The Jones Act Contribution to Global Warming, Acid Rain and Toxic Air Contaminants

摘要

The Jones Act, 19 CFR 4.80, 4.80a, and 4.80b, is a federal maritime law adopted in 1920 that severely restricts coastwise trade of non-U. S. Flag vessels. To be exempt from provisions of the Jones Act, vessels must be built in the U.S., U.S.-owned, U.S.-registered, and U.S.-crewed. Non-U.S. cargo and large passenger vessels are prohibited from traveling between two U.S. ports without stopping at a foreign port in between. Affected vessels include nearly all cruise ships, oil tankers and the majority of large cargo and container ships. The Jones Act artificially increases vessel trip lengths and diverts shipments to less efficient modes of transportation (trucks and trains). This causes massive real air emission increases of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and others), criteria pollutants (NO_x, SO_x, CO, fine particulates) and toxic air contaminants (diesel engine exhaust). As an illustration of the dramatic quantifiable impacts of the Jones Act, this paper estimates carbon dioxide (CO2) increases for three specific Jones Act cases: (1) A cruise ship operating in Hawaii; (2) An automobile carrier originating in Japan; and (3) a West Coast grain shipment. Also presented is an order of magnitude estimate of the CO2 emission increase attributed to the Jones Act, along with other air contaminant impacts. The Jones Act is a conspicuous example of an old (pre-NEPA) U.S. statute that not only distorts trade but has significant adverse air pollution and energy impacts as well.