Long Beach – The Air Resources Board today joined forces with the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles to celebrate the opening of a Clean Trucks Center and invite truckers to apply for funds to replace their dirty diesel vehicles with new clean models.

“This is a great example of a collaborative partnership that will protect public health and pump new dollars into the local economy,” Governor Schwarzenegger said.  “I commend the Air Resources Board and the Ports for working together to develop practical solutions that will clean up our air—helping us meet our environmental goals while growing the economy.”

Ninety-eight million dollars comes from Proposition 1B, the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality and Port Security Bond Act initiated by Gov. Schwarzenegger and passed by voters in November 2006.  It is the single largest Prop 1B air quality grant this year, and is designated solely to facilitate cleanup of trucks that serve Los Angeles and Long Beach, which together form the nation’s busiest port.  

The grant is part of approximately $250 million in Proposition 1B funds which have been distributed by ARB to fund air quality improvement projects throughout the state.  For the 2007-08 fiscal year, ARB has already allocated $135.8 million to the Los Angeles/Inland Empire Region, $61.8 million to the Central Valley, $34.5 million to the Bay Area, and $14.5 million to the San Diego/Border Region.

The $98 million dollars is ARB’s first installment of Prop 1B funds for port vehicles, and is leveraging $145 million from the Ports to help truckers who frequently service the area acquire clean diesel or liquefied natural gas (LNG) models with far lower emissions.  The program is expected to greatly aid in compliance with ARB’s drayage truck regulation, adopted in December 2007, which requires modernization of the port truck fleet.

“These funds will go a long way toward making the air safer for residents near ports, rail yards and inland distribution centers,” said ARB Executive Officer James Goldstene.  “We are proud to be a part of this effort, and praise the ports for their leadership and determination to make this program work.”

Truckers may obtain their applications online and may apply for either a straight $50,000 dollar grant or a lease-to-own plan that requires no cash down and monthly payments starting at $300-400.  The process is competitive to ensure that the oldest, highest polluting vehicles are removed first.  For more information, truck owners and licensed motor carriers can visit the Clean Trucks Center on Terminal Island or call 1-888-KLN-TRUX (1-888-556-8789).  They can also visit the Ports' websites at: Port of Long Beach (//carbuswest2.prod.acquia-sites.com/www.polb.com/cleantrucks) and Port of LA (//carbuswest2.prod.acquia-sites.com/www.portoflosangeles.org/environment/ctp.asp)

Diesel soot was identified as a toxic air contaminant in 1998.  Pollution from goods movement, which has a significant diesel component, contributed to 3700 premature deaths statewide and 2000 premature deaths in the South Coast region (2005).