State air regulators are clamping down on pollution from commercial fishing vessels, ferries and other harbor craft.
The rules stand to impact fishing boats, harbor cruises, ferries and other vessels in Newport Harbor.
This month, the Cal-ifornia Air Resources Board is set to hold a workshop as its staff develops a rule to reduce diesel and nitrogen oxide emissions from commercial harbor craft.
Harbor tugboats, fishing vessels, ferries and other commercial vessels release an estimated 5 tons per day of diesel particulates and 100 tons per day of nitrogen oxide emissions into the air, most of that coming from local harbors or just offshore.
The goal is to cut emissions from harbor craft by 25% by 2010 and 30% by 2015. That would cost ferry and tug/tow vessel operators an estimated $200 million, much of that to replace some 1,600 engines.
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Tugboat at Newport Harbor: engines could have to be replaced |
Air Resources Board staff intend to go after ferry, tug and tow vessels first because they generate about 70% of emissions. Fishing fleets are less of a priority with a decline in fishing stock near the California coast.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have hundreds of tug and tow vessels, as well as ferry vessels going to Catalina Island.
Among the steps that these vessel owners will have to take: comply with strict record-keeping requirements and replace older engines with newer ones that meet current Environmental Protection Agency standards. The costs could range up to $8 million per ferry and $5 million per tug/tow craft.
In a workshop earlier this year, harbor craft vessel operators objected to the costs. They also expressed concern about the time that the craft would have to be in dry dock to switch out engines.
The Air Resources Board staff is looking to have the proposed rule ready for presentation to the board in July.
Trade Metrics
It may seem arcane, but there’s a ruckus brewing between California businesses and the European Union over the issue of metric measurements.
Since 1979, the European Union has allowed both metric and nonmetric measurements for all products sold within the borders of its member nations.
Many California exporters have taken advantage of this, using all-purpose order catalogs and technical manuals that contain both inches and centimeters or pounds and kilograms.
Now, the Commission of the European Communities wants to require all products sold to contain only metric measurements, effective Jan. 1, 2010.
The commission has tried this twice before, only to agree to delay it each time.
This latest effort has generated opposition from the California Chamber of Commerce in Sacramento. In comments sent to the commission earlier this month, the chamber said this would place an undue burden on exporters:
“California industry will have to produce two versions of its packaging and technical documentation,such as operating and training manuals, instructions for service, maintenance or repair manuals, brochures,a metric version and a U.S. version. This will involve significant extra costs to California businesses and make trade more difficult on world markets.”
The state’s business community “hopes that the commission would further extend the current status quo,ideally permanently,” Chamber spokeswoman Christine Haddon said.
Orange County exporters send about $2 billion a year in goods to Europe, which combined is the county’s second largest market after Mexico. Companies here export electronics, medical devices, industrial goods, clothes and other products to Europe.
A metric-only rule wouldn’t hit some industries as hard as others. A quick scan of several wines from California winemakers on a local supermarket shelf showed that all use bottles and labels that contain only the metric measurement of 750 milliliters.
Last year, California wine exports to the European Union exceeded $400 million.
Fine is a staff writer with the Los Angeles Business Journal.
