Cleaning Up Air Pollution from California's Ports Will Have to Wait Until Next Year

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

After threatening veto, Governor Schwarzenegger promises to work with Senator Lowenthal, author of SB 974, which would have imposed $30 fee on cargo containers to pay for reducing pollution

By Frank D. Russo

A major bill to clean up air pollution from California's ports--estimated by the California Air Resources Board to cause 2,400 deaths a year--on the verge of receiving what may have been final legislative passage, will not be considered on the Assembly floor as had been scheduled to take place in the waning days of this year's session. SB 974 by Senator Lowenthal, which faced a veto by Governor Schwarzenegger, was taken out of consideration by the Senator after a private meeting with the Governor.

There is good news and bad news here with this development on one of the top priorities for the environmental community in California which enthusiastically supported this measure in a coalition with health and other groups.

The good news is in the words of the joint statement issued by Schwarzenegger and Lowenthal:

Schwarzenegger said: “Our ports are an integral component of goods movement in and out of California. I support the concept of SB 974 and want to work together with Senator Lowenthal on the bill so it addresses the future of goods movement while also reducing environmental impacts. I look forward to working during the fall recess with the Senator, his fellow legislators and all interested parties to craft a solution that will protect California’s air quality and also facilitate the goods movement through California.”

Lowenthal respoinded: “I am pleased that the Governor understands the need to fund air quality improvements and rail infrastructure, especially grade separations. I accept the Governor’s offer to work together and make SB 974 a reality.”

The bad news is that we will have to wait until 2008, delaying by a year the effects of any deal that is struck to get the Governor's signature. Bills passed by the legislature generally do not take effect until the following January, so even if a decent bill ultimately emerges, it will not take effect until January of 2009.

And, given the major opposition to SB 974, which included Target, Walmart, Home Depot, and a long list of powerful interests in the state, it's not time to break out the Champaign. The stakes involved are not for the fainthearted--the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland are the first, second and fourth largest container ports in the country and account for just under 50% of all imports into the United States.