DELTA, B.C. — Since adding new environmental standards to its licensing system last month, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) has taken 250 trucks out of the system, because the trucks were deemed not clean enough to be allowed to access port property under new environmental regulations, according to the Delta Optimist.

The first phase of the environmental requirements went into effect April 1. Under those regulations, all trucks built before 1994 had to pass an opacity test (which measures a truck’s emissions), before the end of March. Higher opacity readings are connected with higher particulate matter emissions.

In addition to passing the test, all trucks built prior to 1989 must also now be outfitted with a VFPA-approved age emission reduction measure. Any trucks that do not meet the requirements are no longer allowed to travel to and from VFPA ports, including Deltaport at Roberts Bank.

“Those trucks are now off the roads,” said Chris Badger, the VFPA’s chief operating officer, who spoke to the Optimist.

The port authority is now looking at expanding the more stringent environmental regulations to include trucks built before 1994, which should be brought into effect early next year. As well, Badger said the port authority is considering a long-term plan sometime in the next few weeks.

The licensing system was designed a few years ago after concerns about the trucking system were raised.

“As part of the process to bring stability to
that market… the licensing system was designed,” he said. “We believe it’s been fairly successful. We’ve already managed to achieve some of the stability in the market,” he said.

Badger said the port authority continues to work with the B.C. Trucking Association to establish “more community friendly practices.”

In addition to the new environmental requirements, Badger said the VFPA has been working with the province and the Insurance Corporation of B.C. on a system to share ticketing information. The VFPA would also like to know if the trucks the authority is doing business with, have other violations registered against them. He said the three parties have been trying to work out an agreement for a number of months.