Westside residents expressed disappointment and outrage last night at proposed plans to expand the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) in their community – fearing it would worsen already poor air quality and constant noise – during a meeting of the four-person Joint Powers Authority (JPA) council at Silverado Park Community Center. The JPA heard an update on the project’s progression and then took public comments, which strongly opposed the idea for a number of reasons.

The JPA is a four-member board consisting of two representatives from the Port of Long Beach and two from the Port of Los Angeles. The Port of Long Beach representatives are President of the Harbor Commission Nick Sramek and Port Executive Director Dick Steinke.

The 277-acre railyard is a major source of pollution in the westside of Long Beach, due to heavy train traffic while loading and unloading cargo that has come in from the Port of Long Beach. Traffic at the port has been down lately, leading some to question why an expansion would be necessary now. Officials say that the expansion is in preparation for boom years when the economy recovers, but residents’ fear that air quality will drastically worsen in a community already suffering from extreme asthma rates – especially in children.

Another concern is that Union Pacific – the rail company that operates the ICTF under a lease with the Port of Long Beach – is holding residents hostage by refusing to “green” their operations unless the expansion is approved. The JPA acknowledged that Union Pacific officials have said they will not improve the environmentally-friendly aspects of the facility unless their planned expansion moves forward.

“They cannot be allowed to bully this community any longer,” said resident John Larsen, who likened Union Pacific to a child that would not clean his room unless he received a new toy. He proposed that the JPA refuse the expansion until the current facility is cleaned, or until cargo levels increase and warrant an expansion. John Cross noted that the ICTF is already the state’s third dirtiest railyard, according to an Air Resources Board study. He commended both ports for their expanded use of on-dock rail, but disapproved of the ICTF expansion.

“Don’t expand, because it affects the people,” said Mary Hernandez, near tears as she addressed the JPA. “Can you imagine people getting sick? These kids in Hudson [elementary school], they have to have air filters. Then what? All you people have to make money and forget about the westside. Don’t expand.”

The project is currently going through an Environmental Impact Report process that should be completed sometime in April 2010. Updates given by planners at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles indicated that the EIR is taking greater time than expected because the issues of traffic, noise and air quality are difficult to predict.

Eleven total speakers addressed the JPA, urging disapproval of the project and further study into alternative transportation methods such as electric or magnetic rail. Those ideas are in place in some ports worldwide but there is not one clear type that is more reliable than the others, leading to confusion about whether the technology is viable and so it has not been implemented or tested in nearby ports.

Port planners attempted to ease residents’ fears, saying that air quality and potential health effects on the community are the highest priority to the project, and that predicted health effects will clearly be stated in the EIR and will be based on the expanded facility operating at max production levels. A workshop on the project will be held tonight at the Port of Los Angeles administration building (425 S. Palos Verdes, San Pedro) from 5:00-7:00pm. The JPA will hold their next meeting on an as-needed basis.

The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce released the following statement in support of the ICTF expansion in February, with CEO Randy Gordon citing job opportunities and applauding Union Pacific promises to incorporate electric rail and other environmental practices. The letter is addressed to ICTF Executive Director Sam Joumblat.

Intermodal Container Transfer Facility Modernization Plan – SUPPORT

Dear Sam Joumblat:

On behalf of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, I would like express our support for the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility Modernization Plan. The Long Beach Chamber assembled its most involved businesses and developed a clear and focused list of strategic public policy initiatives for 2009. Two such initiatives align with the Chamber’s support for moving forward with the Modernization Plan’s EIR.

First, the Long Beach business community must determine which business sectors currently drive our local economy and seek ways to support their efforts. It should be clear to you that both this project and Union Pacific are important components in driving our local economy. For example, when this project is approved and allowed to proceed, it will provide badly needed construction jobs.

Second, we must support our business community’s efforts to invest in green technology. We applaud Union Pacific’s commitment to making this project environmentally friendly as possible. This project will reduce emissions by replacing diesel-powered equipment with electric-powered equipment, provide additional near-dock rail and container capacity by increasing operation efficiencies and will continue to promote the direct transfer of cargo from port to rail with minimal surface transportation congestion or delays. It will also provide enhanced cargo security through new technologies. Finally, upon completion, this project is estimated to reduce its on-site diesel emissions by approximately 74 percent and emissions of oxides of nitrogen by more than 55 percent, from 2005 levels.

It is clear to us and by reading the Project Description that this project deserves to move forward. Businesses such as Union Pacific and their employees help drive our local economy. They need us now more than ever.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Randy Gordon
President and CEO

Disclosure: lbpost.com co-founder Shaun Lumachi is a government affairs advisor to the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.