Trucking companies and shippers have argued that the ports lack the legal authority to force them to purchase the fleet, which would begin depreciating in value almost immediately. If they were compelled to employ 16,000 drivers, the firms say, they would be vulnerable to union organizing.
Environmental groups led by the Natural Resource and Defense Council, however, support a proposed concession system that would put drivers on company payrolls. "This is the most sustainable and accountable system for fixing the broken trucking system," Adrian Martinez, a defense council attorney, told the Long Beach commissioners.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday, December 19, 2007 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 59 words Type of Material: Correction
Long Beach port: An article in Tuesday's California section, about the Long Beach Harbor Commission approving a tax on cargo to help subsidize cleaner diesel trucks, misspelled Long Beach Harbor official Mario Cordero's last name as Cardero. It also said he is executive director of the Port of Long Beach. He is president of the Long Beach Harbor Commission.
Nonetheless, critics on all sides of the issue are growing frustrated by continuing delays of the Clean Air Action Plan, which was supposed to have been in place nearly a year ago.
In an interview, Monday, Rupal Patel of an environmental group called Communities for Clean Ports, echoed the sentiments of many people at Monday's hearing. "The ports' claims of proceeding in good faith loses spirit with each delay," she said, "because the situation is so dire."
louis.sahagun@latimes.com
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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
Cleaning Up the Air
Recent actions by state and local agencies have taken on port pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Dec. 17: The Long Beach Harbor Commission approves a $1.6-billion tax on cargo to raise money to fight air pollution.
Dec. 7: The California Air Resources Board requires all trucks to meet 2007 emission standards by 2014.
Dec. 6: The California Air Resources Board sets a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 by 30% over projected levels. Among other measures approved: rules requiring more than 800 large industrial plants to report how much greenhouse gas they emit, the nation's first such regulation.
That same day, the Los Angeles Harbor Commission approves a port terminal expansion proposal with pollution-reduction measures, including replacing diesel-powered cranes with electrical ones.
Nov. 5: Following the lead of Los Angeles, the Long Beach Harbor Commission ratifies a plan to scrap old diesel rigs, replacing them with newer, cleaner models.
Sources: Times research
