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Basic Information
Program Overview
Reducing exposure to diesel exhaust in and around America's marine ports is an important public health issue and air quality concern. Clean Ports USA is an incentive-based non-regulatory program designed to reduce emissions from existing diesel engines and nonroad equipment at ports with comprehensive strategies and information for the diverse range of ports and their staff. Visit EPA's Human Health page for more information on how human health is impacted by diesel exhaust.
The engines and equipment used at ports, including cargo handling equipment, trucks, locomotives, tugboats, ferries and ships, can contribute significantly to the levels of fine particulates (PM 2.5), sulfur oxides (SOx) and ozone-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the air. Because EPA's regulations only apply to newly manufactured diesel engines, the Clean Ports USA program was developed to help ports and fleet owners to reduce emissions from the older engines that are currently in port operation today.
Why is it important?
Air pollution is an emerging issue for ports and EPA’s tough new standards for diesel engines cover new engines but won't reduce emissions from the existing ones.
Existing diesel engines have a long life span - lasting as long as 20 to 30 years. These engines produce exhaust that contains particulate matter (PM), sulfur oxides (SOx), air pollutants that form ozone (nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons), air toxics and other air pollutants.
EPA designated diesel exhaust as a likely human carcinogen. Particulate matter from diesel exhaust is associated with many different types of respiratory and cardiovascular effects including premature death. Ozone is also associated with respiratory effects, lung damage and reduced outdoor worker productivity.
EPA expects reductions in diesel exhaust at ports to lower the
incidence of these health effects as well as contribute to improvements
in regional haze and other environmental impacts associated with
air emissions from diesel engines.
Learn more about what you can do.