Bills introduced in Congress to attack California’s shipping waivers
In Washington, Congress introduced resolutions that attack two of California’s shipping waivers, the Ocean-Going Vessels At Berth and Commercial Harbor Craft waivers. For 50 years, the precedent set under both Democratic and Republican administrations is that the Clean Air Act waivers are not rules. NGO Pacific Environment says EPA’s move to reclassify them is misuse.
The Harbor Craft rule has required tugs, ferries and other workboats to run on R99 or above since 2023, a key driver for renewable diesel on the West Coast.
The At Berth regulation provides long-term regulatory certainty to the shipping industry, and is not a fly-by night regulation. To protect public health, reduce air pollution and meet the requirements of the federal Clean Air Act, California has been regulating emissions from ships docked at port through the At-Berth Regulation since 2007. These rules were updated in 2020 following extensive public review . Compliance requirements for the regulation have been phased in for over a decade based on vessel type and location, starting in 2014 with the last requirements becoming enforceable in 2027.
Ports, terminal operators, vessel owners, utilities and equipment manufacturers have invested years of planning and significant capital to comply with these lifesaving requirements. Undoing the waivers now would create unnecessary regulatory uncertainty, jeopardize those investments and penalize businesses that relied on a stable regulatory framework.
Category: Policy
