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News Links Archive |
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Archived news stories on trade, environmental health, ports and goods movement January 2009 Archive |
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| Added January 31, 2009: | ||||
| Ship discharges threaten sea life Crisscrossing the seas on global trade routes, cargo ships suck up billions of tons of water to provide a steadying weight, and then dump that water back into the ocean when it's time to take on new cargo. Each year, ocean-faring vessels from overseas discharge enough of this ballast water in US waters to fill about 20,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The Boston Globe, Boston, MA. http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2009/01/26/ship_discharges_threaten_sea_life/ | ||||
| N.J. pushing for restrictions on diesel trucks at ports The Port Authority could potentially ban the oldest and most toxic diesel trucks from its Newark and Elizabeth seaports, a move scientists say would cut down on 1,000 premature deaths and 68,000 asthma attacks in New Jersey every year. Nearly 10,000 trucks drive through the ports each day, spewing 42 tons of diesel soot a year that can cause respiratory problems and even cancer. New Jersey Media Group, Hackensack, NJ. http://www.northjersey.com/environment/NJ_pushing_for_restrictions_on_diesel_trucks_at_ports.html?c=y&page=1 | ||||
| NY/NJ Port Authority offers discounts to carriers Port of New York and New Jersey today approved an incentive program to encourage shippers using the Port of New York and New Jersey to transport even more cargo by ExpressRail. The new program will provide an incentive of $25 per container shipped by ExpressRail to any ocean carrier that increases the number of containers it transports over its 2008 levels.The Journal of Commerce Online. http://www.joc.com/articles/news.asp?section=ocean&sid=47651 | ||||
| Study Links Cleaner Air to Longer Life Reducing air pollution has extended average life expectancy by five months for urban residents in dozens of U.S. cities over the past two decades, researchers found. A team from Brigham Young and Harvard universities reached that conclusion based on data on changes in air quality and life expectancy between 1980 and 2000 in 51 cities, including Washington. The Washington Post, Washington, DC. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012102805.html?hpid=moreheadlines | ||||
| New test results on dioxin source raise alarm in South Park For years, it looked as if contamination in an industrial neighborhood beside the South Park Marina was coming from the old Malarkey asphalt plant next door to the marina. There, workers are known to have burned, dumped or leaked PCB-contaminated oil. When dioxins later turned up in addition to PCBs, the Malarkey plant remained a prime suspect. SeattlePI , Seattle , Washington. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/396850_dioxin21.html | ||||
| Officials plan to lessen train noise In the aging neighborhoods straddling the BNSF Railway corridor in South Memphis, it's not hard to find people like Jon Wallace, a lifelong resident who says he's so used the noise from trains that "I can't sleep without them sometimes." Then there are others, including Marsha Gray, who are positively frazzled by the frequent blaring of train horns. The bad news for residents like Gray is that BNSF traffic -- which already averages 28-45 trains daily at its yard off Shelby and Lamar -- is about to increase with the upcoming completion of an expansion project at the yard.The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN. http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jan/14/officials-plan-to-lessen-train-noise/ | ||||
| Lively debate gets more time regarding proposed distribution center in Moreno Valley. The Moreno Valley city Planning Commission postponed making a decision on the proposed Skechers distribution center until next week after hundreds of people showed up and dozens testified at Thursday night's public hearing. The commission adjourned about 11:40 p.m. Thursday, after hearing from more than 60 people. The panel decided to meet again next Thursday to allow Highland Fairview, the project developer, to rebut any of the public testimony, and for the commission to deliberate whether to recommend that the City Council approve the project. The Press-Enterprise, Riverside, California. http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_E_eskechers10.45ecfa4.html | ||||
| The Fight Isn't Over: Keeping CSX Deal In Spotlight Julie Townsend's job as executive director of the Downtown Lakeland Partnership is to promote downtown Lakeland and its businesses. A lot of her time recently has been spent on debates on the potential impact of additional freight train traffic coming through downtown Lakeland. That traffic would be the direct result of the development of a new CSX freight terminal in Winter Haven and the development of commuter rail in the Orlando area. The Ledger, Lakeland, Fl. http://www.theledger.com/article/20081223/NEWS/812220399/1178?Title=The_Fight_Isn_t_Over__Keeping_CSX_Deal_In_Spotlight | ||||
| Winter Haven residents protest at CSX A group of Central Florida residents picketed outside CSX's Jacksonville headquarters Tuesday to make their case that CSX should offer financial compensation to homeowners living near a planned railroad cargo hub in Winter Haven. "The way CSX makes it profits is by destroying innocent people," said Sharon Kiser, who led the dozen protesters from the Polk County community Sundance Ranch Estates. The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, Fl. http://jacksonville.com/business/2008-12-31/story/winter_haven_residents_protest_at_csx | ||||
| Sundance residents take CSX terminal protest to Jacksonville A group of 12 Sundance Ranch Estates residents traveled to Jacksonville on Tuesday to protest the CSX Integrated Logistics Center, which CSX plans to build adjacent to their neighborhood in south Winter Haven. Sundance resident Sharon Kiser, who's been an outspoken opponent of the CSX rail-truck freight terminal in various meetings in Polk County, said residents protested the way they've been treated. The News Chief, Winter Haven, Fl. http://www.newschief.com/article/20081231/NEWS/812310321 | ||||
| Woman In Anaheim, CA Killed By BNSF While On Phone With 911 A Lake Forest woman who died from injuries suffered when her car was struck by a BNSF freight train in Anaheim , California , dialed 911 to report her predicament and was being urged by a dispatcher to get out of the car when the phone went dead, Anaheim Police said Tuesday. The GAUX Dispatcher. http://news.gaurc.us/?p=694 | ||||
| Picacho rail yard finds an ally. A Phoenix lobbying firm has started a Southern Arizona group for supporters of Union Pacific Railroad's proposed switching yard near Picacho Peak. Friends of the Union Pacific sprung up out of comments at a recent meeting of a Pinal County economic development group, said Larry Landry, president and chief executive officer of Landry Creedon & Associates. Landry said the firm is a registered lobbyist for Union Pacific, representing the railroad since 2006. Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona. http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/fromcomments/272748.php | ||||
| Cargo jobs could drop further in 2009 The housing market isn't the only gold mine putting on the brakes in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The Inland Empire's logistics industry - with its blue-collar jobs infusing retail spending at local stores - experienced its biggest drop ever in job creation in 2008 because of falling container traffic coming through the cargo ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach.The Sun, San Bernardino, CA. http://www.sbsun.com/ci_11370695?source=most_emailed | ||||
| When the Downturn Sailed Into Savannah. Dozier Cook founded the construction crane company that bears his name here 35 years ago. He's weathered economic scares over the years — the wrenching recessions of the mid-1970s and early '80s come to mind — and he's confident that the current downturn will be no worse. His words ring with optimism. The New York Times, New York, NY. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/business/economy/30econ.html?_r=2&8dpc | ||||
| Study bolsters Inland lawmaker's proposed fee on port traffic. Rep. Ken Calvert's plan to impose shipping fees to pay for improvements along the nation's highways and railways was bolstered this week by a new federal report in line with his proposal. The report issued Tuesday, meant to help guide the nation's transportation policy in an era of increased traffic and international shipping, recommends such fees. The Press-Enterprise, Inland Empire, CA. http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_calvert17.34a8d61.html | ||||
Maintained by the Trade, Health & Environment Impact Project |