About EPA Ports Initiative
Overview
Ports are critical for commerce, a keystone for economic growth, and play a significant role in the goods movement supply chain. Investing in port infrastructure and operations is vital to America’s economic prosperity. These investments also provide enormous opportunities for environmental gains. The many people who live near ports and work at ports can be exposed to levels of air pollution that contribute to significant health problems. Findings from the 2016 EPA National Port Strategy Assessment confirm that there are effective air quality improvement strategies available today for every type and size of port.
Through this ports partnership initiative, EPA supports efforts to improve efficiency, enhance energy security, save costs, and reduce harmful health impacts by advancing next-generation, clean technologies and practices at ports. We also facilitate collaboration between the port industry, communities, and all levels of government to help ensure timely and effective infrastructure development.
EPA’s efforts are responsive to September 2016 recommendations from leading port industry, community, and government experts. These experts participated in a two-year public process to advise EPA on designing a voluntary program to improve air quality around ports.
Vision
People living and working near ports across the country will breathe cleaner air and live better lives as a result of bold steps taken through a collaboration of industry, government and communities to improve environmental performance and increase economic prosperity.
Goal
Elements of Initiative
The Ports Initiative consists of five key elements noted below and depicted in the graphic below.
Funding – Helping Ports Capitalize on Funding for Clean Technologies
Technical Resources – Providing Tools to Help Identify Smart Infrastructure Investments
Provide measurement tools, guidance, and technical assistance that can help identify the best clean air investments.
Collaboration – Promoting Port-Community Collaboration for Effective Planning
Promote port-community collaboration to prioritize and advance clean air projects.
Coordination – Increasing Efficiency in Federal Government and Port Operations
Align federal port-related activities to achieve efficiencies, reduce costs, and better assist port industry, communities, and state/local governments.
Communications – Creating a Knowledge Clearinghouse
Create a one-stop web resource for the port industry, communities, and all levels of government on best practices, funding, and other resources.