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Senate committee debates SB 34 that narrows air-district authority for port emissions rules
Summary
Sen. Richardson told the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality that SB 34 is intended to preserve and formalize stakeholder collaboration while protecting incentives that support ports’ transition to zero‑emission operations.
Sen. Richardson presented SB 34 as a framework to require stakeholder-driven agreements with the South Coast Air Quality Management District on measures addressing emissions from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Richardson told the committee the ports and maritime industry have already made substantial emission reductions under voluntary and cooperative programs such as the Clean Air Action Plan and said the bill aims to preserve collaboration and incentives rather than impose unilateral mandates. “The purpose of SB 34 … is for the stakeholders to work collectively,” Richardson said.
Witnesses in support included labor and industry representatives: Marvin Pineda of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union pointed to decades of emission reductions under the Clean Air Action Plan and said SB 34 provides needed “guardrails.” Thomas Yellanich of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association urged continued collaboration and protection for incentive programs and grant funding that will be essential to reach zero‑emission goals.
Opponents — notably Ian McMillan from South Coast AQMD and Ada Welder of Earthjustice — told the committee SB 34 would unduly restrict the air district’s ability to adopt necessary rules, including an indirect source rule targeting emissions from goods movement. McMillan said the district would be constrained from addressing port emissions if the bill bars measures aimed at reducing pollution from port sources, and noted federal sanctions and public-health harms if air quality standards are not met. Welder said moving the rulemaking conversation to the Legislature threatens community participation and local accountability.
Committee members pressed both sides to continue negotiations. The committee later recorded a unanimous roll-call advancing SB 34 to the next committee.
