The goods movement industry experienced substantial growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Freight and logistics are formidable sources of carbon emissions, nitrogen oxide, diesel particulate matter, and other ozone precursors in low-income and minority communities. CLEANR considers the expansion of warehousing and distribution centers as an environmental justice issue. We work to understand how industry dynamics – logistics sprawl, transportation decision-making, access, and patterns, and broader changes in supply chain management contribute to this issue. In addition, we investigate a wide range of land use, planning, and regulatory options to address these concerns.
Current Projects
The Clean Air Act authorizes states to adopt indirect source rules (ISR) for sources that attract emissions from mobile sources. The statute defines “indirect source” as “a facility, building, structure, installation, real property, road, or highway which attracts, or may attract, mobile sources of pollution.” ISR is an underutilized tool to achieve ozone, particulate matter, and other criteria air emissions reduction goals. The South Coast Air Quality Management District’s work to develop indirect source measures is joined by efforts in other California air districts. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) first contemplated ISR under the California Clean Air Act of 1988 and mentions ISR in its own plans. Its Clean Air Plan acknowledges BAAQMD’s authority to adopt regulations to reduce or mitigate emissions from indirect sources and notes that the district “will consider developing a rule that sets air quality performance standards for new and modified [indirect and area wide sources of air pollution].” Given ISR’s renewed use and applicability to disadvantaged communities, CLEANR works with Sierra Club and Earthjustice to learn from prior design, enactment, and implementation of ISR and develop recommendations for ISR rule design. In addition, CLEANR works with academic partners at the University of Southern California to analyze public health burdens and costs of warehouse expansion. We share our findings with regional air districts, California Air Resources Board staff, local and county land use and transportation officials, and the public. For more information, please contact Dr. Gregg Macey, CLEANR Director.
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