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California is moving to clean up diesel emissions at ports. 

Release 09-90
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2009
	  	  	
Karen Caesar
(626) 575-6728
www.arb.ca.gov

West coast marine cargo company fined $35,625 for emissions
violations

SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board fined APL Eagle
Marine Services $35,625 this month for emissions violations
during 2007 and 2008.

An ARB investigation showed Eagle Marine failed to properly
report its diesel-powered cargo handling equipment fleet at the
Port of Oakland and the Port of Los Angeles terminals. The
regulation calls for 2006 or older engine serial numbers to be
reported to the ARB; Eagle Marine Services reported the equipment
numbers as serial numbers.

"To continue efforts to reduce diesel emissions in California,
companies using equipment at ports must report, record and
maintain records accurately," said Chairman Mary D. Nichols.
"California's clean air future depends on all of us getting the
information and training we need to obey our environmental
laws."

ARB has adopted a variety of rules to cut emissions from cargo
handling equipment, marine vessels and drayage trucks used at the
state's ports and goods movement centers. Health risks from
diesel PM are highest in areas of concentrated emissions, such as
near ports, rail yards, freeways, or warehouse distribution
centers.

Eagle Marine Services paid $35,625 in penalties, divided as
follows:

    * $26,718.75 to the California Air Pollution Control Fund
for projects and research to improve California's air quality;
    * $4,453.13 to the Peralta Community College District to
fund emissions education classes conducted by participating
California community colleges; and,
    * $4,453.12 to the California Pollution Control Financing
Authority which guarantees loans to off-road vehicle fleets that
need to buy exhaust retrofits to comply with state regulations. 

Diesel exhaust contains a variety of harmful gases and over 40
other known cancer-causing compounds. In 1998, California
identified diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant
based on its potential to cause cancer, premature death and other
health problems.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.

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