SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Port representatives from across the nation are packing their bags today and heading to Long Beach, California for three days of back-to-back sessions focused on technologies and programs designed to reduce the environmental impact of all sectors of the goods movement industry (rail, trucking, marine, off-road equipment and air freight). The groundbreaking adoption of the "San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan" by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach last November ignited a firestorm of similar activities at other ports throughout the United States and around the world. Initiatives to address the significant pollution levels created from goods movement activities throughout the nation have received increased attention over the past year, with California's ports leading the way on many of these issues. Representatives from the ports of New York/New Jersey, Seattle, Tacoma, Freeport, Houston, San Diego, South Carolina, Oakland, Maryland, Georgia, and Detroit will join in the discussions with local representatives from Long Beach and Los Angeles.
One of the many highlights of the event will be a panel of port directors from across North America discussing their environmental initiatives and "green leases" -- leases which incorporate low-emission and environmentally- friendly practices and technologies into port operations. With perspectives from the port directors from Long Beach, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey and Seattle, attendees will hear first-hand the various approaches being utilized from the East to the West and North to the South.
This year's Faster Freight - Cleaner Air event will also feature several additional high profile speakers, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, and James Young, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Union Pacific Corporation. Additional distinguished speakers include California Senator Alan Lowenthal, City of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, the California Air Resources Board Chairman Dr. Robert Sawyer, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, and Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge.
Faster Freight - Cleaner Air is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles.
ABOUT FASTER FREIGHT - CLEANER AIR 2007 (FFCA 2007)
FFCA 2007 builds on the success of the inaugural FFCA 2004 in Oakland and the second annual FFCA, held in late January 2006. The 2006 event attracted over 600 attendees and featured more than 100 educational sessions covering a variety of topics focused on key industry sectors including Marine, Rail, Trucking, Off-Road and Infrastructure. Like its predecessors, FFCA 2007 will offer an exposition hall overflowing with technology and vehicle displays, clean air program information, and "Ride & Drive" activities. The conference also provides attendees with the option of taking a harbor tour of the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex or a tour to the Union Pacific rail yard to view five advanced "green" locomotives.
Faster Freight - Cleaner Air will be held February 26-28th, 2007 at the popular Long Beach Convention Center located adjacent to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, together the nation's largest gateway for the import and export of cargo.
Faster Freight - Cleaner Air 2007
