California Attorney General Jerry Brown joined officials in 17 other states Wednesday to demand that the federal Environmental Protection Agency release its internal finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health. The move comes after EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson wrote last week that he plans to open a months-long public comment period on greenhouse gas emissions, a procedure critics say serves to delay action on emissions until after President Bush leaves office. CC Times 4/3/08
The state now charges drivers registration and licensing fees and gasoline taxes at rates that do not take into account vehicles' pollution levels. But the survey, conducted by Asha Weinstein Agrawal, a research associate with the university's Mineta Transportation Institute, found that Californians would support a variety of taxes and fees to raise money for transportation improvements as well as combat global warming. SF Chronicle 4/3/08
Removing a major hurdle to growth at the Port of Los Angeles, harbor officials have agreed to pay $12 million over the next year on pollution reduction initiatives in adjacent San Pedro and Wilmington, officials said Wednesday. In the tentative agreement with environmental groups, the port promised to create a trust fund to address the long-term effects of port operations on local neighborhoods, including $6 million for the installation of air filtration systems in Wilmington public schools. LA Times 4/3/08
Dozens of international investors are poised to float a proposed high-speed rail system that would take San Francisco and Peninsula residents to Southern California in 2½ hours, officials said Wednesday. More than 60 international investors were interested in helping bankroll the $42 billion train system, said Rod Diridon, a member on the California High Speed Rail Authority Board. About $10 billion in private investments is needed for the train system to be built, officials said. Voters are being asked in November to support the state in taking out a $9.95 billion bond to fund the first phase of the project. A recent poll indicated 58 percent of Californians would support the bond, which could then be used as leverage for another $9 billion in federal funds, Diridon said. Examiner 4/3/08
A plan to create a high-speed railway that will transport people between San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2.5 hours should also advocate high-density housing near its stations, according to a report issued yesterday by the High Speed Rail Authority. San Mateo Daily Journal 4/3/08
Authorities were investigating a cargo container marked with black graffiti saying "Anthrax a gift from Osama," sent to Pier T at the Port of Long Beach on Wednesday morning. Fortunately, the container was found to be empty and showed no sign of contamination, Long Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Frank Hayes said. eflux media 4/3/08
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