Posted on 12/08/2005 8:54:29 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - State air regulators on Thursday approved new regulations to curb pollution from cargo ships, cruise liners and other large vessels that enter state ports, making California one of the first states to regulate emissions from oceangoing ships.
The California Air Resources Board also passed new rules to reduce emissions from the cranes, fork lifts, tractors and trucks that move cargo at state ports. Both sets of regulations are scheduled to take effect in 2007.
Environmental groups praised the board's actions, but ship operators questioned whether California had the right to regulate ships beyond state waters.
The new regulations, unanimously approved by the six-member board in Sacramento, are aimed at cutting emissions at ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland and Stockton where increasing air pollution poses a health risk to workers and nearby residents.
"Clearly, the goal is to protect public health," agency spokesman Jerry Martin said. "We want to stem the public health threat as quickly and efficiently as we can."
One set of regulations will restrict emissions of particulates and gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the 1,900 oceangoing vessels that make 10,000 stops at California ports each year.
Ships will be required to switch from large diesel engines to smaller auxiliary engines that run on cleaner-burning fuel once they come within 24 miles from the California coast. The regulations were projected to reduce particulates by 75 percent and sulfur dioxides by more than 80 percent in 2007.
The regulations will apply to all ships calling at state ports, where an estimated 90 percent of the docking vessels are foreign.
The other set of regulations will require emissions reductions from cargo handling equipment and vehicles through cleaner fuels and other pollution control measures.
Environmental groups applauded the board's decision to regulate ship engine emissions at a time when state officials anticipate a dramatic increase in port traffic from ships carrying imports from China and other Asian nations.
"It's very good news for the air quality of California," said Teri Shore, clean vessels campaign director for the Bluewater Network. "These SUVs of the seas will now burn cleaner fuels in California waters, and fewer people will get sick or die prematurely so Americans can buy inexpensive shoes, clothes and computers."
The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, which represents 90 percent of the West Coast's cargo shipping business, supported the cargo handling regulations, but opposed the ship pollution regulations. PMSA officials said its members were already taking measures to reduce engine emissions, and the U.S. government - not individual states - should set regulations for oceangoing vessels.
"We have a fundamental problem with the fact that the state of California is trying to regulate extraterritorially," said Mike Jacob, a PMSA vice president. "They're trying to tell us how to operate beyond California."
The shipping association planned to voice its opposition during the 15-day public comment period.
The Air Resources Board earlier this month released a report that found that California's cargo industry produces enough pollution to cause 750 premature deaths each year and result in thousands of asthma attacks, lost work days and school absences.
Let's just stop shipping anything to Kalifornia. Let them get along on their own!
CARB=CRAP
I don't get this. Arnie, in pre-promotion of his big-bang-bond, talked of huge investments required in ports and highways for goods movement. Why invest if excessive regulations force ships to ports in other Pacific coast states (or Mexico)?
I totally see shipping moving to Mexico and Oregon. Cheaper labor costs and less hassles.
I worked almost thirty years in the Los Angeles/Long Beach harbors, and this isn't the first time this looney, overreaching regulatory commission has threatened this type of action. Not surprised to see it again. The shipping companies once again will simply start making arrangements to utilize Ensenada, Mexico, and ports in other States. Once that happens then all "H" breaks loose in Sacramento, and quiet discussions take place. We won't hear about this again for at least another ten years. Then the cycle starts all over again.
Yep, I can too. And I just read Schwarzenegger is about to support a hike in the minimum wage.
(snip)A third major issue--a new deal by legislative leaders in both parties to increase the minimum wage--is expected to be approved by the governor as part of a policy package he's developing for his January state of the state speech. That, too, is likely to draw fire from Republicans fearful of Kennedy's influence--even though insiders say the deal was reached just before she took over.
An interetsing mandate considering the following limitation to US authority, let alone the authority of a member state agency:
The limit of jurisdiction in the territorial seas is measured from the baseline in a seaward direction a distance of three nautical miles.
Thanks for the insight. And so the pendulum swings.
Unelected bureaucrats writing law is one of the chief traits of a totalitarian dictatorship.
What's the purpose of electing a legislature if unaccoutable bureaucrats can write laws to run the affairs of a state's citizens?
California should stop the farce of pretending it's a democratic republic and call itself the People's Socialist Dictatorship of California.
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