E.P.A. Is Petitioned to Limit Ship Emissions

In San Francisco on Octber 3, 2007 The California attorney general and environmental groups have called for federal regulation to limit heat-trapping emissions from the worldwide fleet of about 90,000 ship. “Only six countries generate more emissions of greenhouse gases than the world’s oceangoing vessels”, said Michael Hirshfield, a senior scientist with Oceana. California has been trying to limit emissions for years. California air-pollution regulators for years focused on conventional pollutants from ship engines it contributes 50 percent of the smog-related sulfur dioxide emissions in the greater Los Angeles area. The courts have blocked a recent effort by the state to have the ships to use low-sulfur fuel when they come within 24 miles of the California coast. The decision last year allowed the E.P.A. to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. California is asking the agency to do the same for emissions from large marine ships.



The E.P.A. started in 1970 to protect air, water, and land. The E.P.A was established by President Richard Nixon, and it is led by an Administrator, who is appointed by the President of the United States. Before the E.P.A. did not do anything to stop pollutants which harm human health and degraded the environment. Then the E.P.A. was to clean up the air, water, and land.