By Karen Robes Meeks
In a narrow 7 to 6 vote that will likely have major industry and environmental consequences to Southern California, South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) board members agreed to consider new rules aimed at curbing pollution from the ports, warehouses, airports, rail yards and new development.
A proposed indirect source rule is being developed for warehouses, rail yards and construction projects by the SCAQMD, the air pollution control agency for Orange County and much of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The indirect source rule seeks to regulate pollution coming from vehicles linked to a facility, such as trucks serving a warehouse or ships ferrying cargo to and from ports.
Meanwhile, SCAQMD will be working with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to enact emission-lowering measures in the port’s Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) and helping the area’s five major airports to commit to their own CAAPs that would include efforts to lower emissions coming from non-aircraft sources.
Some weren’t thrilled with the decision.
"It would be akin to Vons or Whole Foods telling their customers you can only shop at their store if you’re willing to drive a Chevy Volt there," Thomas Jelenic, the vice president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association, told KPCC radio.
“When it comes to meeting clean air standards, an ‘all of the above’ approach must be taken, and these measures could have the potential to further reduce emissions in some of the communities hardest hit by air pollution,” said Wayne Nastri, SCAQMD’s executive officer.
“Every sector and industry must do its fair share to clean up the air we breathe,” Nastri added. “At the same time, we are committed to a transparent process that is sensitive to the impacts of any new requirements on the region’s businesses, jobs and overall economy.”
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Olympia Gets Acting Executive
By Karen Robes Meeks
Airport Director Rudy Rudolph was appointed to serve as acting executive director of the Port of Olympia after the Port Commission voted to put Executive Director Ed Galligan on administrative leave in late April.
“The Commission is undertaking a thorough review of the Port’s leadership going forward and believes that its action today will permit it to fully evaluate its options,” according to the port, adding that Rudolph will act in the role “until further notice.”
According to The Olympian, Commissioner Joe Downing said in an email to constituents that the decision was based on a need for change, not an error or mistake.
“It is with heavy heart, but strong resolve, that we, the port commission, placed Ed Galligan on administrative leave last night.” He added “We thank him for his leadership over these years. But, [it is] time for a change. There are new challenges and that requires new leadership. The three commissioners are on the same page.”
Galligan had led the port since 2005.
Airport Director Rudy Rudolph was appointed to serve as acting executive director of the Port of Olympia after the Port Commission voted to put Executive Director Ed Galligan on administrative leave in late April.
“The Commission is undertaking a thorough review of the Port’s leadership going forward and believes that its action today will permit it to fully evaluate its options,” according to the port, adding that Rudolph will act in the role “until further notice.”
According to The Olympian, Commissioner Joe Downing said in an email to constituents that the decision was based on a need for change, not an error or mistake.
“It is with heavy heart, but strong resolve, that we, the port commission, placed Ed Galligan on administrative leave last night.” He added “We thank him for his leadership over these years. But, [it is] time for a change. There are new challenges and that requires new leadership. The three commissioners are on the same page.”
Galligan had led the port since 2005.
New Project Director at Long Beach
By Karen Robes Meeks
Marlene Dupras was recently promoted as the new Long Beach Harbor Department's director of Project Controls. In her role, Dupras will collaborate with all divisions within the Harbor Department’s Engineering Services Bureau to “manage and oversee the scope, schedule and budget for the port’s capital improvement projects,” according to the Port of Long Beach.
A licensed civil engineer who earned her bachelor’s degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Dupras came to the port in 2001 as a civil engineer and managed a variety of construction projects including the early stages of the Middle Harbor Terminal Redevelopment project. In 2012, she became the deputy chief harbor engineer in the Program Management Division.
Marlene Dupras was recently promoted as the new Long Beach Harbor Department's director of Project Controls. In her role, Dupras will collaborate with all divisions within the Harbor Department’s Engineering Services Bureau to “manage and oversee the scope, schedule and budget for the port’s capital improvement projects,” according to the Port of Long Beach.
A licensed civil engineer who earned her bachelor’s degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Dupras came to the port in 2001 as a civil engineer and managed a variety of construction projects including the early stages of the Middle Harbor Terminal Redevelopment project. In 2012, she became the deputy chief harbor engineer in the Program Management Division.
New Social Responsibility Position at Oakland
By Karen Robes Meeks
Julina Bonilla is the new workforce development manager in the Port of Oakland’s Social Responsibility Division. The newly created position involves overseeing a program that gives residents access to port-related employment opportunities and working with government agencies, schools, labor and the community to create a job readiness and placement program.
“Julina Bonilla brings strong leadership skills, a deep knowledge of workforce development innovation and success in building coalitions to get things done,” said Port of Oakland Social Responsibility Director Amy Tharpe. “Her collaborative approach and track record of delivering results will benefit our efforts to increase employment.”
Bonilla has more than 20 years of this realm, most recently serving as executive director of the West Oakland Jobs Resource Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Berkeley.
Julina Bonilla is the new workforce development manager in the Port of Oakland’s Social Responsibility Division. The newly created position involves overseeing a program that gives residents access to port-related employment opportunities and working with government agencies, schools, labor and the community to create a job readiness and placement program.
“Julina Bonilla brings strong leadership skills, a deep knowledge of workforce development innovation and success in building coalitions to get things done,” said Port of Oakland Social Responsibility Director Amy Tharpe. “Her collaborative approach and track record of delivering results will benefit our efforts to increase employment.”
Bonilla has more than 20 years of this realm, most recently serving as executive director of the West Oakland Jobs Resource Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Berkeley.
Friday, May 11, 2018
Coos Bay Bridge Fix on Track
By Karen Robes Meeks
With a completed analysis of what went wrong, Oregon International Port of Coos Bay officials and engineering consultants are finalizing a construction plan to fix the Coos Bay Swing Span Bridge that has been out of service since April 13 when the bridge did not completely return to the open-to-river navigation position.
Fixing costs have not yet been determined but the port said it hopes to finish repairs in a three-month period.
In the meantime, Jordan Cove and local rail shippers are helping to make sure Coos Bay products move by linking local shippers to the national rail network. Jordan Cove has made space available to allow the use of an intermodal transfer area while the bridge is being worked on.
With a completed analysis of what went wrong, Oregon International Port of Coos Bay officials and engineering consultants are finalizing a construction plan to fix the Coos Bay Swing Span Bridge that has been out of service since April 13 when the bridge did not completely return to the open-to-river navigation position.
Fixing costs have not yet been determined but the port said it hopes to finish repairs in a three-month period.
In the meantime, Jordan Cove and local rail shippers are helping to make sure Coos Bay products move by linking local shippers to the national rail network. Jordan Cove has made space available to allow the use of an intermodal transfer area while the bridge is being worked on.
LA Volumes Down a Bit
By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Los Angeles saw a slight drop in cargo volumes last month, according to latest numbers released Thursday.
The port handled 705,536 TEUs in April, about 1.3 percent less than it did a year ago, when it established a record with 714,755 TEUs.
Meanwhile, imports for April fell 2.9 percent to 361,108 TEUs and empty containers dipped 2.9 percent to 179,724 TEUs. Exports rose 4.5 percent to 164,703 TEUs.
Four months into 2018, overall volumes have fallen by 4.7 percent when compared to 2017.
Still, port Executive Director Gene Seroka said he is pleased with the levels of efficiency and productivity he is seeing at terminals.
“We continue to bring technology enhancements like GE Transportation’s Port Optimizer to our customers so that we can continue the unparalleled service that cargo owners need and expect,” Seroka said.
The Port of Los Angeles saw a slight drop in cargo volumes last month, according to latest numbers released Thursday.
The port handled 705,536 TEUs in April, about 1.3 percent less than it did a year ago, when it established a record with 714,755 TEUs.
Meanwhile, imports for April fell 2.9 percent to 361,108 TEUs and empty containers dipped 2.9 percent to 179,724 TEUs. Exports rose 4.5 percent to 164,703 TEUs.
Four months into 2018, overall volumes have fallen by 4.7 percent when compared to 2017.
Still, port Executive Director Gene Seroka said he is pleased with the levels of efficiency and productivity he is seeing at terminals.
“We continue to bring technology enhancements like GE Transportation’s Port Optimizer to our customers so that we can continue the unparalleled service that cargo owners need and expect,” Seroka said.
More Meat Through Oakland
By Karen Robes Meeks
The Port of Oakland is moving 27 percent more containerized meat shipments than it did in the last four years.
Last year, the port handled the equivalent of 60,000 TEUs of fresh and frozen meat exports, up 24 percent from 2013, and imported about 6,000 containers, up 64 percent.
About two-thirds of those exports were bound for Japan, while meat shipments were imported mainly from Australia and New Zealand.
These numbers are expected to increase this fall with the opening of Cool Port Oakland, a 283,000-square-foot refrigerated distribution facility capable of handling as much as 50,000 containers of beef, pork and poultry annually.
The Port of Oakland is moving 27 percent more containerized meat shipments than it did in the last four years.
Last year, the port handled the equivalent of 60,000 TEUs of fresh and frozen meat exports, up 24 percent from 2013, and imported about 6,000 containers, up 64 percent.
About two-thirds of those exports were bound for Japan, while meat shipments were imported mainly from Australia and New Zealand.
These numbers are expected to increase this fall with the opening of Cool Port Oakland, a 283,000-square-foot refrigerated distribution facility capable of handling as much as 50,000 containers of beef, pork and poultry annually.
