Published by One Sec Reporter on 16 Nov 2009 at 06:55 pm
East Coast Supports West Coast Clean Truck Program
Cited: TruckingInfo.com/ApparelNews.net
New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Newark Mayor Cory Booker have announced their support of the Port of Los Angeles’ Clean Truck Program, and have urged Congress to update the law to allow all ports to implement such programs.
“Today, I am calling on Congress to support legislation that will empower ports to implement the LA Clean Truck Program, an innovative initiative that will create good, green jobs and improve the quality of the air that New Yorkers breathe,” said Bloomberg.
Earlier this week Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums also expressed his willingness to educate Congress on the need to amend the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, which prohibits states and local governments from regulating the trucking industry.
“Newark’s residents and port workers disproportionately bear hazards from pollution caused by outdated diesel trucks that transfer cargo shipments,” said Booker. “I applaud the Port Authority efforts to enhance air quality such as their program to replace over 600 of the oldest most polluting trucks with newer models, but much more needs to be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. I urge Congress to support changes in federal legislation that would enhance the ability of our nation’s ports to effectuate policies to improve air quality and protect public health.”
The Port of Los Angeles announced earlier this month that the program is on track to reduce truck-related emissions by 80%, two years ahead of schedule. Since inception, the program has purged the roads of more than 2,000 polluting trucks, with more than 5,500 clean trucks in operation today.
As part of the Los Angeles Clean Truck Program, owner-operators are banned from servicing the port, a provision for which the American Trucking Associations has obtained a temporary injunction. The Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports charges the injunction has caused large trucking companies to transfer the cost and maintenance of the clean technology to its individual contract drivers.
“We must have a federal framework that allows local port authorities to implement market-based solutions to replicate LA’s clean-air successes on both coasts and create a level-playing field for responsible businesses ready to compete and grow in a green economy,” said Amy Goldsmith, the state director of the New Jersey Environmental Federation.
In addition to the mayors in California, New York and New Jersey, the Los Angeles Clean Truck Program has received public endorsements from then-Senator Barack Obama; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein; 31 House California Democrats; Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-N.J.); and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.); and New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine.
Picking up and dropping off cargo containers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will soon get easier. Starting Nov. 15, cargo hauled by clean trucks will no longer have to pre-pay a clean-truck fee and then be reimbursed for it. The new, simplified process came after a number of meetings were held between officials at the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Los Angeles and the West Coast Marine Terminals Operators Association.
Under the new system, cargo owners using trucks that comply with 2007 emissions standards will no longer pre-pay the clean-truck fee. Only cargo owners using older, more polluting trucks will pre-pay the fee, which is $35 per 20-foot container and $70 per 40-foot container. Cargo moved by train is exempt from the fees.
Since the Clean Trucks Program was launched at the two ports on Oct. 1, 2008, 85% of all containers moved through the Port of Long Beach and 66% of containers moved through the Port of Los Angeles are done with clean trucks.
The program is attempting to reduce diesel fuel emissions that come from cargo container-hauling trucks by some 80% by the year 2012. Companies need to purchase newer and cleaner trucks and the clean truck fees are used to help those companies.
————————–
My Take: I am glad to see that some companies are actually trying to help the environment. Now if they could do the same thing with the trucks that are cross country that would really be impressive. Then they should start on the city buses. I know a lot of city buses now run on natural gas, but there is still some that you do not want to be sitting behind a stoplight.
I see more and more that people are becoming more conscious of our environmental problems. I just hope that it is not too little too late and all the horror stories we keep hearing from scientists will not come true. All we have to do is take a look at the weather and we can see something different each year.
I live in Phoenix Arizona where the summers are hot and the winters are almost cold. However, this summer it was hotter than normal and summer lasted longer. We have had temperatures in the 90s in October and November, which is not normal. At this time of the year we are usually in the 70s and 80s. To make it even weirder, one day we had temperatures almost to the 90s and the next two days were down in the 60s and then back up into the 80s and 90s. A ruddy hair was talking about the effects of global warming after that.
—————————–
Other Resources
Soft Skin
Do you want products that are ethically produced, and that help promote a cleaner planet? One company offers trusted brands that do not contain potentially harmful synthetic chemicals and are never tested on animals like organic moisturizers. They come from natural ingredients that are healthier for you, healthier for the planet. They offer only organic and natural beauty products from reputable manufacturers with a track record of purity, quality, and efficacy.
Iowa Oil Filtration Performance
The single most important aspect that this company will add to your current operation is the ability to support your facility in a maintenance response capacity. They will measure and strive to continuously improve operations that include Iowa light truck tires and lubrication solutions. Their industrial service program typically targets product cost reductions associated with environmental hazards, used oil disposal and lubricant performance. You should find out how they can help reduce unscheduled downtime, extend Iowa commercial lubricants and component life and reduce disposal cost!