The 13-page ultimatum from the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Coalition for a Safe Environment gave the Port of Long Beach 90 days to reduce diesel soot and smog or face a lawsuit in federal court. The document is s a prerequisite for a lawsuit that is likely to ignite a protracted battle over how to manage the potentially cancer-causing pollution spewed into the air from ships, big rigs and locomotives at the busy port. The environmental groups' strategy differs radically from previous legal challenges against the port in that it seeks to have the port complex treated as a single entity subject to court-monitored benchmarks and progress reports. LA Times 2/07/08
Californians rejected transportation funding measure, Prop 91, Tuesday, heeding the plan's authors who put it on the ballot and then abandoned it saying it was no longer necessary. The measure failed 43 to 57 percent, with 41 percent of precincts reporting. The measure would have amended the state's constitution to prohibit California lawmakers from raiding gasoline tax money to balance the budget. SF Chronicle 2/06/08
Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks is hosting a dinner tonight where a group of speakers will talk about high-speed trains that use magnetic levitation to quietly move at speeds of up to 310 mph. The attraction for regional planners is that the high-tech trains would help untangle traffic gridlock, improve air quality and do it all on existing transportation corridors. Last month, the Los Angeles City Council gave a nod to move forward on a $26 billion project to build a maglev high-speed train system. Ventura County Star 2/07/08
On Wednesday, the state High-Speed Rail Authority board voted to research an Oakland environmental group's idea to make the planned 700-mile "bullet" train system environmentally perfect, at least when it comes to global warming. Stuart Cohen, executive director of the Transportation and Land Use Coalition, persuaded the authority to look into fostering a new network of sources creating electric power from the sun, wind and underground heat. The board voted 4-1 to authorize a study of the energy plan by the authority's executive director, Mehdi Morshed. He estimated the study would cost perhaps $30,000 to $40,000. Inside Bay Area 2/07/08
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told voters the Indian gambling agreements that passed Tuesday would help California close its budget gap. Currently the gap stands at $14.5 billion, but had the propositions failed, the estimated budget gap would have widened to nearly $15 billion. Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency last month to force lawmakers to begin voting on the first of his proposed cuts within 45 days, instead of waiting until the new budget year begins July 1. SF Chronicle 2/07/08
Jumping on San Francisco's Muni without paying, playing loud music or spitting in the public transit system will no longer be a matter for the courts starting Monday. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency announced Friday that fare evasion or misconduct will be handled much like traffic tickets -- at a city office. CC Times 2/02/08
A recent report, "U.S. Container Ports and Air Pollution: a Perfect Storm," critiqued pollution levels coming out of ports nationwide. But its author also found that all 10 container ports in the study have diesel emission reduction programs in place, collectively spending millions of dollars in public and private funds. Environmental News Service 2/06/08
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has updated its Code of Practice on Shipping and the Environment. The new edition provides a summary of the environmental obligations of shipping companies as required by the latest international regulations, and a clear set of environmental standards by which companies should operate. The Code also incorporates a recommended management framework to ensure compliance with the MARPOL Convention. Maritime Global Net 2/06/08
The Oakland City Council Tuesday agreed to join a lawsuit filed by the city of San Francisco against the owners and operators of the Cosco Busan container ship. San Francisco's suit names as defendants the ship's owner, Regal Stone Ltd. of Hong Kong, the company that leased it, Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd. of South Korea, and ship operators Fleet Management Ltd. and Synergy Maritime Ltd, as well as pilot John Cota. In related litigation, fishermen and fishing boat owners have filed suits in San Francisco Superior Court and federal court for damage to their livelihood and the U.S. government has filed suit in federal court over harm to navigable waters and federal beaches and marine sanctuaries. KTVU News 2/06/08
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