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Ports Primer: 5.3 Potential Community Interests

Link to Home Page of Ports Primer for Communities   Link to Section 2, The Role of Ports   Link to Section 3, How Ports Work   Link to Section 4, Port-Community Relations   Link to Section 5.0, Land Use and Transportation   Link to Section 6, Local and Regional Economy   Link to Section 7, Environmental Impacts   Link to Section 8, Tools and Resources   Link to Section 9, Appendix   Link to Glossary for Ports Primer   Link to Endnotes for Ports Primer
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Community interests in transportation planning and land use may include:

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Light and Noise Nuisances

A photograph of port with lights on at night.In land use regulation, a “nuisance” is considered an activity that disrupts an individual or community’s “right to quiet enjoyment” of their space or property. Light and noise pollution created by port operations are examples of nuisances that can affect daily quality of life of near-port communities.

Light and noise pollution have also been linked to health impacts such as hearing impairment, high blood pressure and sleep deprivation.1

In addition, light and noise pollution may impact wildlife. Noise from ship engines can disrupt important habitats, leading to impacts on bird feeding and nesting sites as well as marine mammal hearing and behavior patterns.2 Light pollution can also disrupt biological rhythms, leading to high mortality in bird populations.3

 

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Potential Health Impacts from Air Emissions4

The goods movement industry often relies on large, heavy vehicles that burn diesel fuel (e.g., trucks, trains, ships and cranes). Diesel engines emit pollutants including fine particulate matterHelpparticulate matterRefers to small particles in the air that can be measured to determine air quality and potential health impacts. Airborne PM can result from direct emissions of particles (primary PM) or from the condensation of certain gases that have themselves been directly emitted or chemically transformed in the atmosphere (secondary PM). PM is often classified by size: PM2.5 and PM10. (PMHelpPMRefers to small particles in the air that can be measured to determine air quality and potential health impacts. Airborne PM can result from direct emissions of particles (primary PM) or from the condensation of certain gases that have themselves been directly emitted or chemically transformed in the atmosphere (secondary PM). PM is often classified by size: PM2.5 and PM10.), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compoundHelpvolatile organic compoundA very broad term used to describe the entire set of vapor-phase atmospheric organic chemicals.s (VOCs). In the presence of sunlight, NOx reacts with VOCs to form ozone (smog). Exposure to emissions from diesel engines can contribute to significant health problems and can include the following potential health effects.

 
Exposure to: Potential Health Effects
Particulate Matter
  • Respiratory illness and asthma
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Heart attacks
  • Strokes
  • Premature death
  • Birth defects, low birth weights and premature birth
  • Cancer
Oxides of Nitrogen
  • Inflammation of the airways
  • Exacerbation of allergies
  • Asthma
Ozone (smog)
  • Decreased lung function
  • Respiratory illness and asthma
  • Premature death
  • Chronic respiratory illnesses (e.g., emphysema and bronchitis)

Diesel engines also contribute to the production of greenhouse gases and other warming pollutants, which are a factor in climate change. This is significant considering that, in the U.S., goods movement generates 24.7 percent of transport-related emissions and 6 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. The figure below shows the sources of freight-related emissions and their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to diesel engines, other sources of air emissions include particulates from bulk cargos, road dust, etc.

For more information: Clean Cargo (PDF) (64 pp, 6 MB, About PDFExit

A graphic showing freight-related greenhouse gas emissions by percentage (trucks, ships, trains, and planes).

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Environmental Justice and Air Emissions

In November 2009, the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) released a report titled Reducing Air Emissions Associated With Goods Movement: Working Towards Environmental Justice. This report documents health impacts associated with goods or freight movement. It also offers recommendations for seven focus areas where EPA and other agencies can play a role in reducing the impact of air emissions associated with goods/freight movement. These focus areas include:5A photograph of the cover of the Reducing Air Emissions Associated with Goods Movement: Working Towards Environmental Justice report.

  • Effective community engagement
  • Health research gaps and educational needs
  • Regulatory and enforcement mechanisms
  • Land use
  • Technology
  • Environmental management and performance
  • Financing

In July 2010, EPA released a response to the NEJAC report titled EPA’s Response to the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Report: Reducing Air Emissions Associated with Goods Movement: Working Toward Environmental Justice. The report outlines steps EPA is taking to protect human health and the environment in each of the areas identified by the NEJAC.6  As an outcome of this ongoing dialogue with environmental justice stakeholders, EPA continues to provide resources and assistance to environmental justice and near-port communities, including the development of this Primer and related resource materials.

For more information

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