Port of Baltimore: Mitigating Environmental Damage

Reducing Environmnetal Hazards at The Port of Baltimore:

In the fall of 2006, two specific requirements went into effect to reduce hazardous pollutants and air emission. The first, despite increased truck traffic to handle cargo volume increases, MPA has been able to maintain terminal velocity (the speed at which trucks and other forms of goods movement enter and exit port terminals) at approximately 55 minutes. This allows for a “double move”, drop-off and pick-up of goods, and reduces the time trucks spend idling and moving about the terminal. Secondly, in an effort to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions, the Maryland required the MPA and other state agencies to begin using a blend of bio-diesel and ultra-low sulfur diesel for all state-owned diesel vehicles and equipment.

(Maryland Port Administration, http://www.mpa.state.md.us/environment/air.htm, August 6, 2007)

Stimulus Funds Helping citizens of Baltimore breathe easier:

In August of 2009, The United States Environmental Protection Agency announced the Port of Baltimore received $3.5 million in Recovery Act funding to help clean the air in and around the Port. The Port will use the funds for clean diesel technology in essential equipment used for harbor operations, creating jobs and reducing asthma rates and other respiratory illnesses.

Using clean-diesel technology to meet higher air-quality standards, the port will cut diesel emissions up to 90 percent, drastically reducing fine particulate, and other pollutants that contribute to ozone smog. (Maryland Port Administration, http://www.mpa.state.md.us/environment/air.htm, August 6, 2007)