PORT OF LOS ANGELES HONORED IN ENVIRONMENT NOW’S ‘TOP ACHIEVEMENTS REPORT’ FOR CLEAN TRUCK PROGRAM
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — March 25, 2010 — Environment Now, a Southern California private nonprofit foundation committed to protecting and restoring California’s environment, recognized the Port of Los Angeles Clean Truck Program as the 2009 top air quality achievement in its Top Achievements Report. The Clean Truck Program significantly reduces the impact of diesel pollution from trucks hauling port cargo in the San Pedro Bay and across the greater Los Angeles area.
“The Port of L.A. Clean Truck Program is an example of taking issues critical to environmental justice communities and aligning them with the economy, rather than using them as an excuse,” said Manuel Pastor, Ph.D., a judging panelist for the Top Achievements Report and Director of the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity at the University of Southern California.
Since its commencement on October 1, 2008, the Port of Los Angeles Clean Truck Program has delivered an estimated 70-percent reduction in the rate of port truck emissions compared to 2007 average air emissions.
“Our Clean Truck Program has been the driving force of change in San Pedro Bay,” said Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D. “We’re honored to be recognized in Environment Now’s Top Achievements Report and pledge to continue our efforts to reduce health risks and improve air quality in the communities surrounding the Port.”
Environment Now cited the initial phase of the Clean Truck Program that banned pre-1989 trucks at a “faster-than-anticipated turnover rate that made the first year of implementation so successful.” The Port of Los Angeles distributed more than $70 million to spur the purchase of 2,700 cleaner, newer trucks. There are currently more than 6,500 trucks serving the San Pedro Bay port complex that meet or exceed the U.S. EPA 2007 heavy-duty truck emissions standards.
The program will progressively phase out older trucks until 2012, when only trucks that meet U.S. EPA 2007 emission standards – will be allowed to enter the Port, resulting in immediate and ongoing environmental benefits in the region.
In addition to recognizing the air quality success at the Port of Los Angeles, the Top Achievements Report honors environmental nonprofit efforts in categories such as coastal protection, forest protection, freshwater protection and restoration, climate and energy, and land use.
Environment Now is a private non-profit foundation created in 1989 by Frank and Luanne Wells. Its mission is to be an active leader in creating measurably effective programs to protect and restore California’s environment.
The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy as well as the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves. As the leading seaport in North America in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port generates 919,000 regional jobs and $39.1 billion in annual wages and tax revenues. A proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles, the Port is self-supporting and does not receive taxpayer dollars.
The Port of Los Angeles – A cleaner port. A brighter future.