Greenies sue Long Beach, truckers over clean trucks scheme

THE US Port of Long Beach and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) are being sued by environmental groups which claim a settlement involving the port's clean trucks programme is illegal and should be overturned.

The Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) and the Sierra Club said in announcing the lawsuit that Long Beach violated city bylaws and state laws when it reached a settlement with ATA without first engaging in public consultation and conducting an environmental review.

"You can't cut the public out of the conversation when you're talking about the air they breathe and the health consequences they face," said David Pettit, director of NRDC's Southern California Clean Air Programme.

Long Beach announced the settlement on October 19, sharply diverging from the approach taken by the neighbouring Port of Los Angeles, reported Newark's Journal of Commerce, which added that LA contested ATA suit that said that aspects the clear truck scheme violated federal law.

Court rulings have supported ATAs contentions that banning owner-operated trucks in favour of employee-driven vehicles violates federal interstate commerce law.

In reaching a deal with ATA, Long Beach agreed to replace its concession plan with a registration requirement, the report said.

(source: www.schednet.com)