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America's Ports Hold Convention in LB, Ground Zero For Public Policy Controversies
(Sept. 27, 2004) -- The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) is holding its annual convention in LB (Sept. 26-30). We post salient portions of its convention agenda, below.
The AAPA is comprised of those running and using Ports in the Americas. (From its web site: "AAPA, the alliance of leading ports in the Western Hemisphere, protects and advances the common interests of its diverse members as they connect their communities with the global transportation system."
AAPA selected LB as its 2004 convention site several years ago...before LB effectively became ground zero for major public policy battles over public health and safety related to homeland security and Just weeks ago, a Congressionally created "The maritime community already pays billions of dollars in user fees and taxes to the Federal government, including billions of dollars each year in Customs duties. AAPA believes that Customs duties should be used as a source of security funds if Congress seeks a dedicated source of funding. AAPA opposes new taxes to fund security enhancements. A diverse constituency, including cargo vessels, the nation’s defense agencies, fishermen, recreational boaters, cruise vessels, and ferries, uses America’s ports and must also be protected," says a position paper on "Seaport Security" posted on the group's web site.
The AAPA publication says that "Enhancing maritime security and protecting America’s seaports from acts of terrorism and other Federal crimes is a top priority for AAPA and U.S. port authorities...AAPA and its member public ports are working closely with the Department of Homeland Security and other Federal agencies to enhance maritime security and participate as strong partners in protecting our homeland" and adds:
The Port of LB is within the district of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R., HB-LB-PV), who has introduced legislation to let Ports impose fees on their users (instead of tapping U.S. taxpayers) to fund homeland security measures. The Port of LB has not endorsed Congressman Rohrabacher's measure...and to date neither has LB's elected City Council.
Meanwhile, the Port of LB (with the adjacent Port of Los Angeles) finds itself labelled a gross environmental polluter: the South Coast Air Quality Management District has said the Ports of LB-L.A. represent the largest stationary source of air pollution in the region...and studies implicate multiple airborne toxics (mainly diesel particulate emissions) from port-related activities (from ships to trucks) in cancer and pulmonary diseases (including COPD and asthma).
The Port of LB has instituted its own "Health Harbor" initiative to implement pollution lessening measures, and the PoLB recently announced plans to begin its first "cold ironing" of ships (plugging into dockside electrical power) in 2006. (The adjacent Port of L.A. recently began cold ironing of some ships in settlement of a lawsuit brought by an environmental group, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).)
State legislation authored by Port-area Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal (D., LB-SP-PV) has cleared the statehouse (the Ports operate on state tidelands) and as we post sits on Governor Schwarzenegger's desk. AB 2042 requires that the Ports of LB and L.A. not worsen air pollution as they grow. The Port of LB opposes the measure...while the LB City Council has twice endorsed it. Governor Schwarzenegger could sign it, veto it, or let it become law without his signature.
A plan by the Port of LB to expand Pier J (the hooking Pier that extends eastward from the original Port and now sits just south of downtown LB) faces opposition from NRDC, which says the PoLB's Environmental Impact Report on the project lowballs the environmental impacts. In an unprecedented development, LB's elected City Council balked at approving the EIR.
LB Councilman Dan Baker (whose district includes the Port) cited the Port's resistance to the When two LB Councilmembers agendized a measure questioning the PoLB's lobbying for positions inconsistent with Council established policy, the Harbor's non-elected (Mayor appointed, Council approved) Board of Harbor Commissioners explicitly conditioned its planned transfer of roughly $6 million in surplus Port funds (roughly $6 million) to the LB Tidelands on Council approval of the Port's annual budget "as is" (with no changes). Two of nine Councilmembers (Gabelich and Lerch) voted against approving the Port's budget.
The Port of LB is also the "lead agency" in conducting environmental review of an 80+ million gallon Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal that a Mitsubishi subsidiary wants to build inside the Port. Proponents note that LNG is a clean fuel and offers environmental benefits, but opponents cite homeland security and safety grounds, noting that (as the AAPA itself acknowledges) the FBI has already found that ports are a key vulnerability that has attracted interest from terrorists.
Against this backdrop, below are excerpts of some salient sessions on the AAPA's convention agenda in LB:
Opening Ceremonies
Mike Leone
AAPA Chairman of the Board
Responders:
United States
The Honorable Beverly O’Neil
Latin American
Canadian
General Session: Trade and Transportation Trends in the Western Hemisphere
Moderator: Valentín Morán
Speakers:
Ma Zehua
Robert West
Jean Statler
Alberto Alemán Zubieta
Luncheon Featured Speaker: The Honorable Jeffrey N. Shane, Under Secretary for Policy U.S. Department of Transportation
Keynote Address on Working with Local Communities
Speaker:
Socratic Dialogue: The Future of Port Development in Times of Change
Facilitators:
Ann Weaver
Panelists:
Argentina M. James
James McGrath
Lori A. Baer
Kathleen Bailey
Keynote Address on the Commission on Ocean Policy
Moderator:
Speaker:
A Global Approach to Industry Challenges
Discussion Leader: Capt. Domaas
Panelists:
H. Thomas Kornegay, P.E., PPM
Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D., Managing Director-Development
Datin Paduka O.C. Phang
César Patricio Reyes Roel
Carlos M. Gallegos
David B. Sanford, II
Consequence Management in the Port Environment -- Federal Interagency Roles and Responsibilities
Moderator:
Speakers:
R. Adm. Kevin J. Eldridge
Nancy Ward
Ash Chatterjee
R. Adm. Richard M. Larrabee,
Chris Beardsley
Col. Eugenio Pino
Capt. Warren E. Soloduk
Thursday, September 30
General Session: Maritime Security -- Tools to Protect Your Port
Moderator:
Speakers:
C. Thomas Burke
General Session: Innovative Approaches to Port Challenges
Discussion Leader: Kenneth B. O'Hollaren
Communications Award:
TBA: Winner, Overall Award of Excellence
Information Technology Award:
"Refining Client Services with Web-based Innovation"
Facilities Engineering Award:
Doug Thiessen
Environmental Award:
Eric Schwamberger
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