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Cleaning up at the Ports

California ports are major contributors to air pollution

Update: Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 974 on September 30, 2008.

The ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland handle almost 50 percent of U.S. imports and exports. By 2020, the volume of goods moving through these ports is expected to triple. Goods are transported from the ports primarily by diesel fueled trucks, ships and trains. As a result, ports and freight transport operations will soon be the largest source of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions in the state, producing more diesel PM than all passenger vehicles, off-road equipment and stationary sources combined. The hundreds of tons of pollutants emitted at the ports per day puts nearby communities at unacceptable levels of risk.

Senate Bill 974 (Lowenthal) will improve air quality and reduce health-related problems in port communities by funding pollution relief and other needed improvements. SB 974 will place a nominal $30 fee on each shipping container entering the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland—$15 each for pollution mitigation and rail improvements. The funding mechanism will allow the three ports to remain the leading economic engine in the state of California: a 2006 study shows that the ports would experience minimal or no impact with a $30 container fee, especially taking growth projections into account. The minimal added cost that might be passed on to consumers is also inconsequential—not even pennies on the dollar—and is far outweighed by the undeniable health benefits.

It is estimated that there is a 1 in 700 increased cancer risk in port communities. This rate is far above the 1-in-one-million risk level considered acceptable by the U.S. EPA. Children and the elderly are most at risk. According to a report by the California Air Resources Board (ARB), air pollution from the ports causes 3,400 premature deaths annually. The ARB also estimates that over the next 15 years polluting activity from operations at California's ports will cost the state approximately $200 billion. Moreover, southern California is at risk of losing $12.1 billion in federal highway funds if federal Clean Air Act standards are not met. So far, the Los Angeles Air Basin has failed to meet national standards for ozone or for particulate emissions.

SB 974 is supported by environmentalists as well as labor, health, and environmental justice groups. Given the importance of ports in California commerce, and the risks posed by the predominant use of cancer-causing diesel at port facilities, we must take action to reduce toxic emissions at ports.

What You Can Do

Update: Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 974 on September 30, 2008.

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