Post by porttalk on Nov 11, 2008 16:00:52 GMT -5
Press-telegram
Lawsuit Filed over Attempt by FMC to block Clean Trucks Plan
By Art Marroquin
11/10/2008
Three environmental groups filed a lawsuit Monday in federal court alleging that the Federal Maritime Commission violated environmental laws when it sought to block the Clean Trucks Program at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and the Coalition for Clean Air claim that the FMC failed to consider the public's health and environmental damage that would result from its intervention.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach launched the $1.6 billion Clean Trucks Program on Oct. 1, when trucks built before 1989 were banned from entering the
harbor. Port officials hope to reduce diesel truck emissions by 80 percent by requiring all big rigs to comply with 2007 federal emissions standards within five years.
The FMC last month criticized the ports' provision to require freight haulers to obtain "concession contracts" to access harbor terminals. The federal agency is also trying to block the Port of Los Angeles from requiring freight haulers to hire drivers as employees, which would lead to a gradual ban on independent owner-operator truckers within five years.
Lawsuit Filed over Attempt by FMC to block Clean Trucks Plan
By Art Marroquin
11/10/2008
Three environmental groups filed a lawsuit Monday in federal court alleging that the Federal Maritime Commission violated environmental laws when it sought to block the Clean Trucks Program at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and the Coalition for Clean Air claim that the FMC failed to consider the public's health and environmental damage that would result from its intervention.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach launched the $1.6 billion Clean Trucks Program on Oct. 1, when trucks built before 1989 were banned from entering the
harbor. Port officials hope to reduce diesel truck emissions by 80 percent by requiring all big rigs to comply with 2007 federal emissions standards within five years.
The FMC last month criticized the ports' provision to require freight haulers to obtain "concession contracts" to access harbor terminals. The federal agency is also trying to block the Port of Los Angeles from requiring freight haulers to hire drivers as employees, which would lead to a gradual ban on independent owner-operator truckers within five years.