Post by dockworker on Apr 16, 2009 6:42:43 GMT -5
Clean-air policy a problem for some Port of Seattle truckers
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
By GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News
Video: Port of Seattle wants to get rid of older polluting diesel trucks
www.king5.com/business/stories/NW_041409BUB-trucks-port-KS.d61a82c1.html
SEATTLE - Every day hundreds of trucks take goods to and from the Port of Seattle.
Trucker Habtu Habtemical is part of the daily grind. But a new clean air plan leaves his future in the trucking industry in doubt.
Today port commissioners voted for a plan to get rid of the older trucks that create pollution.
"This is part of a much larger project to clean up the air connected with the maritime industry, so trucks, cargo handling equipment, ships ... today it's largely focused on trucks," said Wayne Grotheer, of the Port of Seattle.
The port wants to get rid of older, higher polluting diesel trucks that serve the port. Owners of trucks older than 1994 models will not be allowed in.
The port will offer those drivers $8,000 or fair market value to help them get into new trucks.
Habtu's truck is a 1988 Freightliner with a rebuilt engine, but it's still not going to comply with the new regulations. He may get $8,000 for it, but that's not going to replace it.
"This is my truck that I'm making a living with," Habtemical said. "I make my mortgage and I have three kids to raise."
KING
Habtu Habtemical's truck is a 1988 Freightliner with a rebuilt engine, but it's not going to comply with the new regulations.
Other drivers and clean air advocates packed the Port Council Chambers today to demand the big maritime companies, not individual truckers and taxpayers, should pay for environmental upgrades
But the port argues it has to protect the air for all 12,000 people working at the port. They say they are forced to meet tough new clean air standards to remain competitive in the world maritime industry.
That leaves a few hundred truck drivers like Habtu stuck in the middle of the changing face of international trade.
The port believes about 200 of the 1,800 or so trucks that operate there will not meet the new plan, which was approved today and will be phased in during the next year.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
By GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News
Video: Port of Seattle wants to get rid of older polluting diesel trucks
www.king5.com/business/stories/NW_041409BUB-trucks-port-KS.d61a82c1.html
SEATTLE - Every day hundreds of trucks take goods to and from the Port of Seattle.
Trucker Habtu Habtemical is part of the daily grind. But a new clean air plan leaves his future in the trucking industry in doubt.
Today port commissioners voted for a plan to get rid of the older trucks that create pollution.
"This is part of a much larger project to clean up the air connected with the maritime industry, so trucks, cargo handling equipment, ships ... today it's largely focused on trucks," said Wayne Grotheer, of the Port of Seattle.
The port wants to get rid of older, higher polluting diesel trucks that serve the port. Owners of trucks older than 1994 models will not be allowed in.
The port will offer those drivers $8,000 or fair market value to help them get into new trucks.
Habtu's truck is a 1988 Freightliner with a rebuilt engine, but it's still not going to comply with the new regulations. He may get $8,000 for it, but that's not going to replace it.
"This is my truck that I'm making a living with," Habtemical said. "I make my mortgage and I have three kids to raise."
KING
Habtu Habtemical's truck is a 1988 Freightliner with a rebuilt engine, but it's not going to comply with the new regulations.
Other drivers and clean air advocates packed the Port Council Chambers today to demand the big maritime companies, not individual truckers and taxpayers, should pay for environmental upgrades
But the port argues it has to protect the air for all 12,000 people working at the port. They say they are forced to meet tough new clean air standards to remain competitive in the world maritime industry.
That leaves a few hundred truck drivers like Habtu stuck in the middle of the changing face of international trade.
The port believes about 200 of the 1,800 or so trucks that operate there will not meet the new plan, which was approved today and will be phased in during the next year.