Regulators approve plan for cleaning up local and state ports.

STATE air regulators last week approved an ambitious plan to clean up the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, as well as others around the state.

The California Air Resources Board plan would cost between $6 billion and $10 billion to implement over the next decade. It seeks to reduce toxic emissions from goods movement near the ports 20 percent to 40 percent below 2001 levels over the next four years. It would also reduce the health risk from diesel emissions by 85 percent.

"California is fortunate to have a thriving economy and to serve as a national gateway for goods movements. However, we also need to address the problems that accompany this growth," said Air Board Chairman Robert Sawyer after the board vote.

The plan would allow the agency to impose tougher pollution controls on trucks and trains used for goods movement, including retrofitting diesel engines. It also would give the board authority to require that ships use low-sulfur marine fuels or electric power when approaching or docked at the state's ports. And it recommends that local authorities consider health impacts when considering granting approvals for rail yards and port projects.

Critics say the plan includes little funding, especially after the failure earlier this year of a statewide multi-billion-dollar infrastructure bond to clear the Legislature.