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Maryland Department of the Environment

Department of Environment Adds More Funding for Cleaner Delivery Trucks at Port of Baltimore

Department of Environment Adds More Funding for Cleaner Delivery Trucks at Port of Baltimore

Maryland’s VW Mitigation Plan Provides $2 Million to Help Dray Truck Drivers with New Truck Purchases

BALTIMORE (June 24, 2020) – The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) continues to support the Port of Baltimore’s Dray Truck Replacement Program by releasing $500,000 from Maryland’s Volkswagen (VW) Mitigation Plan in support of drayage truck drivers who serve the Port of Baltimore.

The mitigation work plan was developed under the environmental mitigation trust established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a 2016 settlement that determined VW had violated the Clean Air Act by installing software designed to defeat emissions standards. Under the terms of this settlement, Maryland was awarded $75.7 million for specifically defined mitigation projects to remediate nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in the state.

The Port of Baltimore Dray Truck Replacement Program offers eligible truck owners up to $30,000 to replace their older truck (engine model years 1996-2006) with a newer, cleaner model. This makes a new truck purchase more affordable for truck owners and helps to improve air quality at the Port of Baltimore and surrounding Baltimore City neighborhoods.

“We’re investing in cleaner trucks to cut pollution and clear the air for port employees and communities,” said Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles. “Baltimore continues to be a leader among green ports globally, and Maryland continues to be a national leader pushing relentlessly for clean air, public health, and climate action.”

“The Port of Baltimore’s dray truck replacement program has contributed greatly to reduced emissions and cleaner air around the Port and its surrounding communities,” said Transportation Secretary Gregory Slater. “This funding will allow even more older trucks to be replaced by newer models that are cleaner and more efficient.”

Through the Port’s Dray Truck Replacement Program, 217 trucks have been replaced to date using funds available from federal and state grants, including the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). Dray trucks are essentially the vehicles that move cargo short distances to and from ships, trains, and storage facilities at ports. MDE, through the VW Settlement, will provide a total of $2 million to continue supporting the successful Dray Truck Replacement Program. Five hundred thousand dollars has been released to date — enough to replace about 16 additional trucks. The remaining $1.5 million will be released over the next several years. This funding announcement represents the first implementation of funds from Maryland’s VW Settlement.

Since 2008, in addition to the dray trucks, 110 pieces of cargo-handling equipment, 16 locomotive engines and 10 marine engines have been replaced or retrofitted at the Port of Baltimore. This has resulted in emissions reductions of 3,304 tons of NOx, 922 tons of carbon monoxide, 165 tons of particulate matter and 141 tons of hydrocarbons.

These funds will continue to advance air quality accomplishments while supporting the essential work at the Port of Baltimore that keeps cargo moving and Maryland open for business.

For more information on the program, please visit dieselupgrades.org/drayage-truck-frequently-asked-questions.



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