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News / VIDEO

Councilman Johnson Declares Opposition To BNSF's Proposed "So. Cal Int'l Gateway" WLB-Adjacent Railyard

VIDEO reporting by LBReport.com Community Correspondent Joe Mello


(Sept. 25, 2011) -- One day after the Port of Los Angeles released a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that called zero emission cargo movement technology infeasible at present and dismissed on-dock rail in a WLB-adjacent BNSF-proposed capacity-expanding railyard project, 7th district Councilman James Johnson declared his opposition to the proposal...and added that he expects the City Council to join him in doing likewise.

Speaking at a Sept. 24 rally at Admiral Kidd Park organized by the West Long Beach Association, Councilman Johnson stated in part:

"This proposal [draft EIR] released yesterday is not green growth. This proposal is more of the same. For that reason, I remain opposed to this project as I have been for fourteen months in being on the City Council. And let me tell you, I fully expect the City Council to join me in opposition to this project as we discuss it in the coming months."

He added, "Let them know we're opposed to this project."

Others speaking at the rally included 8th District Councilwoman Rae Gabelich and Long Beach City College Trustee Roberto Uranga. To launch VIDEO by LBReport.com Community Correspondent Joe Mello, click arrow or click here.

Councilman Johnson, facing a recently launched Recall effort that in part cites the WLB-adjacent railyards, has previously indicated that doesn't support the projects as proposed and urged including an analysis of zero emission technology's feasibility in the projects' EIRs.

Councilman Johnson's Sept. 24 statement, unambigously declaring his opposition to the proposed rail capacity expanding projects, is his first public response to the Port of L.A.'s Sept. 23 draft EIR that calls zero emission technology infeasible at present for the BNSF-proposed railyard.

On September 22, a UCLA scientist delivered a presentation to the West Long Beach Association that indicated ultrafine diesel particulates, some laced with toxics, penetrate lung cells -- including their nucleii (containing DNA for cell reproduction) -- and can disperse to other parts of the body (including the brain), damage cell DNA and trigger inflammatory responses implicated in various disease processes (beyond cancer, including high blood pressure and atheroschlerosis). To view LBReport.com VIDEO of extended salient portions of the presentation, click here.

Councilman Johnson attended the Sept. 22 presentation and in comments to the audience said he believes the study's findings are a good reason to support Johnson's call for zero emission technology.

Also present at that Sept. 22 meeting was 8th district Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, who indicated that she plans to agendize for Council action a policy petition, brought to the Council in May 2011, signed by over 1,800 residents that urged opposition to the railyard proposals. (LBReport.com coverage, click here). Councilman Johnson said in response to the May 2011 policy petition:

I do not support the projects as currently stated. This Council has spoken clearly on these issues. We want to zero emissions technology in the EIR. The Harbor Commission, following the Council's lead, has also spoken clearly, unanimously. They want to see zero emissions technology in the upcoming EIR. ...As I've said many times before, without change to the current dynamic, where growth comes at the expense of quality of life and health in our communtiies, I cannot support these projects and I suspect there will not be support for these projects.

If the will of the Council or that of the Harbor Commission is disregarded and there is no zero emissions impact, once again I won't be supportive. Let's take a look at what comes out. Let's keep the pressure on and see can we move goods from the Port to these projects, or...to near dock facilities, without putting our communities...I think the technology is there. I look forward to seeing the science addressing that question.

Recall proponents issued a release in response to Councilman Johnson's comments at the Sept. 24 rally, stating in part, "Faced with mounting community pressure from the Committee to Recall James Johnson, Johnson was forced to flip-flop a second-time on the Rail yards and again go back to his original campaign promise to oppose the Rail yards..."

BNSF has said in a Sept. 23 release that its proposed facility will provide significant economic, air quality and traffic benefits...and says it exceeds the Port of L.A.'s stated goals for new projects.

[BNSF release] In building SCIG, BNSF will clean up an existing industrial site and replace it with a state of the art facility featuring wide-span all-electric cranes, ultra-low emission switching locomotives and low-emission rail yard equipment.

In addition to these innovations, BNSF has committed to initially allow only trucks meeting the Port’s Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) goal of 2007 or newer trucks to transport cargo between the marine terminals and the facility. Ultimately, by 2026, 90 percent of the truck fleet will be LNG or equivalent emissions vehicles. Trucks will be required to avoid residential areas by traveling on designated, industrial routes with GPS tracking to ensure adherence.

"The release of this report is a significant moment for green growth in Los Angeles," said Matthew K. Rose, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of BNSF. "Railroads are the most environmentally-friendly mode of surface transportation. We have worked closely with the Mayor and other elected officials, staff and stakeholders to develop a $500 million facility that will be an important contributor to the rail system, the port and the regional economy, while at the same time benefitting our community and the environment. We believe that this facility proves that ‘green’ and ‘growth’ can go together as the mayor and the ports have long promised."

To view full BNSF release, click here.

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