EPA Can Grant Relief to Californians Living in the Shadow of Massive Ports. What’s the Hold Up?

The author argues that the EPA must authorize the California Air Resources Board's 2020 At-Berth Rule to stop ships from burning toxic bunker fuel while docking. The document highlights a spike in pollution during the pandemic, noting that cancer-causing diesel pollution at the Port of Los Angeles rose by over 50 percent in 2021. It criticizes a 'backdoor deal' that allows outdated 2007 rules to persist, claiming that EPA approval could eliminate 3,000 pounds of deadly air pollution daily in the region.

• The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the largest fixed source of air pollution in the most populated region of the United States.
• Pandemic-related traffic increases led to significant pollution spikes in 2021, with cancer-causing diesel pollution increasing by over 50 percent at the Port of Los Angeles and nitrogen oxide emissions increasing by 35 percent at the Port of Long Beach.
• The 2020 At-Berth Rule aims to reduce pollution by requiring large ships to use shore power instead of burning toxic bunker fuel while docking.
• Due to industry pressure and a subsequent agreement to maintain 2007 rules, the shipping industry continues to emit pollution across California's coast, from the Bay Area to San Diego, pending EPA approval of the new standards.
• EPA approval of the regulation could result in the removal of 3,000 pounds of deadly air pollution every day from the region.

APA

Hsu, R. (2023). EPA Can Grant Relief to Californians Living in the Shadow of Massive Ports. What’s the Hold Up? Earthjustice. https://earthjustice.org/experts/regina-hsu/epa-can-grant-relief-to-californians-living-in-the-shadow-of-massive-ports-whats-the-hold-up

Chicago

Hsu, Regina. EPA Can Grant Relief to Californians Living in the Shadow of Massive Ports. What’s the Hold Up? Earthjustice, 2023. https://earthjustice.org/experts/regina-hsu/epa-can-grant-relief-to-californians-living-in-the-shadow-of-massive-ports-whats-the-hold-up.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Hsu |first1=Regina |title=EPA Can Grant Relief to Californians Living in the Shadow of Massive Ports. What’s the Hold Up? |publisher=Earthjustice |date=29 August 2023 |url=https://earthjustice.org/experts/regina-hsu/epa-can-grant-relief-to-californians-living-in-the-shadow-of-massive-ports-whats-the-hold-up |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{hsu2023epa, author = {Hsu, Regina}, title = {{EPA Can Grant Relief to Californians Living in the Shadow of Massive Ports. What’s the Hold Up?}}, publisher = {Earthjustice}, year = {2023}, month = aug, url = {https://earthjustice.org/experts/regina-hsu/epa-can-grant-relief-to-californians-living-in-the-shadow-of-massive-ports-whats-the-hold-up}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }