Status: Thanks to all who attended this workshop! If you missed it or simply would like more information, please refer to our ongoing project page: http://coastalconservationleague.org/rail-at-the-north-charleston-port/
What is the issue?
The port is planning to build a big new terminal in North Charleston. When it is fully up and running, the truck and ship traffic from port operations will nearly double, causing tens of millions of dollars each year in extra health care costs for Charleston residents. With the release of a study by national experts, commissioned by CCL, data reveals that health costs associated with an expanded Charleston port could be as high as $81 million per year if the port does not set meaningful, measurable goals to reduce ship and truck emissions. Starting with emissions data and air quality modeling provided by the State Ports Authority, experts quantified the costs of work loss, asthma exacerbations, chronic and acute bronchitis, non-fatal heart attacks, and death from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other ailments linked to fine particle pollution from the port. Their conclusion? At capacity, the proposed port expansion in North Charleston would have annual health impacts of up to $27 million, in 2006 dollars. The total health impact of all port facilities is conservatively estimated at up to $81 million per year.
How would it affect South Carolina?
In Charleston County, the ports are a major source of fine particle pollution: in 2005 port facilities released 175 tons of fine particulates, compared to 246 tons produced by the county’s permitted industrial smokestacks. Thus, in Charleston County alone fine particulates released by ports are about 70% of the permitted industrial smokestack emissions. Much of that port pollution occurs in the heart of the more heavily populated downtown areas where it can impact human health. Particulates from diesel emissions cause heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular disease and premature death.
What can you do about it?
In California and other places, public health is a high priority. Ports are good neighbors, working closely with community and environmental groups to clean up their act. Ports spend a little money to save everyone a lot of money — and to save everyone a lot of sickness and heartache as well. So please come hear community activists and medical experts from California talk about how to reduce port pollution. CCL and local physicians are urging the port and state leaders to commit to a meaningful and measurable cleanup of port pollution to reduce the impact on public health, as other ports across the nation have done.
Please view the attached agenda and registration form to participate!
- Cleaner air and healthier living!
- Degraded air quality and expensive health care costs.
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