Transporation Daily News 2/28

A federal appeals court agreed Wednesday that state air pollution regulators cannot tell oceangoing ships arriving at California ports to cut their toxic contributions to local smog. At the beginning of 2007, the California Air Resources Board imposed emission rules for large container ships, cruise vessels and tankers that continually call at ports such as those in Oakland, Los Angeles and Long Beach, which are among the busiest in the nation. The ships would have to switch their auxiliary engines, which generate onboard electric power, from extremely dirty, sulfur-laden bunker fuel oil to low-sulfur fuel within 24 miles of California ports. CC Times 2/28/08

 

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency refused to say Wednesday whether the White House sought to influence his decision to deny California a waiver needed to implement a tailpipe emissions reduction law. Appearing before the U.S. Senate's environment committee, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson deflected repeated questions from Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., about any White House role in the controversial decision last December blocking California and at least 16 other states from implementing the reductions. CC Times 2/28/08

 

Three weeks after United Airlines said it will begin charging passengers $50 to check in a second bag on round-trip flights, US Airways jumped on board Tuesday and adopted the same policy. Travelers can expect the other big carriers to follow. CC Times 2/28/08

 

With Sonoma County diesel prices hitting a record $3.80 a gallon Wednesday, businesses that operate trucks and machinery are passing some of the cost on to customers. Absorbing rising diesel prices is increasingly difficult for businesses, with prices up 72 cents a gallon from a year ago.  Press Democrat 2/28/08

 

Environmental Protection Agency chief Stephen Johnson was scolded by senators Wednesday for ignoring his own staff's advice in denying California's tough limits on greenhouse gases from cars and trucks. Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, whose state is one of 18 seeking to join California's efforts, pointed to a memo released this week by a top EPA deputy who said Johnson should resign if he rejected the state's request because he would lose his credibility. SF Chronicle 2/28/08

 

The Los Angeles City Council backed the first phase of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's clean-truck program Wednesday, imposing a cargo fee that will raise roughly $800 million to buy new and alternative-fuel trucks for haulers operating at the Port of Los Angeles. The council unanimously endorsed a Board of Harbor Commissioners ban on all diesel trucks built before 1989 from the port starting Oct. 1. LA Times 2/28/08