2014 Public Policy Forum: The Urban Ocean “Harbouring” Pollution Dr. Nancy Rabalais – Moderator – Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium Holly Greening – Tampa Bay Estuary Program David Blazer – Maryland Port Administration, Harbor Development Team Dr. Troy Pierce – EPA, Gulf of Mexico Program
Pollution is not just hazardous chemicals-- Pollution -“the introduction by man , directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment, resulting in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources, hazards to human health, hindrance to marine activities including fisheries, impairment of quality for use of seawater, and reduction of amenities.” (GESAMP, Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution, a United Nations sponsored advisory group)
The list of pollutants grows, many are persistent, and they influence social and natural ecosystems, especially in populated, coastal urban areas. • Organic loading, waste products • Greenhouse gasses • Pathogens • Petroleum hydrocarbons • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons • Halogenated hydrocarbons • Heavy metals • Nutrients • Radionuclides • Endocrine disruptors • Litter • Light • Noise
More stressors than I can count on my ten fingers-- Population Increase Groundwater withdrawal Habitat Changes Hypoxia Global Economy Watershed Landscape Changes Farm Bill Dredging Climate Change International Trade Subsidence Oil and Gas Development Altered Nutrient Ratios Oil Spills Nutrient Over-enrichment Marine transportation Loss of Natural Processes Harmful Algal Blooms Eutrophication Sea-Level Rise
Pollution intersects with dense coastal populations, productive natural ecosystems and great economic benefits. Shore-adjacent counties, where the real concentration of U.S. economic activity occurs, had 108.3 million people, 48.6 million jobs, and contributed $5.7 trillion to the U.S. economy. With only 18% of U.S. land area, these counties accounted for 36% of population and 42% of the national economic output in 2007. NOEP, 2012
A Recovering Urban Harbor: Tampa Bay, Florida Holly Greening Tampa Bay Estuary Program March 2014
Fast Facts about Tampa Bay • Florida’s largest open- water estuary • Open water: 400 sq miles • Watershed: 2,600 sq miles • Average water depth: 12 feet • Watershed population: 2.3 million • Port Tampa Bay in top 10 8 in U.S.
Tampa Bay in the 1970s “The Kitchen” (Hillsborough Bay near Gibsonton) Archie Creek Photo by JOR Johansson 9
Troubled Waters • Half of Tampa Bay seagrasses lost by 1982 • Half of Tampa Bay’s natural shoreline altered • 40% of tidal marshes destroyed • Wading bird populations plummeted by 70% • Visibility reduced to 2 feet in Hillsborough Bay • Fish kills common 10
A "poster child” for polluted waters • “60 Minutes” segment brought national attention 11
What caused the Bay’s decline? • Poorly treated sewage • Unrestricted dredging and filling • Untreated stormwater runoff and industrial discharges Common pollutant: NITROGEN 12
Restoring Tampa Bay • Citizen action • Regulatory restrictions on wastewater early 1980s • State and local agencies late 1980s • Tampa Bay Estuary Program 1990
One of 28 National Estuary Programs: Focus on partnerships 14
Tampa Bay Seagrass Restoration Goal Seagrass Restoration Goal: Restore seagrass acreage to that observed in ~1950. Difference between 1950 and 1990 seagrass cover
Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Strategy Paradigm TN Load Chlorophyll Light Attenuation Seagrass Growth Seagrass Light & Reproduction Requirement
The beginning of Tampa Bay’s Collaborative Approach • Public sector realized that nitrogen management goals were unattainable without private sector help. • Private sector invited to participate with the public sector in the voluntary Nitrogen Management Consortium. • Each partner contributed to nitrogen management goal as they were able- no requirements or allocations
Tampa Bay Public/Private Partnership Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium Formed in 1996 Partnership of: • local governments, • regulatory agency participants, • local phosphate companies, • agricultural interests and • electric utilities 45+ NMC participants responsible for meeting nitrogen load reduction goals 18
Many projects have improved the Bay • 300+ projects implemented between 1996-2013 • Decreased industrial discharges • Upgrades to sewage plants • Improvements to air quality at power plants • Better handling of materials (less spills) at ports • Stormwater treatment • Residential fertilizer restrictions 19
Nitrogen loading has decreased 20
Per capita TN load reduced by 80% 21
Water quality has improved Annual average chl-a concentration thresholds Advanced wastewater treatment begins Stormwater regulations enacted TBEP Data source: EPCHC
And seagrasses have responded Data: SWFWMD 23
From Voluntary to Meeting Regulatory Requirements 1998- EPA Region 4 approves TN loads for 1992- 1994 as TMDL for nitrogen for Tampa Bay. 2008- EPA stated that allocations would be required to be incorporated into FDEP regulatory permits in 2010 FDEP allowed Consortium to collaboratively develop recommended allocations to all sources within the watershed.
Key Decision: Collaborative Management Strategy Consortium participants willing to work together to develop voluntary allocations (caps) for nitrogen loads, for agencies’ consideration. Decided they wanted to ‘drive the bus’
Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium • 45+ public and private partners throughout watershed- collaborative approach to meeting regulatory water quality goals (EPA TMDL) • Consortium developed and agreed to voluntary ‘caps’ on nitrogen loads at 2003- 2007 levels for all sources. Caps now incorporated into permits.
Key Elements in Tampa Bay’s Management Strategy • Target resources identified by both public and science as “worthy” indicators • Community willing to work together towards common goals • Science-based numeric goals and targets • Multiple tools: Regulation; public/private collaborative actions; citizen actions • Long-term monitoring • Recognized “honest broker” to track, facilitate, assess progress • Assessment and adjustment
Thank you! Holly Greening, TBEP Director hgreening@tbep.org
Maryland Port Administration Ocean Leadership Public Policy Forum March 12, 2014
Maryland Port Administration Mission & Environmental Policy “To stimulate the flow of waterborne commerce through the State of Maryland in a manner that provides economic benefit to the citizens of the State.” “ To protect the environment by its commitment to environmental compliance; continuous improvement of environmental performance; pollution prevention; and effective interaction/outreach.”
The Port of Baltimore is a complex mix of Private and Public terminals….handling diverse bulk & general cargoes. Baltimore Forest Products Forest Products Sugar Salt & Containers Coal & Fertilizers Iron Ore Farming Mining Autos Construction
Upper Bay Channels Annual Dredging for the Port of Baltimore Volume Channels C&D Canal 0.04 +/- Mcy C&D Canal Approach 1.2 Mcy MD Bay Channels 2.0 Mcy Harbor Channels** 1.5 Mcy VA Bay Channels 0.5 Mcy Lower Bay Total 5.24 Mcy Channels ** Harbor volume includes state & private sector work. All other volumes are federal maintenance only.
Poplar Island Before Poplar Island After Cox Creek Masonville
Masonville Dredge Material Containment Facility 2010 National Environmental Excellence Award (National Association of Environmental Professionals)
Environmental Initiatives • Water Quality – Stormwater Management – Chesapeake Bay TMDL • Air Quality – Diesel Emissions • Energy Efficiency
Water Quality Imbrium Jellyfish Filter • Stormwater BMPs – Analyzed several BMPs for efficiency – Use most cost- effective and efficient – Investigate novel approaches Algal Turf Scrubber Floating Wetland
Water Quality • Water Quality Enhancements – Trash Interceptors, Trash Cleanups – Stormwater drain cleanings – Integrating water quality projects into terminal improvements Bioretention Structure Pre-Cleaning Floating Post-Cleaning Wetland
Air Quality • Port of Baltimore Clean Diesel Program – Replaced or retrofitted Harbor Craft, Locomotives, Cargo Handling Equipment – Replaced 80 Dray Tucks with new, cleaner models Emissions Reduction Dray Trucks (Tons/Yr) HC: 1.6 CO: 10.9 NO x : 50.2 PM: 2.1
Energy Efficiency • Installed Several Energy Saving – Solar Panels at Cruise Terminal and South Locust Point Terminal – World Trade Center HVAC Upgrades, including Harbor Heat Sink and Chiller Replacement – Terminal Lighting Upgrades, with Occupancy Sensors
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