The Alan S. Lowenthal Blue Whales, Blue Skies Act directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a voluntary program encouraging large ships to reduce their speed along the western U.S. coast. The program aims to decrease air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, underwater noise that harms whales, and the risk of fatal collisions between vessels and whales by asking ships to travel at 10 knots or slower in designated marine areas. Shipping companies whose vessels participate and comply with the speed reduction requirements will receive annual Blue Whales and Blue Skies Excellence Awards and can display an official logo recognizing their participation. The bill requires the program to be established within 12 months and is modeled after an existing speed reduction program already operating in California waters involving air quality districts and marine sanctuaries. Within four years, the administration must evaluate whether the program can be expanded to cover all Pacific Coast shipping channels from Canada to Mexico and report findings to Congress.
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