Top Priority Port Air Quality Legislation Headed For Key California Assembly Vote, Perhaps Tomorrow

By Tina Andolina
Legislative Director
Planning and Conservation League

After months of waiting, SB 974 (Lowenthal), the Clean Ports Investment Bill, will come up for a vote in the State Assembly tomorrow. SB 974 is the most important piece of legislation currently before the Legislature to improve the state’s air quality.

By collecting $30 for each shipping container processed at the ports, SB 974 provides a consistent stream of funding to address the severe air pollution caused by the movement of goods into our state’s three main ports.

Operations at the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland and related freight transport generate 30% of the statewide emissions of nitrogen oxide (a smog-forming pollutant) and 75% of all diesel particulate matter pollution. These pollutants contribute to increased rates of asthma, respiratory disease, and premature death. In fact, diesel pollution is the worst toxic air contaminant in California, responsible for 70% of the state’s air pollution-related cancer risk.

California’s seaports are vital to our economy. Cleaning them up is vital to our health.

Trade is expected to triple in less than 20 years. Today, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the largest source of diesel pollution in the South Coast Air Basin. Without cleaner technology and infrastructure improvements, the California goods movement system may not be equipped to handle this increased trade.

According to the California Air Resources Board, each year air pollution from freight transportation causes

• 3,700 Californians to die prematurely—(more than 10 a day)
• 2,830 Californians to be admitted to the hospital—(more than 7 a day)
• 360,000 Californians to miss work—(more than 1,300 per work day), and
• 1.1 million California children to miss school—(more than 6,000 per school day).

Neighborhoods adjacent to our state’s three large ports and connecting freight routes are hardest hit by air pollution. These are often low-income communities of color. For example, the community surrounding the Port of Oakland is 93% people of color and has a median income of just over $21,000.

SB 974 is the best chance we have to raise the necessary funding to bring these numbers down and protect public health. Last August, Senator Lowenthal and the bill’s supporters were ready to ask for a vote on the Assembly Floor. However, Governor Schwarzenegger asked the Senator to work with his advisors and parties on both sides of the bill to try to develop a compromise measure.

Comments

Posted by: Mark at July 15, 2008 11:21 PM

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