Lowenthal commited to California cargo fees

NITL (The National Industrial Transportation League) -- Logistics Management, 5/7/2008 7:50:00 AM

In addition to industry concerns over scheduled and proposed container fees to finance ports, clean air, congestion and infrastructure at California ports, State Senator Alan Lownethal (D-Long Beach) told the League he is committed to moving legislation to assess new container fees on cargo moving through the state's ports. This week League Executive Vice President Peter Gatti met directly with the Senator to communicate to him the League's concerns over the measure.

The Senator indicated that he is currently soliciting amendments from fellow legislators and the governor. One addition being made to the bill he said was that specific projects to be financed from the container fees would be added to the proposal. One reason for this is that he wants the fees collected to be slated to particular projects so that monies are not channeled to other purposes. While acknowledging the change, he said this does not significantly change the thrust of the bill.

When questioned as to when the bill might be advanced, the Senator did not venture an answer. However, in talk with local industry representatives, several said that the Senator is watching what developments may occur with the southern California ports including the potential for legal action contesting the port fees and in the case of the Port of Los Angeles whether a legal fight will be made over the approved ban on owner-operators in the port.

In response to a question as to his opinion on the owner-operator issue, the Senator said it was his opinion that there are too many licensed operators in the two ports. Despite this, he did question the appropriateness of this being done on a mandatory basis. As to differences between the Ports of LA and LB over treating clean air initiatives, truck replacement and congestion fees, he said there needs to be a single approach or common plan for dealing with these initiatives.

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