Port Indirect Source Rule

Newsletter 2

Dear Friend:

Below find the latest edition of the Seaport Indirect Source Rule (ISR) newsletter. Our goal is to keep you, the groups and individuals who have expressed concerns about the Seaport ISR, as potentially imposed on the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, updated on key developments.

Misguided Los Angeles Times Editorial Misrepresents Ports’ Progress In Emissions Reductions, Advocates for Seaport ISR on Bad Facts:

On Monday, October 2, the Los Angeles Times published an editorial, If L.A. air quality officials go soft on toxic railroad pollution, are the ports next? The piece is critical of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Board’s “pivot from rule-making to deal-making” with BNSF Railway and Union Pacific towards a MOU. The editorial board highlights the SCAQMD’s delays in draft language to the beginning of next year and the dual influence of business and labor upon the Board’s decision to postpone a potential vote.

However, the editorial piece ignores the significant progress both ports have made in significantly reducing air emissions, claiming “the ports have treated their pollution-reduction pledges more like aspirations than hard-and-fast commitments.” Sadly, the Los Angeles Times ignores the recent Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach’s Emissions Inventory reports. The combined numbers from the San Pedro Bay ports reveal drops of 90% for diesel particulate matter (DPM), 97% for sulfur oxides (SOx), 63% for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and equally remarkable declines for other emission categories, compared to the baseline year of 2005. Moreover, the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) emission reduction targets have been met ahead of schedule.

The Port of Long Beach Rail

Hearing of State Assembly Committee on Ports Highlights the Threat to the Supply Chain Posed by the Seaport ISR, Cargo Caps, and Local Paper Cites Business Opposition as Key:

A hearing of the Assembly Select Committee at the Port of Los Angeles which highlighted concerns about the Seaport ISR was the subject of a recent article of the Long Beach Press Telegram.[MJ1] Highlighted in the article was testimony “including the directors of both the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach who discussed the progress that has been made in cutting emissions through a joint Clean Air Action Plan approved in 2006 and the ongoing push to meet zero-emissions goals for terminal equipment by 2030 and the drayage truck fleet by 2035.”

Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said at the hearing the ports have “stepped up” to address the pollution issues but continue to need federal and state investment and collaboration to go further.

“My point is, what more are you going to squeeze out of us and our stakeholders?” Cordero said, adding that the technology often is simply not yet available. “We’re making tremendous progress,” Cordero said. “I’d ask for patience (from the regulatory agencies), to give us a couple more years.”

“It’s complex and it’s nuanced,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka during the Assembly hearing. “We’ve got to keep working together and this does not need to be a polarizing conversation.”

As for cutting-edge equipment, Seroka said when asked if items are on order, “You can order anything you want, it doesn’t mean they’re going to be produced, going to be available or that there will be spare parts when needed.”

“Cleanest Ports in the Nation” Op-Ed Highlights Significant Environmental Progress Made by Maritime Industry in Southern California:

PMSA President John McLaurin recently published a guest column in the Pacific Maritime Magazine focusing on the success of the ports’ clean air programs. He cites the numerous factors that contributed to these achievements in air quality such as: port policies, lease agreements, voluntary measures, regulations and an industry willingness to experiment with a variety of technologies, fuels and operational modifications.

In the column he poses a difficult question to regulators: Can anyone identify another industry sector that has achieved the immense amount of reduced emissions as effectively as California’s supply chain?

These reductions will continue as the supply chain transitions to more zero-emission technologies and fuels. However, as electric trucks are tested and further utilized, another question to policy makers:

What good is an electric or hydrogen vehicle if a charging or fueling unit cannot be found? The column urges legislators to remain practical as the progressive speed of innovation does not match the realistic timeline of implementation.

Let’s Get Social:

With your help, we were successful in showing the AQMD that their initial schedule to consider a draft Seaport ISR was much too ambitious and needed a lot of additional work. We need your on-going support to continue to keep the pressure on the AQMD. Below are a couple of social media posts that we would like you to share on your social media platforms. Remember to use the #NoCargoCap and #NoPortsISR hashtags so we can track all published posts.

.@SouthCoastAQMD delayed the Seaport ISR because they had ignored the obvious negative economic and employment impacts of the #PortsISR cautioned by more than 110 national, state & local groups who oppose the #PortsISR. #NoCargoCap #NoPortsISR

Both @PortofLA and @PortofLongBeach are making significant progress on emissions reductions - 90% for diesel particulate matter (DPM), 97% for sulfur oxides (SOx), 63% for nitrogen oxides (NOx)! A true success story of business working with the Ports and regulators to make progress. #NoPortsISR #NoCargoCap (include graphic)

If you know of anyone who should be added to this newsletter, please have them reach out to Natasha Villa at nvilla@pmsaship.com.