Dirty ships
San Francisco Chronical
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Monday, March 3, 2008
Editor - Regarding: “State air board must get federal approval to limit ship emissions” (Feb. 28): The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that California can’t protect its citizens from ocean-going vessel pollution without first getting federal approval. The Environmental Protection Agency’s unlikely to grant such authorization. The EPA recently rejected California’s landmark program to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from cars and trucks, demonstrating a negative view of state action.
The EPA has also made it clear that it is waiting for an international agreement on vessel pollution. In the meantime, up to 5,000 premature U.S. deaths per year are caused by these large, ocean-going vessels.
If the Bush administration won’t act and California is legally prevented from doing so, Congress must step into the breach. Citizens across the country are suffering harmful effects from ship pollution. Congress should move forward with efforts to set stringent limits on marine vessel pollution by passing the Marine Vessel Emissions Reduction Act.
DANIELLE FUGERE
Friends of the Earth
San Francisco
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