Oakland’s ban on rail shipments of coal to the Port of Oakland is being challenged in a federal court. The plaintiff, the Oakland Bulk & Oversized Terminal, or OBOT, says Oakland’s ban is not based on real science and is superseded by federal law. Oakland says its ban on the coal shipments is aimed at protecting the health and safety of West Oakland communities that are already suffering from environmental health hazards, which would only be made worse by massive coal shipments to the port.
Christopher Martinez reports.