| Oct. 24, 2006 The future
of air quality in the ports area will be the focus of two special meetings
hosted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District at Long Beach City
Hall on Nov. 2 and
Nov. 3.
“Goods movement starting at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
generate massive emissions throughout the region,” said William A. Burke,
Ed.D., AQMD Governing Board Chairman. “This is a significant public health
and environmental justice issue of the highest priority.”
The timely meetings will take place as the ports consider adopting and
implementing the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan.
On Thursday, Nov. 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., AQMD Board Member and
Long Beach City Council Member Tonia Reyes Uranga will chair a town hall
meeting. After a brief presentation on AQMD’s programs to monitor and reduce
emissions at the ports, the public will have the opportunity to voice their
opinions about air pollution generated by the movement of goods through the
ports, among other issues of concern. Refreshments will be served and
those attending are asked to RSVP by November 1 by calling Vanessa Totten at
(310) 557-3045 or sending an e-mail to
vanessa@ororkepr.com.
On Friday, November 3, starting at 9 a.m., AQMD Board Chair Burke will
preside over the second Mobile Board Meeting in Long Beach in a year.
During the meeting, AQMD staff will brief its Governing Board on the
recently released draft Air Quality Management Plan, which outlines measures
for reducing emissions from all sources, including the ports.
Both meetings will take place in the City Council Chambers at Long Beach
City Hall, 333 West Ocean Blvd.
The aggregated smog-forming and toxic diesel emissions from the ships,
trains, trucks and equipment at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles
represent the largest single fixed source of air pollution in the Los
Angeles Basin. Collectively, sources at the port are responsible for more
than 100 tons per day of smog- and particulate-forming nitrogen oxides –
more than the daily emissions from all 6 million-plus cars in the region.
Ships alone are responsible for 50 tons per day of smog-forming nitrogen
oxides, and their emissions are expected to nearly triple by 2020 due to
increasing trade traffic.
Sources operating in the ports area also contribute nearly one-quarter of
all diesel particulate matter emissions in the region. Diesel emissions are
responsible for about 70 percent of the total cancer risk from air
pollution. According to the California Air Resources Board, statewide air
pollution from goods movement, including the ports, is responsible for an
estimated 2,500 premature deaths each year.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
-#-
|
