East Coast Leaders Endorse LA Port Clean Truck Program

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Newark Mayor Cory Booker have announced their support of the Port of Los Angeles' Clean Truck Program, and have urged Congress to update the law to allow all ports to implement such programs.

"Today, I am calling on Congress to support legislation that will empower ports to implement the LA Clean Truck Program, an innovative initiative that will create good, green jobs and improve the quality of the air that New Yorkers breathe," said Bloomberg.

Earlier this week Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums also expressed his willingness to educate Congress on the need to amend the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, which prohibits states and local governments from regulating the trucking industry.

"Newark's residents and port workers disproportionately bear hazards from pollution caused by outdated diesel trucks that transfer cargo shipments," said Booker. "I applaud the Port Authority efforts to enhance air quality such as their program to replace over 600 of the oldest most polluting trucks with newer models, but much more needs to be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. I urge Congress to support changes in federal legislation that would enhance the ability of our nation's ports to effectuate policies to improve air quality and protect public health."

The Port of Los Angeles announced earlier this month that the program is on track to reduce truck-related emissions by 80 percent, two years ahead of schedule. Since inception, the program has purged the roads of more than 2,000 polluting trucks, with more than 5,500 clean trucks in operation today.

As part of the Los Angeles Clean Truck Program, owner-operators are banned from servicing the port, a provision for which the American Trucking Associations has obtained a temporary injunction. The Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports charges the injunction has caused large trucking companies to transfer the cost and maintenance of the clean technology to its individual contract drivers.

"We must have a federal framework that allows local port authorities to implement market-based solutions to replicate LA's clean-air successes on both coasts and create a level-playing field for responsible businesses ready to compete and grow in a green economy," said Amy Goldsmith, the state director of the New Jersey Environmental Federation.

In addition to the mayors in California, New York and New Jersey, the Los Angeles Clean Truck Program has received public endorsements from then-Senator Barack Obama; Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein; 31 House California Democrats; Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-N.J.); and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.); and New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine.