Oakland city leaders relied on junk analyses about public health and safety when they approved an ordinance banning coal shipments at a new cargo terminal in 2016. That’s according to U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria who struck down the controversial ordinance Tuesday, siding with a developer who wants to export coal from an old army base in West Oakland.
The developer signed an agreement with Oakland in 2013, allowing the site to be used for bulk good shipments. The plan had the potential to generate more than 1,000 union jobs in a depressed part of the city. But city leaders, including Mayor Libby Schaaf, worried about the health and environmental impacts of the coal operations. Two years ago, they banned all handling and storage of coal and petroleum coke.
Judge Chhabria said the information the city cited when it approved that ordinance was “riddled with inaccuracies.” Furthermore, the idea that this one operation would substantially impact the climate was “facially ridiculous,” he opined.
Oakland leaders have vowed to fight the decision.
"This is a fight for the health of our community. This is a fight for environmental justice and equity,” said Mayor Schaaf. “Oakland's most vulnerable communities have unfairly suffered the burden of pollutants and foul air for too long. We will continue to fight this battle on all fronts."
The city will now discuss possible appeal.