

The port will use the US$469,000 grant to retrofit 14 pieces of cargo handling equipment with Level three diesel particulate filters. POLA says this will result in an 85% reduction in particulate matter emissions and a 90% reduction in carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions.

“Ports are the main gateway for US trade and are critical to our country’s economic growth, yet the communities surrounding ports face serious environmental challenges,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator. “Today we demonstrate that through collaboration and innovation we can achieve the goals of economic growth and environmental stewardship.”

Funded through the federal agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) programme, the grant was secured by the port on behalf of its tenants SA Recycling and APM Terminals.

“Through its Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), the Port of Los Angeles has demonstrated its commitment to lowering diesel emissions in the San Pedro Bay Complex,” added David Thornburg, director of public affairs, SA Recycling. “We are so pleased to be part of the solution and commend the Port and the EPA for assisting us with innovative upgrades to our cargo handling equipment.”

While the port will oversee the project, SA Recycling and APM Terminals own the cargo handling equipment and will carry out the retrofits.

Retrofitted equipment will include a top handler, material handlers, loaders, haul trucks and a bulldozer. The project is expected to be completed by December 2015.