(SitNews) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Coast Guard announced Thursday an agreement in principle was reached with Carnival Corporation to develop advanced emission control technology to be used in waters surrounding U.S. coasts.

Under the agreement, Carnival will convert 32 of its ships to an innovative two-stage scrubber system by 2016.  The system will remove particulate matter, black carbon and sulfur.  Because the ECA regulations focus primarily on sulfur, the removal of the black carbon and particulate matter will provide additional health and environmental benefits beyond what the regulations require.

The ships will be exempt from ECA until they are converted, but will have to burn low-sulfur fuel while in port to ensure cleaner air.  Carnival, including its subsidiary lines Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, will be converting all of its Alaska cruise ships and anticipates most conversions will be done in 2014 and 2015.

These new controls combine the use of sulfur oxide (SOx) scrubbers with diesel particulate filters - thus combining technologies well known in the power plant and automotive sectors, but not previously used together on a marine vessel. The technological advances spurred by these programs will provide an opportunity for ECA compliance at a significant (50 percent or greater) reduction in cost and may yield emission reductions beyond those required by current requirements. The advanced technology can also provide additional benefits in the reduction of particulate matter and black carbon.

Carnival Corporation is the most recent of several shipping companies, including other cruise lines, that plans to use flexibility in the standard to support the development of advanced pollution control technology. EPA said they support the initiative taken by Carnival and other marine companies to develop advanced emissions control technologies to comply with the ECA requirements, including SOx scrubbers or the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The ECAs were developed by the United States and Canada through an agreement with the International Maritime Organization in order to protect human health and the environment by significantly reducing air pollution from ocean-going vessels. By 2020, ECA limits will reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 320,000 tons, particulate matter (PM) emissions by 90,000 tons, and SOx by 920,000 tons. Each year, the standard will also result in the prevention of tens of thousands of premature deaths while relieving respiratory symptoms for nearly five million people.

Governor Sean Parnell today released a statement after Carnival Cruise Lines announced an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to resolve a dispute over the EPA’s implementation of Emissions Control Areas (ECA), where the EPA originally required marine vessels traveling in these areas to buy and use costly low-sulfur fuel.

Alaska filed suit against the federal government, citing the fact that the government never obtained the consent of Congress to support the international treaty amendment that created the Emissions Control Area. The state contends the EPA failed to use sound scientific or environmental evidence when including Alaska in the ECA.  

“I am heartened that the EPA is responding by allowing other options to be used to reduce emissions, rather than mandating the use of cost-prohibitive, low-sulfur fuel,” Governor Parnell said. “Alaska must remain a competitive cruise destination, so Alaska’s small and mid-sized businesses can flourish. After reducing the cruise passenger tax in 2010, passenger traffic to Alaska is on track to top one million this year, the first time in many years. The ECA fuel requirement represented a real setback because it increased the cost of travel and freight to Alaska. It is, in essence, an unfair financial penalty to Alaskans who, because of our geography, already have a high cost of living.”

The latest announcement of increased costs to Alaskans caused by the ECA was from Lynden Transport, whose fuel costs have increased by six percent since May.

“I remain concerned about cost increases for food and other ocean freight to Alaska, increases that will inevitably be passed on to Alaskans,” Governor Parnell added. “Whether cost increases result from the EPA forcing shippers to use much more expensive fuel or because companies are forced to purchase new equipment and facilities, Alaska’s families and businesses bear the brunt of this ill-conceived regulation. The state will keep the pressure on the EPA to be reasonable.”

The state’s case against the EPA is pending.

However, U.S. Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) welcomed the news Thursday of the agreement.   “When the industry and the regulators work together, we can find common sense solutions,” said Sen. Begich.  “I’ve been working with all parties involved to try and find a way forward and I’m glad they have come to this agreement.”

“Carnival has found an innovative technology that will exceed air emission standards while allowing them to keep down costs for visitors to Alaska,” said Sen. Begich.  “This will help ensure both the health and economy of our coastal communities that rely on tourism, ” said Begich.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

On the Web:

More information
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.htm

Sources of News: 

Office of the Governor
www.gov.state.ak.us

Office of U.S. Senator Mark Begich
www.begich.state.ak.us

EPA
www.epa.gov

SitNews ©2013
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews may be protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper sources.