With Geraldine Knatz

Executive director, Port of Los Angeles

Geraldine Knatz was named executive director of the Port of Los Angeles in January, and she immediately established an agenda of promoting responsible growth and environmental leadership. Previously, Knatz worked at the Port of Long Beach, serving the last seven years as managing director.

Long Beach because two alternatives are mostly in that city. A key issue here is that the near-dock site in Wilmington would be an exclusive BNSF yard, whereas the Terminal Island location would have to be open to Union Pacific as well. The Terminal Island site will require some landfill, and BNSF is concerned that would delay construction, but who’s to say how long

Q. Expansion projects at the port all but stopped the each project will take until we complete the EIRs? past few years. What key marine terminal projects must be completed to handle the projected growth in cargo volume? Q. Could the ports conceivably build both projects?

A. We have a major capital improvement program A. The master plan for rail cites the need for more focusing on terminal improvements for nearly all our on-dock as well as near-dock rail capacity. One goal is customers. We have 12 environmental impact reports to maximize on-dock rail. Long term, an off-dock ter- (EIRs) under way, including one for virtually every con- minal on Terminal Island could free up terminal space tainer terminal. Since I came here, I have been working or add to the capabilities of customers who have no on a schedule of development projects for all of the ten- room to expand on dock. ants with EIRs in the queue. I met with the tenants and outlined our new procedures. We will do the health risk Q. To make the railyards more palatable for nearby analysis for each project up front and then identify the communities, you must address the issue of dirty trucks mitigation measures that are required. It’s not going to calling at the near-dock railyards. This would still be a be pretty. Frankly, once we have agreement on the health problem no matter how clean the rail operations are. risks and the mitigation measures, moving forward A. It’s obvious that we can’t meet the health risk should be a piece of cake. We’ve already shaken loose a threshold without cleaning up the truck fleet. The ques-few projects, such as grade separations, that don’t need tion is how to get the cleanest possible trucks into the EIRs, but most projects don’t fall into that category. hands of the owner-operators. It’s not a money issue.

Q. What mitigation measures are needed to reduce emissions from vessel, rail and truck operations?

With the ongoing Gateway Cities truck-subsidy program and the governor’s proposed transportation infrastructure bond issue, the money can be found. The ports are also willing to contribute. It’s the mechanism for making this all work that I am still struggling with.

A. Some tenants are concerned that we’re going to dictate every step they should take, but that’s not the case. If they have better ideas, we want to hear about them. To meet the health risk thresholds, though, certain Q. Transportation experts say the port infrastructure measures are obvious. Operating vessels at berth from can accommodate growth for three or four years before electrical power is a given, as is alternative fuel in yard reaching capacity. Will most of the planned port projects equipment. The voluntary speed-reduction program for be under way or completed by 2010? vessels must have 100 percent compliance. The big items A. Definitely. We will release six EIRs in draft form continue to be cleaning up trucks and locomotives. Over this year and complete them in 2007. The next 18 time, every truck and every locomotive will have to be as months will be devoted to the EIRs, and the major con-clean as technology allows, but we can’t accomplish it all struction will begin after they’re on day one. complete. We will also look at the layout of the port. There are a

BNSF we will run a health risk analysis on the emissions the harbor. at the Wilmington site. We have to work with the Port of — Bill Mongelluzzo

Q. You have proposed construction of a near-dock rail- number of vacant parcels on yard on Terminal Island as a possible alternative to Terminal Island that can be com-

BNSF’s planned near-dock railyard four miles from the bined with adjacent facilities. We harbor. Will the Terminal Island site be easier to sell to may be able to move facilities the community? around and combine parcels to

A. Both alternatives will be in the EIR. I’ve told develop a more logical blueprint for