An appellate court decision called for more pollution mitigation measures to be implemented by the Port of Los Angeles in the case involving the 142-acre China Shipping Terminal, bouncing the issue back again to a lower court for further consideration and action.
It was the latest in what has been a long-running dispute that has pitted environmentalists against China Shipping, which is on the northwest side of the port near the Vincent Thomas Bridge.
The battle, initially launched by residents with the support of environmental groups, has been ongoing for more than two decades.
The plaintiffs in the case said the latest decision calls on the lower court to direct the port to implement a number of measures that have already has been issued in the long-running legal dispute.
The Port of Los Angeles is still reviewing the latest decision, a port spokesperson said, but issued this preliminary written response:
“The port is committed to reaching full resolution of this matter. We continue to evaluate the appellate court decision but we’re encouraged the court upheld the port’s handling of key mitigation measures.”
Both the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, under a joint Clean Air Action Plan, are pushing to replace trucks and equipment with new, non-polluting models and face impending deadlines to do so. The mission has been complicated by the various clean energy technologies still being tested that can perform the heavy-duty work needed and by the lack of commercial availability for such equipment that does exist in some test models.
China Shipping could not be reached for comment. Its Los Angeles and New Jersey Corporate telephone lines appear to be all disconnected or no longer in operation. There was no answer or voicemail option offered when the local terminal itself was called.
The Natural Resources Defense Council, among a number of plaintiffs in the case, hailed the appellate court decision, stating it will force the port to take…
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