March/April 2014
■
ThePort of Baltimore
[
7
]
GOVERNOR’S
Message
S
ince taking office, the O’Malley-Brown Administration
has taken full advantage of transportation investments
to better connect our communities, create jobs and spur
economic opportunity for Maryland families. Beyond
these benefits, we’ve also strategically targeted transportation
investments to preserve our environment through projects that
support sustainable landuse, protect our waterways and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
As a key agency within the Maryland Department of
Transportation, the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) has
playedamajor role inour environmental protectionand restoration
efforts.Under thePort ofBaltimore’sCleanDiesel Program, 80dray
trucks, which are used tomove shipping containers, have been
replacedwith cleaner, more efficient models. To further improve
air quality, theMPAhasaggressively replacedor retrofittedother
pieces of equipment used regularly in Port operations, including
tugs, locomotives andgeneral cargo-handlingmachinery.
Toprotect ourmost preciousnatural resource, theChesapeake
Bay, theMPA is installing filters at its publicmarine terminals to
prevent trash and debris from entering our waterways. Floating
wetlands also have been installed around the Port to raise the
oxygen content in thewaters.
In addition to these environmental initiatives at the marine
terminals, the MPA’s nationally recognized Dredged Material
Management Programhasmade thePort of Baltimore the largest
creator ofwetlands inMaryland. After decadesof erosion, Poplar
Island in theChesapeakeBay andHart-Miller Island inBaltimore
County have both been rebuilt to their original size through the
use of dredged material. Today, both islands provide habitat to
manywaterfowl species, diamondback terrapinsandotherwildlife.
Masonville Cove, the newest dredged material facility located
on the Patapsco River in Baltimore City, features sustainable
landscaping, anatureareaandanenvironmental educationcenter
to ensure our children understand the importance of protecting
our precious natural resources.
Our private-sector partners at the Port of Baltimore also
recognize the importance of doing their part to protect the
environment. We were very pleased to welcome the return of
Carnival Cruise Lines to the Port following federal approval of
Carnival’s plan to reduce ship emissions through the installation
of exhaust gas-cleaning technology, known as scrubbers. The
cruise line’s decision to return with a more environmentally
friendly Carnival Pride ship ensures the 500 family-supporting
jobs generatedby cruise activity stay inMaryland.
Please take a fewminutes to read this special green issue to
learn about our efforts to create jobs and grow business at the
Port of Baltimore, while being ever mindful of our responsibility
toprotect andpreserve our environment.
MartinO’Malley,
Governor
EXECUTIVE
View
GrowingBusinessWhileProtectingOurAir, LandandWater
EnvironmentalApproachhasLong-termBenefits
R
educing our carbon footprint. Environmental awareness.
Greening themarine terminals. Theseareall common terms
that have become part of our everyday life on themarine
terminals. Today theymust be staplesof any seaport, just
asmuch as the cargo that crosses the docks, and the thousands
of good-paying, blue-collar jobs that are generated.
In thisannual special green issueof Port ofBaltimoremagazine,
we’re takingacloser lookatwhat theMarylandPortAdministration
(MPA) is doing to positively impact our environment. Our two-
pronged approach, through our Environmental Management
SystemandDredgedMaterialManagement Program, arehelping
to create some significant sustainable advances that will benefit
this Port for decades to come.
But the efforts to further green our Port don’t end with the
MPA. With their unrelenting efforts in seeking federal dollars
for dredging, our congressional team is a major reason for the
success of that award-winning, nationally renowned program.
Key partnerships with the Baltimore Port Alliance, Maryland
Department of theEnvironment,MarylandEnvironmental Service,
individual marine terminal operators, other Port businesses,
as well as our industry and regulatory partners have also all
contributedgreatly.
The seaports that will thrive in the 21st century will be those
that are capable ofmeeting their challengeswithnew strategies
that are both commercially and environmentally viable. I can
confidently say that our great Port of Baltimore iswell on itsway
tomaking that happen.
James J.White,
ExecutiveDirector
Maryland Port Administration
