Clean Air Program Takes 200th 'Dirty' Truck Off the Road Port of Seattle and program partners welcome new trucks to replace older models

SEATTLE - The Scrappage and Retrofits for Air in Puget Sound (ScRAPS) program today scrapped its 200th truck. ScRAPS started last November with the goal of taking at least 250 container-hauling, or drayage, trucks with pre-1994 engines off the road. Through the program, truckers receive $5,000 or the blue book value of their truck - whichever is greater-in return for scrapping their old truck.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency developed the ScRAPS program using grant funding from the Port of Seattle and contracted its implementation to Cascade Sierra Solutions (CSS), an Oregon-based non-profit organization with expertise reducing emissions from the trucking industry. The program was designed to support the goals of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, which aims to lower emissions from all sectors of maritime operations.

Removing 200 of the dirtiest trucks from the road is a big milestone, said Tay Yoshitani, Port of Seattle CEO. Truck drivers have been able to invest in newer, cleaner trucks - trucks that improve air quality for our neighbors while moving cargo through our gateway to markets across the globe.

ScRAPS combines a buy-back and scrap program for trucks with pre-1994 engines, and offers exhaust retrofits for the newer replacement trucks to further reduce their tailpipe emissions. The program uses a combination of grant funding from the Port of Seattle, the Washington Department of Ecology, and the Clean Air Agency. Truckers have the option of taking their buy-back money and purchasing a newer truck with loan assistance from Cascade Sierra Solutions (the partner responsible for implementing the Clean Trucks program), purchasing their replacement truck from a third party, or leaving the drayage trucking industry altogether, as nearly 10 percent of the participants have done.

Cascade Sierra Solutions is excited to hit this milestone in ScRAPS, advancing our mission to prevent pollution, combat climate change and fight fossil fuel dependence, said Sándor Lau, Development Director at CSS. We are particularly proud to be working with truckers serving the Port of Seattle, many of whom have emigrated from East Africa and built successful lives and businesses in this community, providing their children with both a hopeful future and cleaner air.

As of its most recent accounting period last month, the program has spent $910,000 to take pre-1994-engined trucks off the road.

The exhaust from diesel engines overwhelmingly presents the highest health risk from airborne toxic pollution in the Puget Sound area, linked with heart problems, aggravated asthma, cancer and premature death, said Jim Nolan, Interim Executive Director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Every dirty truck scrapped through this program makes a difference for our air quality, and more importantly, to the health of those who live and work in areas adjacent to the port. The two hundred trucks scrapped to date will remove 2.8 tons of toxic particle pollution from the air each year, and no doubt save lives.

This Agency program would not be possible without the vision and financial support of the Port of Seattle's Commissioners, said Nolan. They, and our program partners, are critical to the success of this innovative program. We look forward to continuing to work with the Port's Commissioners and staff on projects to reduce dangerous diesel emissions throughout the port's operations.

Peter McGraw
Seaport/Real Estate Media Officer
Port of Seattle
206.787.3446

Kathy Boucher
Branch Manager
Cascade Sierra Solutions
866.345.3390

Kimberley Cline
Communications Specialist
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
206.689.4070
800.552.3565