Environmental SummitMay 2009
Where, Who, Why
• Located in Bridgeport, Connecticut• Bridgeport Port Authority was formed in 1993
– A quasi-public agency empowered by State statute 7-329 a-u
• To promote the trade and commerce, use and development, of waterfront assets for Port and Maritime Uses/Users.
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Where ?
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Who ?• The Bridgeport Port Authority
– Dedicated to develop Bridgeport’s harbors, a vital economic development tool in the City, the Region, the State.
– The Bridgeport Port Authority self-funds generating revenue through collection of lease payments, management fees and tariffs; it finances projects principally through various State and Federal grants that are project specific
– Bridgeport Port Authority employs 3 people – Executive Director, Project Manager, Office Manager
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Why ?
• First Port Authority in Connecticut• Connecticut has three major deep water ports –
Bridgeport, New Haven, New London• Interstate 95 traverses all three
• Bridgeport has two primary channels– Bridgeport Harbor and Black Rock Harbor
• Bridgeport has 17 nautical miles of shoreline– Majority of waterfront property owners/users are
historical use• Not necessarily water related or water dependent
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Port Considerations• Land – many waterfront properties are Brownfields from
historic uses• Water - both groundwater and open water contain some level
of contamination from historic uses• Air - If they were to build Interstate 95 today, there is no way
it would be allowed to traverse the coastline• Knowledge - incomplete technical knowledge. “We know its
not right but we don’t know the best way to fix it”
• FUNDING
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Challenges
• More than 95% of Bridgeport’s waterfront is privately owned– Mixed uses, historic uses
• Steel Mills, manufacturing• Brownfields
– Inherited issues– “Not my problem”
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Challenges
• Fear of the Unknown– What are we going to find when we put a shovel
in the ground?– What is the best way to balance growth and
minimize/reduce environmental footprints
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Bridgeport Port Authority
• Owns Two waterfront facilities– Water Street Dock and Terminal (WSDT)
• 4+ acre site offering unimpeded waterfront access from Long Island Sound
• Primary tenant is Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Ferry , providing year-round pedestrian and vehicle passage between Connecticut and Long Island, New York
• Located adjacent to downtown business area, with almost direct access to commuter railroad, Interstate 95, Bus terminal (local and long distance service)
• Great Commuter location
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Water Street Dock and Terminal
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Water Street Dock and Terminal
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Bridgeport Port Authority
• Owns Two waterfront facilities– Bridgeport Regional Maritime Complex (BRMC)
• 44+ acre site offering unimpeded waterfront access in Bridgeport Harbor from Long Island Sound
• Primary tenant is Derecktor Shipyards, a world class ship building and repair service
– Houses a 600 metric ton travel lift on site (largest one in Northern Hemisphere)
– Since 2001 has obtained over $200 million in new construction contracts, constructed and launched 16 commercial ferries and special purpose craft, provides full service shipyard services
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BRMC
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Derecktor Shipyards
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Derecktor Shipyards
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Bridgeport Harbor
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Bridgeport Harbor
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Bridgeport Harbor
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Black Rock Harbor
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Black Rock Harbor
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Black Rock Harbor
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Seaside Park
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Marinas
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Port Security
• 9/11 changed how all Port and Maritime Users operate– No wants their operations to be “public
knowledge”
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Port Security Practices• “If you see something, say something”
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A first step…• Cold call to Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP), offering assistance
• DEP visited Port of Bridgeport– Understand the operations within the Port– Understand the concerns of the Port Authority– Understand the capabilities and resources
available – Determine ways DEP can assist
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And the next step…• CT DEP referred BPA to EPA’s Northeast Diesel
Collaborative (NEDC) Port Group– Monthly, Bi-monthly group “open” conference
calls on variety of “green” subjects
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Tools
• NEDC Port Group activities• EPA Port Facility Compliance Assistance Focus
Group– Develop Port Compliance Assistance Tool
• CARE / other business connections
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NEDC
• EPA organized, but really lead by participants– Participants request info/speakers on topics– Focus community outreach efforts (i.e. trucking industry)– Network among ourselves
• Common companies operating in several ports– Gives other industries opportunity to talk to a broad, and
interested, group30
Port Facility Compliance Assistance Focus Group
• EPA lead on developing Port Compliance Assistance Tool– Manual (what, why, how)– Tool providing assistance in how to comply
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Looking Outside The Box
• Community outreach– EPA sponsored Community Action for Renewed
Environment (CARE)– Working with local CARE group
• What we’ve done, What we’re doing• What are their concerns
– Meeting and talking with non-maritime industries• Construction firms
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Small Steps = Big Difference
• Working with DEP and EPA– Changes perceptions, takes away fear, builds
knowledge and know how
• Building Partnerships– Teaching each other– Understanding challenges
• Accomplishing Goals
• SUCCESS!33