Posted on 03/28/2011 6:05:39 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court rejected a shipping industry challenge Monday to California's offshore air pollution rules requiring vessels to use low-sulfur fuel within 24 miles of the coast, standards that the court said would save about 3,500 lives over six years while modestly increasing shipping costs.
The ruling by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco is a milestone in California's efforts to curb a significant source of hazardous emissions.
Low-grade bunker fuel from ships has a sulfur content more than 1,600 times as high as diesel fuel for trucks and exposes 80 percent of the state's population to pollutants linked to cancer, respiratory ailments and heart disease, the court said.
The state Air Resources Board adopted the restrictions in July 2009 for ships that cross the 24-mile threshold while bound for California ports. The board estimated that its rules would reduce sulfur oxide emissions by 90 percent and prevent nearly 100,000 cases of asthma and 3,500 premature deaths by 2015.
The board estimated industry costs at $30,000 for each vessel reaching port, or $1.4 billion through the end of 2014. Broken down by cargo, the rules would add 12.5 cents to the cost of a plasma TV and one-seventh of a cent to a pair of athletic shoes, the court said.
The state regulations will be superseded in 2015 by similar restrictions imposed nationwide by the federal government, extending 200 miles offshore.
The Pacific Merchant Shipping Association successfully challenged an earlier version of the California regulations in 2008. The association argued in this case that federal law establishes state boundaries at three miles beyond the coast and prohibits air pollution regulations any farther offshore.
But the court said the air board is not trying to extend California's borders, ..
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Is this why some of the cruise lines are moving out?
Evidence?
Isn't that the mainstay of courts? Evidence?
"On Thursday, Carnival Cruise Lines announced it will move Elation from Mobile, Ala., to Port Canaveral, Fla., so the ship can spend more time in international waters."
All shipping needs to divert to other ports. See how long this ruling lasts...
Judicial, Regulatory and Legislative Insanity. Death of a Nation by Psychosis.
Unfortunately that messy part about “all enemies, foreign and domestic” is probably going to become a reality in my lifetime.
They are already diverting some ships to mexico. This should add a few more.
This is too easy. They can just burn low sulfur whale oil. Duh.
Too bad the loony SFGate could not remember their own story how the air board missed diesel emissions pollution estimate in question and was too high – by 340 percent.
Guess California will be soon slipping under waves of red, earthquake or not.
I would love to see the major industries in this country man up and grow a pair!!! Imagine if the shipping industry, the car industry or the oil industry came out and said “Ok you win, we know that the state of CA hates us because we are evil so we will no longer do business in CA!” Just stop selling gasoline, cars and shipping to the state. It would sure as hell hurt the state but it would really open allot of eyes!!!
Man up boys!! It’s only one state bring them to their knees!!! Let the commies in the 49 other states see what the citizens can do. Give the Left a taste of their own medicine.
Pipe dream’in.
I can’t wait for the leg to regulate Chinese coal-fired power plants. Those have a far worse effect here than ships offshore.
From one Italian to another!! I hear you brother!! However I’m glad that you didn’t say a Lewinsky!!!!! LMAO!!!!!
You are correct. Mexico is building huge ports just south of the border and thanks to Oboma will be allowed to truck the cargo into the US. Between the cost of the ILA (international Longshoreman’s Association - Union) and the enviro nut cases, California will loose a lot of income.
Ship’s going to mexico will also hurt those who supply parts, food, and other services for ships.
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