Targeted to reduce air pollution in the Puget Sound region, the innovative programme earned the Award of Distinction in the comprehensive environmental management category for successfully implementing a voluntary clean trucks initiative. As of Jan. 1, 2019, the Clean Truck Programme requires all trucks serving the NWSA international container terminals to have a 2007 or newer engine or certified equivalent emissions control system. With newer engines emitting 90% less diesel particulate matter (DPM), the programme has reduced the pollutant load on neighbouring communities by 33.4 tons of DPM per year. Diesel emissions increase the risk of asthma, cancer and heart disease. The NWSA Clean Truck Programme was one of the initiatives developed through the ground-breaking Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy (NWPCAS). In 2008, the ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver, British Columbia, collectively set a goal to implement clean truck standards by January 2018. Acknowledging only 53% of trucks were compliant for the original Jan. 1, 2018 deadline, the NWSA Managing Members voted to extend the deadline through December 2018 to give drivers more time to prepare. Throughout the year, the NWSA partnered with lawmakers and various agencies like the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington State Department of Ecology, African Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest, City of Seattle, and Washington Trucking Association to offer financial and training resources. Since 1973, AAPA’s Environmental Improvement Awards has recognised activities that benefit the environment at its ports in four categories: environmental enhancement, mitigation, stakeholder awareness, education & involvement and comprehensive environmental management. The awards competition evaluated the ports using six criteria: environmental benefits, port involvement, creativity, results, cost effectiveness and concept transferability.
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
