BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2042
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Date of Hearing: April 21, 2004
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Judy Chu, Chair
AB 2042 (Lowenthal) - As Amended: April 1, 2004
Policy Committee: Transportation
Vote: 8-6
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: Yes
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a process for restricting future air
pollution generated by activities at the Ports of Long Beach and
Los Angeles. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires the South Coast Air Quality Management District
(SCAQMD) to establish an air quality baseline for the Ports of
Long Beach and Los Angeles based on the ports' emission
inventory for 2001 and 2002, respectively.
2)Requires the City of Long Beach and the City of Los Angeles to
require growth and operations at their respective ports to be
limited or controlled in a manner that prevents air pollution
at each port from exceeding the baselines.
3)Requires each of these cities, starting March 1, 2006 and on
March 1st annually thereafter, to report to the SCAQMD
regarding compliance with the requirements of #2, above.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Minor one-time costs, less than $50,000 in FY 2004-05, to the
SCAQMD to establish the ports' air quality baselines; these
costs are potentially covered by fees the SCAQMD is authorized
to impose on the Cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles. (Local
funds.)
2)Minor costs, probably less than an aggregate of $100,000
annually starting in FY 2005-06, to the Cities of Long Beach
and Los Angeles to report to the SCAQMD on their compliance
with the bill's air quality baseline requirements; these costs
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are reimbursable from the state. (GF)
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The author argues that emissions of air pollutants
at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, primarily those
resulting from fuels burned by large vessels, equipment, and
trucks at port facilities, contribute significantly to air
quality degradation in adjacent communities and the Los
Angeles Air Basin. Since projections indicate economic growth
and increased foreign trade activity are likely to increase
activities at these ports in the years to come, the author
believes it important to closely and continually monitor the
level of emissions resulting for port activity and to ensure
that the ports' contribution to air quality degradation does
not increase.
2)Sources of Emissions . Sources of air pollutants emitted from
these ports include primarily diesel emissions from
ocean-going vessels and harbor craft, cargo handling
equipment, locomotives, and commercial and private vehicles.
Activities at these ports include industrial, commercial,
recreational and fishing operations. Facilities include
automobile, container, and lumber terminals, liquid and dry
bulk facilities, cruise, trade and passenger traffic
facilities, commercial fishing facilities, fish canneries,
shipyards, and boat repair yards, and marinas for pleasure
craft, sport fishing boats, and charter vessels.
3)Air Quality Improvement Efforts . The Port of Long Beach has
an Air Quality Improvement Program designed to achieve
measurable long-term reductions in air pollution, primarily
from diesel emissions. The primary focus of these emission
reduction efforts is on diesel emissions from tenant- and
port-owned equipment and locomotives. The program promotes
the use of alternative fuels and vehicles and equipment with
cleaner-burning engines. The program also seeks to make
infrastructure and operational improvements to reduce diesel
emissions resulting from truck traffic congestion.
The Port of Los Angeles has pursued several specific programs
and actions to reduce the emission of air pollutants from its
port activities: channel deepening so the port can
accommodate larger ships and reduce total ship visits;
installation of diesel oxidation catalysts in the engines of
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equipment such as yard tractors, side and top picks,
forklifts, and transtainers, shoreside electrical power
provided to container vessels while at dock, vessel speed
reduction, and tugboat retrofitting.
4)No Penalties . While this bill requires the Cities of Long
Beach and Los Angeles to require growth and operations at its
ports to be undertaken in a manner that does not increase air
pollution above their ports' respective 2001 and 2002 baseline
levels, this bill does not impose any penalties for
noncompliance.
Analysis Prepared by : Steve Archibald / APPR. / (916)
319-2081