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Court to Hear Arguments on Foreign Ship Air Pollution. DC Circuit Court - Friday

Published on www.bluewaternetwork.org

Who: Earthjustice to present oral argument in (Bluewater Network v. EPA) before Judges Ginsburg, Henderson and Williams

What: Oral Argument Challenging EPA’s weak ocean vessel air pollution standards

When: Friday, February 20, 2004 9:30 AM

Where: US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, fifth floor E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse

Background:

Conservationists filed a lawsuit in April 2003 in federal court challenging an EPA final rule establishing standards for air emissions of nitrogen oxides in the largest category of ocean-going ships.

The San Francisco-based Bluewater Network claims the EPA regulation is essentially meaningless. EPA’s standards are already met by most ships and do not satisfy the Clean Air Act’s requirement to “achieve the greatest degree of emission reduction achievable” with available control technology. EPA also ignored all foreign ships, which make up 95 percent of large vessel traffic in U.S. ports and thus contribute significantly to U.S. air pollution.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued final air emissions standards in January 2003 for large seagoing vessels such as oil tankers, cruise ships, and cargo vessels that will do virtually nothing to clean the air. Near some port areas such as Santa Barbara, California, these ships are generating equivalent air pollution to all automobile emissions combined.

EPA would not have regulated these vessels at all had it not been for a 2001 settlement of a suit brought by Earthjustice on behalf of Bluewater Network challenging EPA's failure to set any standard for smog forming emissions under the Clean Air Act.

Globally, the world's biggest ships account for up to 30 percent of total nitrogen oxides (NOx) and an equivalent percent of all sulfur oxide emissions from petroleum sources. Given recent technology advances, a 90 to 95 percent decrease in NOx emissions appears well within reach; and sulfur levels should be established to attain low levels already achieved by Sweden.

Since worldwide shipping is expected to triple by 2020 as a result of global trade agreements, air pollution is expected to jump significantly.

More information on this issue can be found online at: http://www.bluewaternetwork.org/campaign ss ships.shtml

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