A Conflict Over a Multi-Source Context - Essay Example

? A conflict over multi-source context A conflict over multi-source context Discussion on whether or not the planning staff considered the air emission problem ‘out of context’. The phrase ‘out of context’ means ignoring the general meaning of something to assign unnecessary meaning or importance to a section of it. With regards to this case, I think the planning staff did not consider the air emission exposure problem ‘out of context’ because they argue that air emission will be offset by greener alternative fuels, and shorter idling times for ships, since traffic congestion in the ports will be reduced as a result of the expansion. On the other hand, when considering total emissions, the citizen groups could be right to say that the planning staff considered the air emission problem ‘out of context’ because air emissions analysis attributed to the ports should consider total emissions, and not exclusively air emissions attributed to the proposed port expansion. Although marine ports are frequently linked to heavy industrial operations, they are normally located in or very close to residential communities or to environmentally sensitive estuaries (Moretti, Neidell & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009). Various negative environmental consequences that generally result include air pollution from operations of the port, degradation, or loss of wetlands, fisheries destruction, and contamination from storm water. Wastewater discharges; severe congestion of traffic; cultural resources’ loss; contamination of water and soil from leaking pipelines and storage tanks; air discharged from chemical storage; and hazardous and solid waste generation as well as soil erosion and runoff (Moretti, Neidell & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009). There is a lot of proof that the 30,000 everyday cargo trucks that pull the containers of shipping from the ports contribute significantly to air pollution along the streets and freeways in the region around the harbor and throughout Southern California (South Coast AQMD, 2000). 2. Discussion on who should take the lead to adequately respond to the problem. When considering who should take lead to respond to this problem, I think both parties should handle the issue. This is because marine ports within the United States are considered the major economic activity hubs and leading sources of pollution (Moretti, 2009). Since ports operation affect human health, the health department should be involved in this case; and likewise to the planning staff because they need to consider the measure of pollution prevention. Since the ports are undergoing expansion to accommodate greater volumes of cargo, the international trade growth has led to related rapid development in the quantity of goods that are being shipped through sea (Sharpsteen, 2011). Regardless of the enormous development in the sector of the marine shipping, most prevention efforts of pollution need to be tackled at the federal, state, and local level and this involve both the planning staff and the health department (Moretti, Neidell & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009). Huge ships with engines that run on the dirtiest fuel, hundreds of diesel truck visits each day, hauling cargo, and marine ports activities bring about various environmental effects that may possibly affect local communities as well as the environment. These impacts vary from soaring risk of disease, like cancer or respiratory disease, to rises in water quality degradation, regional smog, and the blight of public and local communities’ lands (Moretti, Neidell & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009). 3. The importance of engaging and understanding the position of the various stakeholders in this case Engaging various stakeholders in this case is important because the issue affects the wider community. For the policymakers, ports need to implement various regulatory and policy actions required to protect the environment and human health from the high-polluting activities at the ports (Moretti, 2009). Generally, such operations would be dependent on tough regulations, but ports’ oversight falls amid the regulatory cracks, overpowered by confusion over authority of the jurisdiction and the continuing efforts of a powerful industry lobby (Moretti, Neidell & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009). Whereas a patchwork of federal, local, state, and international rules applies to different sources of pollution at ports, several are weak and unsuccessfully enforced. Neighbouring states need to work jointly in coastal alliances so as to safeguard their natural resources of marine and to share information on technologies and programs, and they need to jointly work to shoulder the ignored responsibility to bordering communities and their adjacent environment (Moretti, 2009). Ports need to take domestic measures to decrease pollution brought about by port operations. Similarly, agencies of regulation at the state, local, and federal level ought to offer long overdue protections. If expansions of the port are to go on, every project ought to be moderated to the maximum degree possible, good organization ought to be improved, and present operations need to be cleaned up. 4. How the recent problem of controlling diesel truck emissions impact the ability of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to control emissions from diesel-powered ships. The diesel-powered engines, which power trucks, trains, cargo-handling equipment, and ships, create vast quantities of air pollution, which affect the workers’ health as well as the health of the individuals residing in adjacent communities and significantly contribute to local air pollution. Not less than 30 studies on human epidemiology have established that diesel exhaust rise the risks of cancer, and a 2000 California research established that diesel exhaust account for 70% of the risk of cancer from air pollution. More present research has connected diesel exhaust to asthma (Moretti, 2009). Main air pollutants generated from diesel engines within the port that can affect human health comprise of particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and volatile organic compounds. Regulations as well as proper detection of ships’ emissions are effective ways to decrease pollutants’ discharges. Prevention of using heavy diesel oil for fuel may possibly be a potential method to decrease pollutants. Some of the recommendations for the port in dealing with the present problem of controlling diesel truck emissions include and not limited to: ports ought to commit to safeguard the environment and local communities not just in the course of expansions but during regular activities as well (Moretti, Neidell & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009). Ports need to consider the negotiation of modified or new leases as a significant opportunity to necessitate a mixture of the improvement measures, like using cleaner equipment and fuels (Moretti, Neidell & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009). For the marine vessels, it is important to clean harbor craft, like tugboats, via engine retrofit and repower programs. The oceangoing vessels should have limited idling time through provision of electric power at docks. For equipment that handles cargo, it is important to withdraw equipment that is more than ten years old, they should be replaced with the cleanest equipment, and choices of fuel need to be considered (Sharpsteen, 2011). For on-road trucks, there should be creation of incentive schemes that promote fleet modernization, older trucks’ retirement, and their replacement with up-to-date lower-emitting trucks (Sharpsteen, 2011). There should be availability of cleaner fuels, like low-sulfur diesel or diesel emulsions, to off-site trucks. It is also important to minimize idling of trucks through enforcement of idling limits or through installation of idle shutoff controls. A program of restricting the access of older diesel trucks from the ports is effective in the prevention of air pollution at the port (Moretti, Neidell & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009). Reference Sharpsteen, B. (2011). The docks. Berkeley: University of California Press. Moretti, E., Neidell, M., & National Bureau of Economic Research. (2009). Pollution, health, and avoidance behavior: Evidence from the ports of Los Angeles. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research. South Coast AQMD (2000). Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study in the South Coast Air Basin (MATES-II). Retrieved on December 11, 2013 at http://www.aqmd.gov/matesiidf/matestoc.htm Read More