Yet another Clean Trucks Programme delay

Port of Long Beach officials on Thursday blasted the FMC move as a stalling tactic that will also block critical environmental and security requirements while the commission seeks a preliminary injunction against the fees.

“This is extremely disappointing,” said Richard Steinke, executive director of the Port of Long Beach. “This truck financing fee is a critical, long-planned part of our Clean Trucks Programme to protect public health and improve air quality and security.”

On December 17, after a 45-day period in which the ports responded to an earlier set of questions, the FMC met behind closed doors and emerged with a list of 20 questions — refusing to grant the ports authority to work with terminal operators to collect the truck fees. Once the ports respond to the questions, which is expected to take only days, the fee agreement automatically goes into effect unless the FMC obtains a court injunction.