Cargo Business Newswire

Friday, May 2, 2014

Baltimore port awarded funds to improve truck emissions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave the Port of Baltimore's Dray Truck Replacement Program a $750,000 grant, extending the program through March 2016, according to a port statement.

The statement said the current program allows for owners and operators of short-haul dray trucks to buy newer vehicles that meet or exceed 2010 EPA emission-certified engine standards.

The grant was part of $4.2 million in Diesel Emission Reduction Act grants awarded by the EPA to six U.S. ports across the country, including the Port of Baltimore. The grant will help Baltimore replace at least 22 older dray trucks.

"Replacing older trucks that often emit higher levels of emissions with newer vehicles will help employees working at the Port of Baltimore and residents in nearby local communities breathe a little easier," said Governor Martin O'Malley.

Since 2012, 82 older dray trucks working the Port of Baltimore have been replaced through the program, yielding annual reductions of about 90 tons of nitrogen oxides, 24 tons of carbon monoxide, four tons of particulate matter, and three and a half tons of hydrocarbons.

"The EPA's award will continue to make it financially feasible for those owner operators with older model trucks to replace their vehicles with new clean diesel vehicles," said Louis Campion, president of the Maryland Motor Truck Association.