Taking center stage in California's already busy environmental review process is a new Goods Movement Action Plan being jointly carried out by the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and the Business, Transportation & Housing Agency (BT&H).
   While commuters contribute their share, the plan's executive summary states, "Air pollution from international trade and goods movement in California is a major public health concern at both the regional and community level. In addition, goods movement is now the dominant contributor to transportation emissions in the State."
   How dominant? ARB staff go so far as to estimate that "emissions from current (2005) goods movement activities result in approximately 750 premature deaths per year … Without additional emissions control, that figure will rise to approximately 920 premature deaths per year by 2020. To put that number in perspective, ARB staff estimates that the total statewide deaths associated with particulate matter and ozone exposure above the levels of the State standards are approximately 9,000 per year."
   From these figures, while goods movement may be a dominant contributor to emissions, its apparent responsibility for premature deaths amounts to 8 percent of the state total.
   The plan calls for reducing emissions to 2001 levels by 2010, and reducing diesel-related health risks by 85 percent by 2020. A Phase II action plan will be implemented in spring 2006.
   "The basic strategies to reduce emissions include regulatory actions, incentive programs, lease agreements, careful land-use decisions and voluntary actions," states the plan. "The measures address all significant emission sources involved in goods movement including marine vessels, harbor craft, cargo handling equipment, locomotives and trucks."
   No mention of airplanes there, which may be a good thing for the folks in Victorville. But SCLA has its own grounded development: SCLA's 3,800-acre (1,538-hectare) Southern California Logistics Rail Complex in 2005 received its entitlement via the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) certification complying with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). That project in April 2005 also received approval for $25 million from a city-sponsored tax increment bond sale, and its groundbreaking is expected in 2006.
   What do the new rules mean for port-related facility development? Some corporate decision-makers may be wary of language in the plan alluding to project-driven community benefit agreements with regard to emissions and transportation planning.
   In some respects, there is no reason to fret: Several infrastructure projects in the works are identified by the ARB as in line with its action plan goals. Among them are the $2.5-billion Alameda Corridor East project (grade separations and crossings improvements); the $5.5-billion reconstruction of I-710 (connecting to Long Beach); the $271-million completion of State Route 905 near the California-Mexico border; and the $86-million Port of Long Beach rail yard expansion.