Alan Lowenthal's Container Fee Bill Nearing Approval?

 Despite continued opposition from retailers, farmers and shippers, it appears California lawmakers are set to approve State Sen. Alan Lowenthal's container fee bill, SB 974 in coming days, and the Long Beach legislator hopes to have the bill on the governor's desk by next week.

The bill is on the state assembly floor in Sacramento now and has already been approved by the state senate. Supporters expect an assembly vote on Thursday or Monday.

The bill establishes a $30 tax on every 20-foot-equivalent seaborne container moved through ports in Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland. The estimated $500 million generated by the fee annually would be restricted for infrastructure improvements and clean-air initiatives tied to goods movement in California.

A mushrooming of international trade through California's ports has led to worsening traffic congestion and health impacts from trucks and trains used to move those goods inland. Health studies link pollution from goods-movement to some 3,700 premature deaths in California annually -primarily from diseases like cancer, asthma and heart disease.

In a visit to Long Beach in December, Schwarzenegger signaled support for SB 974, which he said needs to be seriously considered in light of California's lingering air quality problems and worsening infrastructure problems.

 In 2006, he vetoed a similar $30 container fee, and last September withheld his signature from a slightly altered version of the same bill, saying he needed more time. Lowenthal and his supporters think that time is now.

The senator's office said Tuesday they expect a vote by June 30 at the latest - possibly after some minor amendments. State lawmakers begin summer recess in early July.