Thanks to a legal loophole big enough for an 18-wheeler to drive through, pollution from Washington’s ports -- including Seattle and Tacoma -- is a serious problem.

Ninety-five percent of port trucks in Washington fail to meet current EPA emissions standards. Diesel soot, like that coming from these old, dirty trucks, accounts for up to 85% of the total cancer risk from air pollution.

The reason for this environmental crisis boils down to economics: Thanks to a 30-year old law trucking companies can get away with pushing all the costs of truck ownership and maintenance onto the workers behind the wheel. They rake in profits on the backs of their drivers, who take home around $10 an hour after clocking 50-60 hours a week. Health care is a rare luxury among drivers and after all the expense, they can’t possibly afford clean, low-emissions vehicles.

Washington’s ports needn’t generate pollution and poverty-wage jobs. They could drive the future of clean technology to fuel America’s economic recovery. For that to happen, communities need real regulations to hold the trucking industry accountable for its mess and to spur growth and change at local ports.

The Clean Ports Act of 2010 is critical for Washington. It would give our coastal communities the power to make the port trucking industry clean up its act –- so we don’t have to pay for their diesel mess.  

Tell Washington's leaders in Congress to stand up for port area residents and workers and sponsor the Clean Ports Act of 2010.