Gladstein, Neandross & Associates

Santa Monica, CA (May 2007): Faster Freight - Cleaner Air Puget Sound (FFCA Puget Sound), held at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, was hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington State Department of Transportation, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma. Over 280 attendees from the Pacific Northwest and beyond received the latest information about technologies and programs working to reduce emissions and move freight faster through Puget Sound ports and transportation corridors. The one-day conference brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss solutions available to address the issues of growth and congestion related to goods movement and the impact on air quality. The breakout sessions were divided into three Air Quality Tracks (Marine, Rail and On-Road/Trucking) and a Freight Mobility Track. The morning breakout sessions focused on innovative technologies and programs while the afternoon sessions provided a roundtable discussion format allowing more interaction between panelists and the audience.

Highlighted general session speakers at FFCA Puget Sound included:

• Jay Manning, Director, Washington State Department of Ecology
• Elin D. Miller, Regional Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10
• Pradeep Khare, Regional Director General, Environment Canada
• Dennis McLerran, Executive Director, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
• Paula Hammond, Chief of Staff, Washington State Department of Transportation
• Charlie Sheldon, Managing Director Seaport, Port of Seattle
• Lou Paulsen, Senior Director - Facilities Development, Port of Tacoma
• T.L. Garrett, Vice President, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
• John Gray, Executive Director, Union Pacific Railroad
• Jim Tutton, Vice President, Washington Trucking Associations
• Stephanie Jones, Senior Manager, Seaport Environmental Programs, Port of Seattle
• Darrell Desjardin, Director, Environmental Programs, Vancouver Port Authority

Many of the attendees remarked that the groundbreaking and much publicized announcement of the three port plan between the ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver set the tone of collaboration for the event. For more information on that announcement, please click here.

The attendee base included representatives from all aspects of the goods movement industry, including: labor unions, government agencies, community groups, transportation planners, technology providers, public health researchers and others. FFCA Puget Sound attracted attendees from several ports, including: Port of Everett, Port of Olympia, Port of Portland, Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma, and Vancouver Port Authority. More than 50% of the attendees were from the goods movement industry (ports, trucking, rail, marine, etc.). The exhibit spaces in the lobby were booked solid and featured an array of technology vendors with information about their product offerings covering marine, rail, on-road, and off-road sectors.

For more information, please visit www.ffcapugetsound.com.