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Efforts to lower emissions are ever present at the Port of Long Beach.  On Tuesday, February 19th, port officials voted on a plan that would cut truck-related emissions.  The plan?  Official’s intentions were to allow trucking companies to continue to employ their own drivers (instead of having the shipping companies do so).  The agreement would also allow truckers to hire independent drivers as well.  Officials in favor of this agreement found it most beneficial to the port’s timeline than anything else. 

Those not in favor?  Environmentalists, truckers, and the Port of Los Angeles to name a few.  Environmentalists, especially the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), feel this plan is not enough to lower emissions or make significant improvements to the environment surrounding the port. 

Truckers were dealt the blow of financial responsibility in terms of upgrading all the vehicles that pass through the port (some 16,000 on a regular basis) to ensure they meet environmental standards.  In addition to the costs of retrofitting and purchasing hundreds of fleets, trucker must manage drivers to make certain they’re compliant with regulations as well.

Finally, the Port of Los Angeles was essentially ignored throughout this entire process.  Long Beach’s neighboring port objected the vote, claiming both ports needed to agree on a plan that would ensure trucks passing through either port were compliant.  Now, there is the possibility Los Angeles Port will adopt an entirely different policy, which would prevent  the entry of Port of Long Beach trucks.

The Los Angeles Times reported today that the plan was approved by Long Beach Port officials - an approval inciting disapproval among many.