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| Environmental Awareness |
 The “green” commitment of the Port of Miami continues to grow, from assertive measures to reduce energy consumption in Port buildings to proactive efforts to nurture the ecosystems surrounding the Port.
Key members of Port of Miami staff have recently undergone training to learn more about environmentally sustainable construction, and Port officials are backing that up with a pledge that any new structures at the Port will be certified to at least the “Silver Level” under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Environmentally friendly practices maintained throughout the Port of Miami include use of energy-efficient light bulbs and sensor-controlled switches that turn off lights in vacant rooms. Low-water-usage plumbing fixtures have been installed, and utilization of recycled materials is encouraged.
A program to reduce air emissions through electrification of gantry cranes is continuing, and the Port is in the process of replacing its vehicle fleet with hybrid units. Similarly, the Port's highly efficient cargo gate complex helps minimize emissions by reducing the time trucks are awaiting clearance.
Trendsetting technology is being deployed by the Port of Miami in a stormwater pollution prevention program that helps maintain the water quality in Biscayne Bay habitat areas, and the potential risk of oil-related incidents is being mitigated through specialized training and equipment, as well as the basing at the Port of Miami of the Marine Spill Response Corp.'s Florida Responder.
The Port of Miami is working with the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and other government officials in relocating the off-port anchorage site, where vessels drop anchor as they await berthing. This approach, undertaken in conjunction with the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative and Miami Harbor Safety Committee, is being pursued in an effort to minimize potential impacts of vessel traffic on coral reef areas. Port officials have collaborated with such entities for several years in the establishment of 11 artificial reefs in Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, providing safe habitats for corals and numerous other marine species.
Another proactive pursuit of the Port of Miami involves the restoration of tidal red mangroves at a 42-acre site at Oleta River State Park in North Miami, about 12 miles north of the port. Port officials are looking to complete in fall 2009 the ambitious undertaking to put in place the coastal trees, which play an important role in shoreline protection from hurricanes and soil erosion, as well as provide an ideal habitat for birds and aquatic species.
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