US EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, announced that it has provided the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey with $2 million to replace up to 80 model year 2006 and older short-haul trucks that service Port Authority facilities with cleaner, newer model year trucks by offering truckers up to 50% of the cost to scrap and replace each vehicle up to $25,000.
Mainly, Pete Lopez, EPA Regional Administrator, stated that the truck Replacement program aims to cleanup the environment.
He continued stating that pollution from diesel engines is linked to asthma, respiratory problems, heart attacks and is especially dangerous to children and the elderly.
Reducing air pollution from diesel engines will have great health advantages that translates directly into fewer hospitalizations and less missed days of work and school.
Replacing old dirty trucks with newer ones makes a significant difference in areas around Port Authority facilities.
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Also, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant will replace older trucks with 2013 and newer trucks and will reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter and other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides.
EPA wishes that the grant will result to reducing emissions of 49.5 tons of nitrogen oxides, 16.5 tons of carbon monoxide and 2.15 tons of fine particulates annually.
These are short-haul trucks, called drayage trucks, which frequently call at the Port Authority’s Marine Terminals.
Concluding, the Truck Replacement Program is amongst other measures that were created under the Clean Air Strategy for the Port of New York and New Jersey developed by the Port Authority in partnership with EPA, the New York Shipping Association, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, NYC Office of the Mayor, and Cities of Newark, Elizabeth, Jersey City and Bayonne.
