Federal agency sued over ports’ clean trucks plan

The National Resources Defense Council filed the lawsuit against the agency Tuesday in Washington to get the FMC to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request it filed in November.

The Associated Press

5/20/2009

LOS ANGELES — An environmental organization has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Federal Maritime Commission to get information about the agency’s opposition to the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports’ new clean trucks program.

The National Resources Defense Council filed the lawsuit against the agency Tuesday in Washington to get the agency to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request it filed in November.

The Santa Monica-based council wants to know why the commission got involved in challenging the ports’ plan.

The commission had sued the ports to delay parts of the plan, which is aimed at reducing diesel emissions at the ports by replacing older trucks with cleaner models.

A federal judge in Los Angeles denied the commission’s request in April.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at kevinj@thetrucker.com.

Follow The Trucker on Twitter at www.twitter.com/truckertalk.