Services¶
Port Community Health Impact Assessments¶
Port Health Watch provides quantitative health impact assessments for port-adjacent communities. We translate emissions data into defensible, monetized health outcomes — giving advocates, policymakers, and port authorities the evidence base to drive regulatory action, secure grant funding, and quantify the return on emissions reduction investments.
Each assessment is site-specific, built on peer-reviewed methodology, and calibrated to local demographic, health, and environmental justice data.
What You Get¶
1. Port Emissions Inventory & Baseline¶
Comprehensive at-berth emissions profile for your port using ICCT goPEIT data, EPA National Emissions Inventory, and state/local monitoring data. Covers PM2.5, NOx, SOx, and CO2 from ocean-going vessels, harbor craft, and drayage trucks.
2. Community Exposure Analysis¶
Modeled PM2.5 and NOx concentration attributable to port operations in surrounding residential areas. Mapped at census tract level with demographic overlay showing race/ethnicity, income, and existing health burden indicators.
3. Health Impact Quantification¶
Estimated premature deaths, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and work-loss days attributable to port emissions. Includes scenario modeling showing health outcomes under defined emissions reduction targets. All monetized using EPA Value of Statistical Life methodology.
4. Environmental Justice Analysis¶
Disproportionate impact assessment mapping port emissions burden against EPA EJScreen indicators and CDC Social Vulnerability Index. Identifies specific census tracts and populations bearing the highest cumulative exposure. Formatted to support EPA Environmental Justice grant applications and Title VI documentation.
5. Advocacy-Ready Summary Package¶
Two-page executive summary with citation-ready data points, presentation-ready visualizations, and comparison to peer ports. Delivered as print-ready PDF, editable Word document, and slide deck.
Engagement Options¶
Standard Port Environmental Health Assessment — $18,000–$25,000¶
- Emissions inventory (Scope 1, 2, 3 vessel at-berth)
- Community health overlay (census-tract level, BenMAP-CE methodology)
- Environmental justice index scoring
- Peer port benchmarking
- Advocacy-ready deliverable package
Timeline: 8–10 weeks from engagement to final delivery Payment: 50% on engagement, 50% on delivery
Deep Assessment — $35,000–$50,000¶
Everything in the Standard assessment, plus:
- FOIA / public records campaign (federal, state, local — up to 20 targeted requests)
- Regulatory pathway mapping (federal, state, tribal jurisdiction analysis)
- Carbon credit eligibility analysis (Verra VCS methodology screening)
- Expert testimony preparation and support
Timeline: 12–16 weeks Payment: 40% on engagement, 40% on draft delivery, 20% on final delivery
Carbon Credit Pathway Analysis — $15,000–$20,000 (standalone offering)¶
A distinct product line for port authorities and carbon project developers. Can be engaged standalone or added to either assessment tier.
- Verra VCS methodology eligibility screening
- Additionality argument development
- dMRV infrastructure requirements scoping
- Credit volume and revenue projections
Methodology Development Partnership¶
Port Health Watch is building two environmental market frameworks that do not yet exist: Air Quality Health Units (AQHUs) for Verra's SD VISta program, and a maritime at-berth carbon capture methodology for Verra VCS. These are not off-the-shelf products — they are new methodology development requiring pilot validation, regulatory engagement, and Verra accreditation before they can generate tradable instruments.
We are seeking development partners whose commercial or policy interests depend on these methodologies reaching accreditation.
What development partners get:
- Direct input into methodology design and scope
- Priority access to pilot validation site data (including the MERC closure natural experiment)
- Named acknowledgment in Verra methodology submissions (where appropriate)
- First-mover positioning for credit issuance or health benefit claims once methodology is accredited
- Ongoing technical briefings throughout the development and accreditation process
Who this is for:
- Carbon capture technology operators deploying or piloting at-berth capture systems — no existing Verra methodology covers your technology, which means you cannot monetize captured CO₂ as carbon credits. This methodology fills that gap.
- Port authorities seeking to quantify and monetize the health benefits of emissions reduction investments — the AQHU framework creates a defensible, tradable instrument for health improvements that currently have no market value.
- Environmental market participants and carbon funds looking for new credit supply in maritime — early development partnership positions you for preferred terms on credit offtake.
- Public health agencies and research institutions with grant funding capacity — methodology development can be structured as a funded research deliverable through subaward or cooperative agreement.
Engagement structure and investment are scaled to partner type and commercial interest. This is not a fixed-price engagement — it is a co-development relationship structured around the value the accredited methodology creates for your organization.
Who This Is For¶
Community Organizations & EJ Coalitions
You need quantified, defensible data that translates "pollution is harmful" into "pollution costs our community $X per year in premature deaths and hospitalizations." Our assessments are designed to meet the evidentiary standards required for EPA EJ grant applications, regulatory proceedings, and Title VI complaints.
Port Authorities & Sustainability Officers
You need to demonstrate ROI on emissions reduction investments to board members, public stakeholders, and grant funders. Our cost-benefit analysis quantifies the community health return on every dollar invested in at-berth controls. For ports investing in new emissions reduction technology, our Methodology Development Partnership creates the accredited framework to monetize those improvements.
Carbon Capture & Maritime Technology Companies
You have the technology to reduce at-berth emissions — but no accredited carbon credit methodology covers maritime capture, which means you cannot monetize your core product in the voluntary carbon market. Our methodology development work is building that pathway. Talk to us about co-development →
Policymakers & Legislative Staff
You need the health economics case for at-berth emissions regulation. California's CARB regulation provides the model. We provide the state-specific cost-benefit analysis to support adoption.
Download Our Research¶
Our two fully-published site assessments are available as free PDF downloads — demonstrating the complete analytical depth available for every port on this site. Full assessments for the other 17 priority ports and 7 Great Lakes screening ports are available through a research engagement (see offerings above).
| Port | Assessment | Download |
|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey | Full Assessment | |
| Duluth-Superior | Full Assessment |
For site-specific assessments with higher-resolution modeling and localized data, see our service offerings above.
What Our Partners Say¶
Endorsements — Coming Soon
We are currently completing our first round of commissioned assessments. Client testimonials and endorsements will appear here as projects are delivered. If you would like to serve as a reference or provide a testimonial, contact us.
Get Started¶
Contact us to discuss a site-specific assessment for your port community.
Email: research@porthealthwatch.org
We respond to all inquiries within 48 hours.