|
Long Beach port expansion moves closer to a vote
2009/4/3
The Port of Long Beach is expected to release the final environmental impact report today on a 10-year, US$750-million harbour expansion that would accommodate the world''s largest ships, reinforce the nation''s Pacific Rim trade and create 14,000 permanent local jobs, the Los Angeles Times reported.
If all goes according to plan, work on the massive Middle Harbour project could begin as early as December.
Environmentalists and health advocates are demanding a number of revisions and at least $5 million worth of mitigation measures to counter the project''s side effects: heavy truck traffic, excessive noise and light, air pollution and higher rates of respiratory disease and cancer.
But with the unemployment rate hitting nearly 11 percent in Los Angeles County, supporters of the project believe that in upcoming debates the prospects of large-scale industrial growth will carry more weight than the potential environmental impacts.
Critics, many of whom complained about having only 10 days to review the voluminous impact report, were preparing to challenge the project.
State air quality and health experts say 2,400 premature deaths a year are linked to emissions from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Complicating matters is the possibility that a federal judge could throw out provisions of a new clean-truck program.
The American Trucking Association argued the program imposed an unfair economic burden and violated federal law.
The program is subsidised by fees ranging from $15 to $30 for each shipping container that truckers move through the ports.
Port authorities say the project is designed to prepare the harbour for economic boom times, improve its competitive position and implement measures developed in the face of threatened lawsuits to force the ports to cut pollution.
In phases, it would combine two terminals that are too old, inefficient and dirty to meet the port''s goals for pollution reduction and enhanced production. It would deepen waters to handle large cargo vessels and would provide on-dock rail service. In addition, ships would be able to turn off their auxiliary diesel engines and plug into dockside electrical power.
|
2009/4/3