California Approves Port Emissions Rules
California state regulators enacted strict air emission rules Friday that will ban much of the current fleet of diesel trucks from all ports statewide, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.
The California Air Resources Board voted to require all trucks to meet 2007 emission standards by 2014, the paper reported — a move that that mirrors a plan already approved by the sister ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The action came a day after the board required container, passenger and refrigerated vessels to reduce emissions in port by plugging into shore-power grids or using alternative energy sources or fuels, the Times said. Those deadlines for those alternatives will be phased in beginning in 2010.
CARB’s actions apply to ports in San Diego, Port Hueneme, Oakland and San Francisco, and are the first of their kind in the nation, the Times reported. They expected to be duplicated by other states, the paper said.
Los Angeles and Long Beach, which make up the biggest U.S. port complex, account for more than 40% of all containers entering the United States. Trade is expected to double or triple in the next 15 years, the paper said.
The Los Angeles Harbor Commission late last week approved a terminal expansion that would increase ship calls by 30% and add 1,800 daily truck trips, but it included tight restrictions on emissions, the Times reported.
