Dear SCF Members,
We are excited to share a major win for the Supply Chain Federation and a broad coalition of allied organizations.
At today’s CA South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Mobile Source Committee hearing, thanks to strong support from our broad coalition and partners — including SCF members, Labor, Maritime, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Retail, Trucking, Warehousing and local Chambers of Commerce — the Committee voted unanimously to continue finalizing the collaborative agreement between the Ports and the AQMD and NOT release the Port Indirect Source Rule (ISR).
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have until the November board meeting to finalize the remaining portions of the agreement.
BACKGROUND
At their August board meeting, the South Coast AQMD Board set a 45-day deadline to finalize a collaborative agreement with the Ports or release the draft language for a Port ISR (Rule 2304). An ISR would have added new fees and mandates on the Ports at a time when Southern California’s trade and logistics sector is already facing tariffs, rising infrastructure costs, workforce shortages, and consumer cost pressures.
ADVOCACY
Over the course of nearly 45 days, representatives from the cities and ports entered intense good-faith negotiations with AQMD staff—totaling over 40 hours of joint discussions—resulting in a near-final framework designed to deliver real emissions reductions, with transparency, more quickly and reliably than an ISR.
The Supply Chain Federation and our partners met with AQMD staff and AQMD board members during this time to urge an agreement with the Ports—emphasizing the Ports’ proven record of reducing emissions while strengthening the goods movement economy at the same time.
THANK YOU
A big thank you to PMSA and the Ports for their tireless advocacy and leadership in helping us reach this point. And a huge thank you to all who testified and engaged in support of this agreement today — including our own Sarah Wiltfong, SCF’s Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer. Your leadership and advocacy made this possible.
As I noted recently in my OC Register op-ed — Let’s build on what works for the supply chain, not failed regulations — smart, collaborative solutions are the way forward. Today’s vote reinforces that principle.
We will continue to keep you updated as the framework moves toward finalization, but for now, please take a moment to celebrate this important victory!
Sincerely,
Tim Jemal
Chief Executive Officer
Supply Chain Federation
