Suit filed over L.A. clean trucks pact

Suit filed over L.A. clean trucks pact    Two environmental groups said they have filed a lawsuit against the Port of Long Beach claiming the port entered into a “backroom deal” with the American Trucking Associations as part of its clean air program.
   The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Sierra Club filed the lawsuit in state court, according to the Associated Press, claiming the port and city violated state law requiring public involvement and an environmental review before reaching an agreement with the ATA.
   The two groups announced the lawsuit on the same day that Nick Sramek, president of the Port of Long Beach Commissioners, said the agency was close to meeting its 2012 clean air goal two years ahead of schedule.
   The port said about 90 percent of all trucks calling at its facilities now have engines that meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2007 emissions standards, for a pollution reduction of nearly 80 percent since the program began in 2008.
   In October 2008 the port banned trucks built before 1989, and at the start of 2010, all 1993 and older drayage trucks, as well as unretrofitted 1994-2003 trucks, are banned.
   The port noted that following the California Air Resources Board's lead, the deadline has been extended until April 30 for about 1,300 trucks in Southern California awaiting grants for new equipment and another 250 truck that have been ordered but not yet delivered.
   On Jan. 1, 2012 all trucks entering port shipping facilities will have to meet EPA 2007 standards.
   ATA said it has not seen the lawsuit, but spokesman Clayton Boyce said, “the legal issues that the NRDC raises in their press release have already been considered and rejected as baseless by the City of Long Beach.”
   “The settlement agreement between the ATA and Long Beach did not make any change that would reduce, let alone reverse, the port’s progress in cleaning the air,” the trucking group said. “What is cleaning the air is the progressive banning of older trucks. The settlement agreement with the ATA gives the Port of Long Beach everything it needs, and everything it wanted, to continue banning older trucks.” ' Chris Dupin