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