Emissions/vessels at berth

AN ACT Relating to adopting emission standards for ocean-going 1
vessels at berth; adding a new section to chapter 70A.30 RCW; and 2
creating new sections. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:5
(1) The largest port complex in Washington is the northwest 6
seaport alliance, comprised of the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle. Port 7
operations, including vessel emissions, are a significant contributor 8
to diesel particulate matter and greenhouse gases in the Seattle-9
Tacoma airshed; 10
(2) Maritime-related emissions make up 20 percent of total diesel 11
particulate matter emissions in the Puget Sound airshed – a huge 12
avoidable risk; 13
(3) In the United States, nearly 40 percent of Americans live 14
within three miles of a port where ocean-going vessels are the number 15
one driver of cancer risk to frontline communities at ports due to 16
their diesel particulate emissions; 17
(4) Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and toxic air pollution 18
is necessary to protect port communities, where pollution has 19
disproportionately harmed working class communities and communities 20
of color living in and near United States ports; 21
H-0733.2
HOUSE BILL 1689
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Reed, Berry, Parshley, Doglio, Pollet, and Ramel
Read first time 01/29/25. Referred to Committee on Environment &
Energy.
p. 1 HB 1689
(5) Opting into the California emission standards for ocean-going 1
vessels at berth will provide significant and necessary air quality 2
and climate benefits to residents of the state of Washington;3
(6) Under the federal clean air act, Washington has the option to 4
implement California's vehicle emission standards such as the control 5
measures for ocean-going vessels at berth; 6
(7) Adoption of California's control measures for ocean-going 7
vessels at berth coincides with record levels of federal and state 8
funding available for ports that will support compliance with the 9
emission standards. The Washington state legislature has allocated 10
tens of millions of dollars for shore power at the state's ports;11
(8) The Washington state transportation electrification strategy 12
report supports such recommendation: "In addition to infrastructure 13
upgrades, the state should explore adopting California's 2020 ocean-14
going vessels at-berth regulation to ensure that shipping companies 15
utilize the shore power being added to the ports"; and16
(9) Construction of shore power helps support jobs. A study 17
conducted by MARAD in 2017 indicates that employment projections for 18
100 percent shore power by 2050 in Washington state range from 302 to 19
526 job-years at the state level, and from 232 to 405 job-years at 20
the county level. The Port of Tacoma's TOTE terminal shore power 21
project sustained an estimated 50 manufacturing and local 22
installation jobs.23
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 70A.30 24
RCW to read as follows: 25
(1) Pursuant to the federal clean air act, the department of 26
ecology may adopt California's emission standards for ocean-going 27
vessels at berth in Titles 13 and 17 of the California Code of 28
Regulations. Rules adopted by the department of ecology must maintain 29
consistency with the California emission standards and 42 U.S.C. Sec. 30
7507 (section 177 of the federal clean air act). 31
(2) Rules adopted under this section may take effect no earlier 32
than January 1, 2028. The department of ecology may extend the 33
compliance timeline by no more than three years. 34
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Nothing in section 2 of this act limits or 35
otherwise affects the obligation of a vessel on shore power and 36
conducting cargo to meet proper crewing levels as per the vessel's 37
certificate of inspection or to meet other requirements established 38
p. 2 HB 1689
under state or federal law to protect public health or the 1
environment. 2
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If any provision of this act or its 3
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the 4
remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other 5
persons or circumstances is not affected.6
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p. 3 HB 1689