CA Tells Ships to Clean Up Their Act

California policy makers are tired of ocean ships spewing foul air over the state, and they have now told these ships to clean up their act, at least when they are near the mainland.

In 2006, California passed similar legislation forcing large ships to reduce their emissions. However, the shipping companies defeated this legislation in a federal court, arguing that emissions standards were the domain of the EPA, not the state of California. This time, California is imposing a "fuel requirement," and it will likely hold up in court. Their requirement is that ships do not use "bunker fuel" (a dirty, heavy-crude fuel) when they are within 24 nautical miles of California. If they come within this distance, they must switch to marine fuel, which is cleaner (and more expensive). More, tighter regulations are stipulated over the next few year.

This regulation will go into effect July 1, 2009. Shippers continue to argue that California does not have the jurisdiction to impose this rule. However, it seems to me at least that California should have every right to object to the heavy emissions these ships send over the state. For California residents, especially those along the coast, it should be a cleaner, brighter future.