Environmental Summit May 2009

1. Environmental Summit May 2009

2. 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.

3. Where ?

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Challenges • More than 95% of Bridgeport’s waterfront is privately owned • Mixed uses, historic uses • Steel Mills, manufacturing • Brownfields • Inherited issues • “Not my problem”

9. 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

10. 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

11. Water Street Dock and Terminal

12. Water Street Dock and Terminal

13. 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

14. BRMC

15. Derecktor Shipyards

16. Derecktor Shipyards

17. Bridgeport Harbor

18. Bridgeport Harbor

19. Bridgeport Harbor

20. Black Rock Harbor

21. Black Rock Harbor

22. Black Rock Harbor

23. Seaside Park

24. Marinas

25. Port Security • 9/11 changed how all Port and Maritime Users operate • No wants their operations to be “public knowledge”

26. Port Security Practices • “If you see something, say something”

27. 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

28. 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

29. Tools • NEDC Port Group activities • EPA Port Facility Compliance Assistance Focus Group • Develop Port Compliance Assistance Tool • CARE / other business connections

30. 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, group

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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!