Maritime Pollution Prevention Act (H.R. 802) signed off by Senate

July 9, 2008 by SwizStick  
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It goes to President Bush for signature now. Via Logistics Management:

AAPA President Kurt Nagle said in a statement that the AAPA 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.,” Nagle said in a statement. “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.”

And AAPA Director of Communications Aaron Ellis told LM in an interview that the biggest takeaway with this legislation being passed is that by being part of the international treaty (Annex VI), the U.S will be able to level the playing field for all ships so that there is a single emissions standard that will have to be maintained.

This should also take the wind out of the sails of individual state efforts to legislate their own local emissions standards for vessels, such as in California.

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