 The already massive Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are expected to triple the containers moved in the next 15 years, and even quadruple in the next 20 years. In order to handle the increase in volume, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have aggressively begun to expand and improve port docking, transportation and warehouse facilities. To date, 84 expansion projects are being planned and developed. The Port of Long Beach is governed by a Board of Harbor Commissioners which sets policy and direction for the port staff headed by an executive director. The POLB Board of Harbor Commissioners, appointed by the Long Beach mayor, consists of President Mario Cordero, Mike Walter, Doris Topsy-Elvord, James Hankla, and Nick Sramek. Port of Long Beach’s Executive Director is Richard Steinke. Similarly, the Port of Los Angeles is governed by a Board of Harbor Commissioners which is appointed by the mayor of Los Angeles. Currently, the Harbor Commissioners are President S. David Freeman, Vice President Jerilyn Lopez Mendoza, Kaylynn Kim, Douglas Krause, and Joseph Radisich. Port of Los Angeles’ Executive Director who oversees the port staff and executives the Harbor Commissions policy mandates is Geraldine Knatz. Every proposed port expansion project must develop an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The report is subject to a public comment period, and must identify a project's impact on the environment and offer plans to address negative environmental impacts. EIRs are an opportunity to ensure all environmental and public health risks are addressed and that the cleanest available, and lowest carbon emitting technologies and infrastructure are used during port expansion. Additionally, all projects must comply with the emission standards established by the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP). CAAP includes initiatives to reduce the emissions from trucks, trains, ships, cargo handling equipment and harbor craft, and port infrastructure. We see the CAAP as setting the “floor” not the “ceiling” of environmental standards, and will educate, collaborate and advocate for the cleanest available policies, and those with the potential to shift us towards an eventual zero-carbon, and non-polluting port and goods movement complex.
At full build-out, the proposed expansion of Trans Pacific Container Services, Inc. (TraPac) terminal at the Port of Los Angeles will be like dropping the container capacity of the Port of Houston into the Port of Los Angeles—and that’s just for this one terminal. TraPac is but one port expansion project in the pipeline of 84 projects. Its severe environmental and public health impacts set off a stormy response by community stakeholders who refused to give the greenlight for the expansion that would further impact already overburdened port communities and environment. After a number of environmental, community, and labor groups, including Communities for Clean Ports, appealed TraPac’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to the Los Angeles City Council, these groups were successful in negotiating an agreement with the Port of Los Angeles. This agreement mandates the Port of Los Angeles to set aside a $50 million fund, taken from a portion of Port profits, to pay for community safeguards against toxic pollution—such as air filters for port community schools and double paned windows for residents. In exchange, these stakeholders agree to not sue the Port over TraPac’s EIR, further delaying the project. We will continue to monitor the TraPac expansion project and other expansion projects, pushing for cleaner technology and the path toward a low carbon and eventual zero-carbon port future. Related Impacts
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- Health costs to Californians, so far this year, of port related pollution in California.
The Ports of LA Long Beach Clean Air Action Plan passed in November 2006, and 0 clean trucks service the ports.
Port Pollution Facts
- In Long Beach, 20% of children under 17 have been diagnosed with asthma - nearly twice the national average.
- $67 million: The cost of respiratory problems associated with ports in CA.
- Diesel Exhaust is responsible for 84% of the cancer risk from air pollution in the Southern California Air Basin.
- $19 BILLION: Cost on health system due to port pollution. average.
- Each day the Port of LA emits over 30 tons of NOx, while a half a million cars emits less than 24 tons and the average power plant emits less than 5 tons.
- 2,400 - Estimated number of premature deaths caused by diesel emissions.
- 800,000: Number of children that pollution reduction could save from lung disease.
- Each day the Port of Los Angeles emits over 30 tons of NOx, while a half a million cars emits less than 24 tons and the average power plant emits less than 5 tons.
Ports of Los Angeles & Long Beach
