New Strategy to Help Ports Go Green
by Trey Granger
Published on March 7th, 2008
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More than 99 percent of the U.S. overseas trade (by weight) is handled by ships. So EPA has unveiled a new plan of action to address port authorities on reducing water quality and protecting the health of nearby communities.
The “Vision, Mission, and Strategy for Sustainable Ports” is in response to the steady growth of maritime commerce internationally. The top 10 U.S. ports moved 23 million containers in 2006 alone.
Ports are vital to the United States economy. Ocean-going ships move more than 99 percent of U.S. overseas trade (by weight). The top ten U.S. ports moved a combined total of 23 million cargo containers in 2006.
The plan focuses on six themes: Clean Air and Affordable Energy, Clean and Safe Water, Healthy Communities and Eco-systems, Global Environment, Ports Communications, and Enforcement. It could result in more than 70 possible actions.
To see how ships are affecting the beach water quality in your area, visit Earth 911’s sister site Beaches 911.
