At a March 14 press conference at the Port of Houston Authority’s Sam Houston Pavilion, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson announced new diesel emission standards for the nation, requiring new and existing locomotive and marine diesel engines to significantly reduce air pollution. Charlie Jenkins, PHA director of planning & environment, gave welcoming remarks on behalf of the port authority, which was selected as the host site because of its outstanding record of environmental achievement.

“Today, EPA is fitting another important piece into the clean diesel puzzle by cleaning emissions from our trains and boats,” said Johnson. “As more and more goods flow through our ports and railways, EPA is cutting diesel emissions at their source – keeping our nation on track toward a clean, healthy, productive tomorrow.”

PHA is a member of the EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track and the Blue Skyways Collaborative, which is dedicated to reducing diesel fuel emissions, and was the first port to implement an Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous parameters of the ISO 14001 standards.