LOS ANGELES, March 22 (UPI) -- An environmental group Monday called seaports the largest unregulated sources of air pollution in the nation and urged steps to restrict diesel emissions.
The Natural Resources Defense Council said ships, trucks and trains at major U.S. ports combine to spew tons of emissions into the air and increase health risks in surrounding communities.
Grades for the 10 largest container ports in the nation were disappointing, with New York/New Jersey, Seattle, and Hampton Roads ranking C+, while Houston was tagged with an F.
The combined ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were graded C- and C, in that order - being called the largest single source of air pollution in smoggy Southern California.
The NRDC recommended using cleaner diesel fuels in seaports and requiring ships to plug into dockside power sources while in port. rather than running their onboard generators.
