Port Indirect Source Rule
Newsletter 3
Dear Friend:
This newsletter is distributed to those groups and individuals who have expressed interest and/or concerns about the Ports ISR updated on key developments. As a complement to this newsletter we are also launching the website NoPortsISR.com as an additional avenue to keep the public informed about Port ISR issues. We hope to see you online soon.
PMSA & ILWU Co-Author Op-Ed Opposing Ports ISR
On Sunday, October 29th, the Southern California News Group (SCNG) published an op-ed titled, We can preserve the Ports, and clean the air, for California’s future. The piece circulated in all 11 of the SCNG’s publications, including the Los Angeles Daily News and The OC Register.
Labor and business joined forces for the op-ed, as both Sal Dicostanzo of ILWU Local 13 and Thomas Jelenić of PMSA shared their vision for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The opinion piece reiterates the San Pedro Bay is an economic engine that provides vital jobs and necessary goods to the people of this nation. The authors celebrated the Ports’ commitment to emission reduction, as some emission categories have decreased up to 97% from 2005 levels.
The supply chain is the only local industry remaining in the San Pedro Bay that supports middle-class union jobs.
The op-ed reiterates that if SCAQMD staff is successful in implementing an Indirect Source Rule, thousands of manufacturing and supply chain jobs will be lost due to hard emissions caps and forced diversion of cargo from our ports to other markets.
PMSA and ILWU are united in urging regulators to work with stakeholders, setting aside a potential ISR in favor of a negotiated Memorandum of Understanding, as SCAQMD staff previously negotiated with railroads and airports. “We will reach a better resolution by collaborating, when thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic impact for Port communities, California and the United States are at stake.”
Op-ed on Regulatory Challenges for Ports
John McLaurin, the President of Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA), recently spoke at a dinner hosted by the Southern California Property’s Association. The Journal of Commerce asked to publish his recent speech as an opinion editorial.
The piece, California’s supply chain partners face ‘challenging future’, focuses on various obstacles of the industry such as regulatory policies and infrastructure capabilities. Billions are being spent to invest in cleaner ships and locomotives; however, technology is outpacing the electrical grid. Furthermore, lawmakers are failing to provide counterbalancing support for businesses. He explains members of PMSA have begun investing in other states and many statewide trucking companies have started to relocate due to California’s stringent environmental objectives.
The opinion piece urges lawmakers to rethink the current approach to public policy and to work with stakeholders to find solutions for all involved. He continues, “Environmental goals and job creation are not mutually exclusive. This effort has to be led jointly by environmental groups, labor unions and the business community.” The op-ed concludes, calling on the private sector to lead the effort in order to collective engineer a better future.
We’ve launched our new website dedicated to the Ports Indirect Source Rule. Please use this website, in addition to this newsletter, as a valuable resource for staying informed about the proposed Ports ISR rule. Visit NoPortISR.com to learn more and take action.
Let’s Get Social:
Your voice has already been critical to informing the SCAQMD Staff and Board on the harmful impacts of the proposed Ports ISR. But we need your on-going support. Below are a couple of 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.
.@PortofLA and @PortofLongBeach are vital to #California’s economy. By imposing an ISR @SouthCoastAQMD regulators will eliminate thousands of jobs and cause irreparable harm to our state’s economic growth. #NoPortsISR #NoCargoCap
.@SouthCoastAQMD More than 110 local, state & national groups have signed on to oppose the #PortsISR. Yet, @SouthCoastAQMD regulators choose to ignore the devastating economic and employment impacts this rule would have on our nation’s supply chain. #NoPortsISR #NoCargoCap
If you know of anyone who should be added to this newsletter, please have them reach out to Natasha Villa at nvilla@pmsaship.com.