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Community Members Condemn Failure to Advance Warehouse Pollution Rulemaking Process

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN DIEGO, May 15, 2026

Contact: Arturo Garcia, arturo.jgs@gmail.com, 619-496-3053

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Community Members Condemn Failure to Advance Warehouse Pollution Rulemaking Process

  • Residents say delay leaves portside and border communities exposed to ongoing diesel truck pollution as federal clean air protections weaken
  • San Diego neighborhoods near warehouses continue facing some of California’s highest diesel pollution and asthma rates

WHAT
The San Diego Air Pollution Control District on Thursday failed to advance a proposed Countywide Warehouse Indirect Source Rule (ISR), a development process for a policy intended to reduce pollution from warehouses and heavy-duty diesel truck traffic in communities near major freight corridors and ports of entry. ISRs have a proven track record of reducing air pollution.

The decision came after testimony from residents, environmental advocates, and public health experts, as well as a community rally outside the County Administration Center attended by residents from Barrio Logan, National City, San Ysidro, and Otay Mesa.

The proposed rule development process would have explored ways for warehouses and distribution facilities to reduce emissions associated with truck traffic and freight activity through measures such as zero-emission trucks, charging infrastructure, and cleaner freight operations.

WHY
Advocates say the decision leaves communities exposed to ongoing diesel pollution at a time when federal clean air protections are increasingly uncertain.

San Diego was recently ranked the fifth-worst region in the nation for year-round particle pollution and seventh worst for ozone pollution.  Diesel pollution in portside and border communities is linked to serious health harms, including cancer, premature death, and increased hospitalizations for heart and lung disease, as well as higher rates of asthma and reduced lung function in children. Diesel emissions are responsible for 84% of cancer risk from air pollution in portside neighborhoods and 79% in border neighborhoods. Neighborhoods including Barrio Logan, West National City, and Otay Mesa experience diesel pollution exposure levels higher than 90% of California communities.

Heavy-duty diesel trucks remain a major source of pollution in these areas. Although medium- and heavy-duty trucks make up only 1% of vehicles in San Diego County, they produce 13% of diesel particulate matter emissions.

Residents and health advocates say local action is especially important after federal actions weakened California’s authority to enforce stricter vehicle emissions standards.

THE VOTE, RESULTS
The San Diego Air Pollution Control District Governing Board is made up of county supervisors, local elected officials, and public appointees with environmental justice, public health, and scientific expertise. 

The board voted 5-4 against initiating the ISR development process. The vote was not on adopting a final rule, but on whether to begin a public rulemaking process to develop one.

Below is how each board member voted:

  • Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, San Diego County Board of Supervisors Representative — Yes
  • Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, San Diego County Board of Supervisors Representative — Absent
  • San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Mayor of San Diego Member At-Large — No
  • National City Councilmember Marcus Bush, District 1 Representative — No
  • Santee Councilmember Laura Koval, District 2 Representative — No
  • Coronado Mayor John Duncan, District 3 Representative — No
  • City of San Diego Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, District 4 Representative — Absent
  • Escondido Councilmember Judy Fitzgerald, District 5 Representative — No
  • Dr. Anne Marie Birkbeck-Garcia, Public Health Representative — Yes
  • Georgette Gomez, Environmental Justice Representative — Yes
  • Paula Stigler Granados, Scientific and Technical Representative — Yes


QUOTE
“Yesterday’s decision ignores the reality families in portside and border communities face every day,” said José Franco Garcia, executive director of Environmental Health Coalition. “Children are growing up surrounded by diesel truck traffic, warehouses, and some of the worst air pollution in the country. Federal protections have been rolled back, local leaders should be stepping up for public health, not delaying action. While the motion ultimately failed, we thank Paloma Aguirre, Anne Marie Birkbeck-Garcia, Georgette Gomez, and Paula Stigler Granados for voting to move the ISR process forward.”

“Yesterday’s decision is a disappointing failure to confront one of the fastest-growing sources of harmful air pollution in our region,” said Charles Rilli, deputy chapter director at the Sierra Club San Diego. “Communities living near warehouses and logistics facilities continue to bear the burden of diesel pollution, increased asthma rates, and other serious health impacts while the Air District delays action. 

An Indirect Source Rule is a proven tool to reduce emissions, improve air quality and protect public health. Refusing to even begin the rulemaking process ignores both the science and the voices of impacted residents. The majority of the governing board chose to protect industry operators rather than push forward in starting a rulemaking process to protect our community and residents. The transition to a zero-emission transportation sector is here, and we need bold local action to mandate emission reductions from these operations. Sierra Club San Diego will continue pushing for bold action to protect public health and advance environmental justice.”

“This delay leaves a heavy burden on our families,” said Anthony Dang, policy and community outreach manager at Climate Action Campaign. “Diesel soot is a double hit: it pollutes the air we breathe while trapping intense heat right in our backyards. We can’t claim to be climate leaders while we let trucks cook our atmosphere and congest our communities. Our neighborhoods deserve action now, not more empty promises.” 

Links:

Contact: Arturo Garcia, arturo.jgs@gmail.com, 619-496-3053

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ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COALITION 

Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) works for environmental justice in the San Diego/Tijuana region and throughout California. Founded in 1980, EHC has worked to reduce pollution and improve health and well-being for thousands of people in underserved, low-income communities.

EHC stands with workers, community and all people on International Workers Day 

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As the only binational environmental justice organization in the region, EHC has always supported the actions and principles represented by International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day. Again, this year, we stand with organized labor, community organizations, workers, and people around the world taking action on May 1. We believe in the environmental justice principle that communities speak for themselves, that working people have the right to fight corporate pollution and fascist violence, and that they will win. 

EHC and the environmental justice movement are rooted in the civil rights movement and in human rights struggles around the world. The belief that all communities deserve to live, work, and play in a clean and safe environment is as connected to fights about the location of toxic waste sites as it is to industrial workers’ demands for an 8-hour workday.  

People living in environmental justice communities are facing attacks on all sides. They are fighting industrial polluters, rising costs of living, unlawful ICE raids, and more. This May 1st, it is more important than ever that we stand with people and our allies around the world by striking, marching, and protesting. 

May Day movements have led to fair wages, fair work hours, and better working conditions. This year, labor and grassroots activists are organizing a National Day of Action calling on people not to go to work, school, or spend money. We encourage all to join one of the many actions in San Diego and around the world to demand:  

  • Worker’s rights  
  • Women’s rights 
  • Human rights 
  • Civil rights 
  • The right to clean air 
  • The right to affordable housing 
  • The right to green spaces 
  • Accountability for corporate polluters 
  • Taxing billionaires their fair share  
  • Immigrant and refugee rights 

We are stronger together!  

Where to take action: 

Vote postponed to reduce cancer-causing air pollution

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SAN DIEGO AIR DISTRICT POSTPONES VOTE TO REDUCE CANCER-CAUSING DIESEL POLLUTION FROM WAREHOUSES

Coalition of environmental justice advocates and concerned residents vow to continue fighting for a warehouse indirect source rule to reduce lung-damaging diesel pollution after San Diego Air Pollution Control District (SD APCD) governing board postpones a vote on the issue.

SAN DIEGO, CA, APRIL 10, 2026 – On April 9, 2026, after listening to more than 30 public comments the SD APCD governing board postponed (continued) their vote on developing a ISR to reduce air pollution from warehouses and distribution centers, indicating the delay would allow them more time to have a robust discussion on the matter. Currently, San Diego County does not have any regulations to prevent or reduce cancer-causing air pollution from warehouses, distribution centers, or highways.

“We remain committed to ensuring San Diegans get an ISR that protects their lungs and holds warehouses and distribution centers responsible for the toxic pollution they generate,” said Jose Franco Garcia, the executive director of Environmental Health Coalition. “Polluters are supporting the SD APCD’s staff recommendation to wait and see, but cancer does not wait and see. We need rules, requirements and incentives NOW to protect people’s health.”

In 2025, Congress used the Congressional Review Act to illegally revoke California regulations, including the Advance Clean Truck rule, which would have reduced diesel pollution by transitioning heavy-duty diesel trucks to zero-emission vehicles. In addition, the EPA has cancelled millions of dollars in clean air funding for San Diego communities, is working to destroy laws that protect residents from polluters, and is making it harder for California to reduce toxic emissions.

“San Diego is at a critical crossroads for clean air and environmental justice. With the withdrawal of the advanced clean fleet regulation and federal rollbacks weakening clean air protections- local action is more urgent than ever.” Said Charles Rilli, Deputy Chapter Director, Sierra Club San Diego “By adopting an indirect source rule, the Air Pollution Control District can protect frontline communities, hold warehouse operators accountable for the pollution they emit, and ensure cleaner air for all,”

Diesel pollution is known to cause cancer, increase respiratory disease, and decrease lung function in children. Barrio Logan, West National City, and parts of San Ysidro breathe more diesel pollution than 90% of communities in CA.

“In Portside communities, we have warehouses where heavy-duty trucks are always coming and going, spewing diesel pollution,” said Alicia Sanchez, a National City resident. “My husband is battling cancer, and the pollution is really bad for his condition. There is no reason to wait; we need a Warehouse Indirect Rule as soon as possible.”

Diesel emissions cause 84% of the cancer risk from air pollution in San Diego’s Portside neighborhoods, and 79% of the cancer risk from air pollution in Border neighborhoods. Children in Barrio Logan and San Ysidro have almost double the rate of asthma emergency room visits than San Diego County as a whole.

“Trucks going to and from warehouses emitting diesel pollution are contributing to worsened health outcomes for our Border and Portside families, as well as greenhouse gas emissions impacting our region at large,” Anthony Dang, Policy and Community Outreach Manager, Climate Action Campaign. “It’s time to end this injustice and prioritize adopting an indirect source rule that relieves these frontline communities from pollution while also advancing our region toward its climate goals.”

On-road mobile sources are the second-highest emitters of diesel pollution in the Portside area, with heavy-duty trucks emitting the most in this group at 43%. Medium and heavy-duty trucks make up only 1% of all vehicles in San Diego County but emit 13% of all diesel particulate matter. The International Border Community has the most warehouses and distribution centers in the county concentrated in only 24 square miles.

“It is evident through research and reports, such as the CalEnviroscreen 5.0 draft, that air pollution in our region is quickly getting worse,” said Valeria Hash, the advocacy and engagement officer for Casa Familiar. “Our health cannot wait. An ISR is a proven method of improving air quality, public health, and reducing climate pollution. We need to start working on a Warehouse ISR now as it is critical to meeting the goals in the region’s emission reduction plans.”

The coalition of environmental justice advocates includes the Environmental Health Coalition, Sierra Club, Climate Action Campaign, Casa Familiar, Earthjustice, Pacific Environment, and San Diego 350.

To learn more, visit bit.ly/sdcleanairrule, and to download the fact sheet, click here.

CONTACT:
Angelica Estrada
angelicae@environmentalhealth.org
562-708-3093

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Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) works for environmental justice in the San Diego/Tijuana region and throughout California. Founded in 1980, EHC has worked to reduce pollution and improve health and well-being for thousands of people in underserved, low-income communities.

How does shore power & ZE cargo handling equipment improve air quality?

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In this interview with Renée Yarmy, LEED AP O+M, the Maritime Sustainability Manager at the Port of San Diego, you learn what shore power and zero-emission cargo handling equipment are and how they improve air quality.

What is shore power?

Shore power is a clean energy solution that allows ships at berth to connect to electricity rather than burning fuel from their auxiliary engines. This helps cut emissions that impact air quality and noise. Essentially, the ship plugs into electricity at the dock. This provides power to everything they might have on a vessel. For example, lights, refrigeration, and heating and cooling systems.

What is zero-emissions cargo handling equipment?

Cargo handling equipment is the machinery that is used at ports and terminals to move cargo. For example, cranes, forklifts, and yard tractors.

When we say that we’re shifting towards zero emissions (ZE) cargo handling equipment, this typically means moving to equipment that runs on electricity. So instead of being powered by fossil fuels like diesel, propane, or gasoline, these ZE technologies produce no exhaust emissions while operating.

How does shore power and ZE cargo handling equipment improve air quality generally?

The Port of San Diego is doing its part to improve air quality in the Portside Communities. Use of ZE equipment and shore power eliminates pollution like diesel particulate matter which can lead to respiratory illnesses and aggravate existing health issues.  Cleaner air promotes a safe and healthy environment for workers and community members alike. 

Can you share the Port’s clean air and electrification goals?

The Port’s clean air goals are outlined in the Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS) and our Climate Action Plan.

Some of the MCAS goals go beyond the requirements of California’s air quality regulations. One of these goals is to transition 100% of our cargo handling equipment to ZE equipment by 2030. Another goal is to shift 100% of the trucks that serve the Port to ZE vehicles by 2030, with an interim goal of transitioning 40% to ZE by June 30, 2026. We realize this is ambitious since we’re nearly at the June milestone. We’re revisiting how we can continue to advance electric trucks and cargo handling equipment.

We also have goals focused on vessels and harbor craft to facilitate additional shore power systems so that more ships can plug into electricity instead of running their engines while they are at our terminals.

We accomplished our objective to support the implementation of the 1st all electric tugboat in the U.S. by 2026 implemented by Crowley Marine, and the Climate Action Plan goal to reduce GHG emissions by 10% below the 2006 baseline by 2020. As we look out to 2030 and 2050, we’re really looking at how we can realign some of the Climate Action Plan’s goals with the State’s targets.

What is the Clean Cargo Project?

The Port of San Diego’s Clean Cargo Project (CCP) is a transformative project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Ports Program. It is focused on furthering clean air and electrification efforts at our maritime facilities in the Portside communities, which are Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights, and west National City.

The project is approximately $58.6 million from the EPA, coupled with match funding totaling $27.7 million from the Port, our project partners, and a grant from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District. The total project value is approximately $86.3 million.

Can you also outline its different phases?

Although the project isn’t really labeled formally as phases, we have three different project locations.

There is the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal at the north end of the Portside community, adjacent to Barrio Logan. We are upgrading the electrical system that loops around the terminal to support the chargers that are needed for the ZE equipment, as well as the new shore power systems. With the funding, we will install 24 chargers to support the ZE cargo handling equipment, one shore power plug to support ocean-going vessels, and three shore power outlets for commercial harbor craft.

Working a little bit further south, we have our second project site, the proposed Tidelands Avenue Electric Truck Hub. This component of the project is currently going through the environmental review process. It will include 23 charging stations and 25 ZE trucks funded by the EPA grant, committed to serving the Port as part of the project.

Then the third project site is at our National City Marine Terminal. Pasha Automotive Services, a subsidiary of The Pasha Group, is the operator of this facility. About an eighth of the nation’s cars are brought in through this terminal. This project includes 20 ZE medium-duty shuttle vans, as well as five additional pieces of ZE cargo handling equipment and 18 charging stations.

The CCP also includes two other components, a workforce development program and a community outreach initiative, which is led by the Environmental Health Coalition.

How will the Port’s shore power and ZE cargo handling equipment initiatives improve air quality in San Diego’s Portside communities?

Because the three project sites are in the heart of the Portside communities, there’ll be a direct benefit to air quality improvements. We’re going to see the transformation of the majority of the cargo handling equipment at these facilities to zero emission technologies. We’ll also have more vessels at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal using shore power instead of fuel. All these activities will reduce the air pollutants I brought up before; nitrogen oxide, diesel particulate matter, and GHG emissions.

What steps has the Port taken so far to transition to shore power and ZE cargo handling equipment? Can you share examples of some successes? 

A lot of investment to date has been made at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and even Crosby Pier, just south of the terminal, adjacent to the Cesar Chavez Park. 

We procured the first all-electric mobile harbor cranes. That means we replaced one of our dirtiest, most polluting pieces of cargo handling equipment with two all-electric mobile harbor cranes – a first in all of North America. This was a significant investment for the Port, with approximately $8.6 million for the supporting infrastructure and $14.7 million to procure the cranes. 

As I mentioned before, Crowley built the first electric tug in the United States, which is now supporting the ocean-going vessels that come into the Port. 

We’ve also seen a lot of investment at our National City Marine Terminal with the shore power system that we recently completed, marking this as the first shore power system for Roll-on/Roll-off cargo vessels operating in California.We also procured an emissions capture control system, or what we call a bonnet, for vessels not capable of shore powering. This system offers another significant emissions reduction benefit. We are using this bonnet primarily at the National City Marine Terminal.

About 20% of the Port’s fleet has also transitioned to ZE.

Since implementing electrification and ZE technologies, what air quality improvements have been achieved in the Portside community?

Since our baseline of 2019, we’ve seen an overall 46% reduction in diesel particulate matter, a 32% reduction in NOx, and a 10% reduction in GHG emissions across all three of the Port’s terminals.

We’re going to continue to track our achievements on an annual basis to ensure that we’re making additional progress in these three areas of air quality.

How were the emission reduction numbers calculated? 

The Port brings on a consulting team to prepare emissions inventories, which involves evaluating all maritime activities at the Port that produce emissions.  For example, how many ships were in, how long were they in for, did they connect to any shore power technology, etc. We also inventory  all the equipment  operating at the terminals and the number of hours or amount of fuel consumed over a full year, the size (horsepower) and age of the engine and other factors. All the activity-based data is used to calculate  how much air pollution is generated from the various maritime activities (ships, cargo handling equipment, trucks, etc.).  

All this information goes into an inventory model prepared by our contractors, followed by quality assurance and quality control review with Port staff.

When we do these calculations, we refer to industry standards that have been created across the port industry or within the state.

Learn more about the Port of San Diego’s Clean Cargo Project

California Restores $7.3M for Climate Projects

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California Restores $7.3M for Climate Projects in San Diego’s Historic Barrios After EPA Cuts

State funding revives the Rooted in Comunidad, Cultivating Equity initiative led by San Diego Foundation and the Environmental Health Coalition

Long-planned investments in cleaner air, safer streets, and expanded green space will move forward in San Diego’s historic barrios after the California Strategic Growth Council approved an additional $7.3 million to close a funding gap left by cuts to previously awarded EPA grants.

The Dec. 10 decision restores the Rooted in Comunidad, Cultivating Equity (RICCE) initiative — a Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grant — to its originally proposed $29.5 million funding level, ensuring that all community-identified improvement projects can proceed as planned. The additional funding was made possible by the passage of Proposition 4 in 2024, which supports expanded investment in climate-related projects. The initiative is led by San Diego Foundation and the Environmental Health Coalition, working alongside 10 dedicated community partner organizations.

Developed through extensive community engagement in Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights, Shelltown, Stockton, Grant Hill, Mount Hope, and Southcrest, the project reflects priorities identified directly by residents, including:

  • Improved air quality near industrial corridors
  • Safer, more accessible streets and transit connections
  • Urban greening and expanded open space
  • Workforce development tied to climate-related careers
  • Increased affordable housing and anti-gentrification efforts

“This funding restoration demonstrates California’s commitment to supporting community-driven climate solutions, even during times of uncertainty,” said Mark Stuart, President and CEO of San Diego Foundation. “San Diego Foundation remains dedicated to being a steady, reliable partner for the residents of the historic barrios, ensuring that investments align with community priorities and that a healthier, more sustainable future can move forward as planned.”

The supplemental award restores California’s original level of support for the project following funding volatility that affected climate initiatives statewide:

  • The Rooted in Comunidad, Cultivating Equity initiative was initially awarded $22 million in 2023, with project partners encouraged to seek additional resources to close the remaining gap.
  • While federal funding for the initiative awarded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2024 was later rescinded in 2025 as part of a national policy shift, the state of California’s action ensures stability for the community-driven work and allows implementation to proceed as planned.

“This funding is an initial step in restoring hope and trust in a community that wasn’t just devastated by the EPA funding cuts this year, but that has been underinvested in for generations,” said Jose Franco Garcia, Executive Director of Environmental Health Coalition. “This is a huge win for San Diego’s historic barrios, especially the over 400 community members who participated in the grant application process, helping identify which improvement projects will preserve, protect, and strengthen their community.”

California’s TCC program invests in neighborhood-level climate solutions in communities facing longstanding environmental and economic challenges. Projects are required to be developed with meaningful community input and to deliver measurable benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved public health, and economic opportunity. The RICCE initiative represents one of four projects across the state selected for TCC funding in 2023.

With full state funding now secured, project partners are moving forward with implementation while continuing to explore additional resources to address the loss of federal support.

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About San Diego Foundation

San Diego Foundation believes in just, equitable and resilient communities where every San Diegan can prosper, thrive and feel like they belong. We partner with donors, nonprofits and regional leaders to co-create solutions that respond to community needs and strengthen San Diego. Since our founding in 1975, our community foundation has granted $1.8 billion to nonprofits to improve quality of life in San Diego County and beyond. Join us in commemorating 50 years of impact — and looking toward the next 50 — by learning more at SDFoundation.org.

About Environmental Health Coalition

Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) works for environmental justice in the San Diego/Tijuana region and throughout California. Founded in 1980, EHC has worked to reduce pollution and improve health and well-being for thousands of people in underserved, low-income communities. 

HUGE VICTORY FOR NATIONAL CITY AND CLEAN AIR 

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National City residents and community allies successfully defeated Texas-polluter, USD Group, LLC’s proposed fuel transfer station, which would have increased diesel pollution and truck traffic less than a mile from Kimball Elementary 

Environmental Health Coalition’s statement on the community’s defeat of USD Group, LLC’s proposed fuel transfer station:  

Yesterday, November 4, 2025, was a HUGE triumph for National City residents, Kimball Elementary students, and clean air. The National City Council listened to their constituents and unanimously voted to reject USD Group, LLC’s proposed fuel transfer station. It was a long hard-fought victory for National City residents, who have been speaking out against the project since they first learned about it in 2023. This win would not have been possible without the amazing coalition of residents, parents, educators, doctors, community-based organizations, and allies that came together to defend National City against this Texas-based corporate polluter. Olivewood Garden & Learning Center and SanDiego350.org were amazing partners in this fight. They empowered, engaged, and supported the community to organize and make their voices heard. We are so thankful for the National School District for showing up in defense of their students, and for the Kimball Elementary School students and 5th graders from Central School who wrote letters to the City Council in opposition to the project. This is what democracy looks like. 

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If you would like to read more about the City Council vote, read this article.

Or you can watch the live stream here.