Port of Los Angeles Gets $412 Million from EPA for Cleaner Operations

WASHINGTON - The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Port of Los Angeles $412 million to fund technologies that will cut pollution from freight operations and lead to a transition to zero-emissions technologies.

The funding - part of a larger package of funding for ports across the nation that was announced by President Biden yesterday - will be used for electric cargo handling equipment and drayage trucks; charging infrastructure, solar generation, and battery storage; and vessel-to-shore power to advance port electrification.

An environmental justice coalition, Trade, Health, and Environment (T.H.E.) Impact Project, spent years of advocating for the creation of EPA's Clean Ports Program, and worked with the Port of Los Angeles to shape its final proposal to EPA. NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is a member of T.H.E. Impact Project, which represents communities living near ports, highways, railyards, and warehouses in Southern California fighting to eliminate pollution and expedite the transition to zero-emission freight operations.

The following are statements from T.H.E. Impact Project members:

"U.S. EPA's Clean Ports Program award to the Port of Los Angeles will save lives and safeguard community health. This federal funding will lessen severe public health harms associated with port pollution, including high rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and shortened life expectancy," said Whitney Amaya, T.H.E. Impact Project Coordinator. "EPA funding will bring much-needed resources to ports across the U.S. to ensure they are prepared to transition to zero-emission operations and comply with public health measures like AQMD's Ports Indirect Source Rule-to ensure communities, workers, and families have access to clean air regardless of zip code."

"This unprecedented award is an example of what can be accomplished when ports follow the lead of community members," said Alison Hahm, an NRDC attorney and an Impact Project member. "The Port of Los Angeles's commitment to partner with impacted residents serves as a model for ports nationwide working to improve air quality and advance environmental justice."

"We're glad to see the federal government taking steps to address port-related emissions," said Cristhian Tapia-Delgado, Climate Campaigner, Southern California at Pacific Environment and an Impact Project member. "This award will provide some relief to millions of Southern California residents by spurring the transition to cleaner technologies, including those for ships. This comes at a much-needed time as the San Pedro Bay ports continue to break century-old cargo influx records - exposing impacted communities to elevated levels of health-harming pollutants."

# # #

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).