South Coast AQMD is beginning a public process to develop an Indirect Source Rule (Proposed Rule 2304) to reduce air pollution from local commercial marine ports. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the two busiest marine container ports in the nation and the largest emissions source in the South Coast region. 

The South Coast AQMD Governing Board had directed staff to work with the Ports on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) until February 4, 2022, and then shift efforts to develop a rule if no agreement was reached. Although the Port of Long Beach’s MOU proposal did include a number of clean air investments, the Ports’ overall proposals did not provide sufficient measures to 
reduce emissions. The Ports’ proposal also did not allow for enforceability should the agreed upon actions not be implemented. 

Air pollution associated with goods movement affects public health throughout the region and disproportionately impacts neighboring communities. Many of the sources causing this pollution are primarily regulated by the federal government, and additional actions at the national level are still urgently needed to provide healthy air for the South Coast region. To start the rulemaking process, South Coast AQMD will conduct working group meetings, community meetings and stakeholder outreach to seek input for potential rule concepts. 

Rule development is expected to take 12 to 18 months before it is presented to the Governing Board for their consideration.