EPA Administrator to Announce Funding to Reduce Diesel Emissions at Port of Philadelphia

Monday, November 7, 2005

Grant to Clean Air Council will Result in Area Health Benefits;
Key Step in ‘Philadelphia Diesel Difference’ Effort

When: Monday, November 7, 2005 - 10 a.m.

Who: EPA Administrator Steve Johnson
EPA Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh
PADEP Deputy Secretary, Tom Fidler
Philadelphia Air Management Services Director Morris Fine
Clean Air Council Executive Director Joe Minott
Maritime Advisory Council Chairman John Cuff

Where: Independence Seaport Museum - Spinnaker Room
211 South Columbus Boulevard (formerly Delaware Avenue)
Philadelphia, Pa. 215-925-5439

What: Administrator Steve Johnson will present a $100,000 Clean Diesel Grant to the Clean Air Council to be used to retrofit up to 36 pieces of cargo-handling equipment at the Port of Philadelphia with filters to reduce particulate pollution. Funding will also cover the additional cost of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel well in advance of regulatory deadlines.

In 2004, the Port of Philadelphia handled 4.5 million tons of cargo, up 16 percent from 2003. Cargo handled includes containers, steel, fruit, cocoa beans, paper/pulp, military cargo and finished wood products.

Why: Diesel exhaust contains tiny particles of soot—so small that several thousand of them could fit in the period at the end of this sentence. The fine particles are a serious public health problem because they can pass through the nose and throat and become lodged in the lungs. People with existing heart or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory problems are most sensitive to the health effects of fine particles—especially children and older adults.

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