You can exhale now, because “U.S. court refuses to halt clean-truck program at L.A. and Long Beach ports” reads the headline in today’s Los Angeles Times.

Judge Leon’s denial of the Federal Maritime Commission’s motion was based on the federal agency’s “weak” arguments that the LA and Long Beach Ports’ differing “concession” models would cause irreparable harm to – or create anti-competitive conditions for – the goods movement industry. The LA Clean Trucks Program in particular aims to reduce diesel truck pollution by 80%, deliver $5 billion to the regional economy, and create stronger safety and security enforcement, meaning it will help clear a pathway to job-creating future port expansion projects.

In other words, the sky didn’t fall on October 1^st when the Clean Trucks Program went into effect and it’s not falling now. The decision is a welcomed breath of fresh air for the port residents, drivers, political leaders, public health advocates and environmentalists who made the development of the Clean Trucks Program a reality in the first place.

And, as LA City Councilwoman Janice Hahn noted: "We've always had the public on our side, now we have the law on our side too. I'm glad the judge was looking out for the people's health rather than the perceived harm to the trucking industry."

Mayor Villaraigosa, a key architect of what the Bush-appointed Judge Leon called an “...ambitious, multi-faceted program to reduce high levels of air pollution while also striving to improve the Ports’ safety and security” reacted to the favorable ruling:

"This is a clear victory for our Clean Trucks Program and the idea you can both green and grow the Port of Los Angeles at the same time.''

Through a statement, the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports called on Members of Congress to continue helping to protect the green-growth policy that will save lives and improve safety and security, and to examine how the deregulation of port trucking, like that of the financial sector, has been a disaster for highway safety, air quality, and on job quality.  Read More.