Jessika Ziglar/02-07-08 7:18pm/Pollution/#4
The Natural Resource Defense Council and the Coalition for a Safe Environment presented a 13-page letter threatening legal action if Long Beach Port's pollution did not decrease. The letter was delivered to Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners President Mario Cordero and port Executive Director Richard Steinke.
The environmental groups claim that the port city is dumping possible carcinogens into the air and water via its ships, big rigs, and trains. These spew microscopic diesel particles into the air, which are a major health concern since studies estimate that 2,400 premature deaths each year can be attributed to diesel exhaust in California.
Long Beach Port already has initiated a Clean Air Action Plan which has a goal of reducing pollution by 45% by 2012. But, the plan is already a year behind schedule.
This article reminded me of the many other articles I've read about industries setting standards and goals, but not actually following through or adhering to guidelines. Often, there are little to no consequences to not sticking to the plan so to speak except for fines and lawsuits which seem to hardly be a deterrent when one looks at the sheer number occurring every year. The economic punishments obviously aren't working and should be increased in order to actually make a dent in the profit margin of polluting industries, or maybe the leaders of such organizations should be held criminally accountable. Something, since the current method obviously isn't working.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-port7feb07,1,3280609.story
2 comments:
It seems that now that being "green" is popular everyone is trying to set goals to cut emissions, reduce waste, etc etc. I feel however, that no one really cares. Many nations are behind on their cuts and corporations just aren't cutting anything. Lame.
Kristopher Hilbert / 12:22 PM / 02.08.08
What is hardly ever mentioned is that more than 60% of big-rig trucks that transport cargo from these ports and are responsible for more than half carcinogenic Diesel pollution, are owned by immigrants (mostly Mexicans) who resurect old trucks that belong to jinkyards and not to our roads, and keep them running with violation of federal and California laws.
In my all life, I never witnesses a California Highway Patrol trooper stopping a grossly polluting truck. This is outrageous negligence that should result in criminal prosecution for the lives lost to lung cancer.
Also, meaningful enforcement of the border and immigration law should bring a dramatic improvement in this area because, it seems, these are mostly Mexicans that operate and maintain these grossly polluting trucks.
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