Following a series of legislative advancements meant to curb freight and logistics pollution, community advocates remain steadfast. They are calling for stronger enforcement, public participation and coordination among government agencies as the South Coast Air Quality Management District implements its warehouse emissions rule across a region where goods movement accounts for roughly half of smog-forming emissions.
As the distribution heartbeat of the nation, the Inland Empire is home to over one billion square feet of warehouses — with 55 million square feet added since 2023 and an additional 125 million square feet pending review — as roughly 40% of the country’s consumer goods travel through San Bernardino and Riverside counties from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
According to a 2026 State of the Air report by the American Lung Association, San Bernardino and Riverside counties rank first and second, respectively, for the most polluted counties in the United States. This marks the 26th consecutive year that the region’s ozone and particle pollution has topped the list. While advocates welcome local mitigation efforts, they continue to press air-quality agencies for bolder action.
During an Aug. 22 Freight Communities Action Coalition (FCAC) meeting, SCAQMD Assistant Deputy Executive Officer Ian MacMillan described a recent Warehouse Indirect Source Rule (ISR) as the first regulation of its kind in the country. The Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) program, or Rule 2305, adopted in May 2021, applies to warehouses of at least 100,000 square feet. The rule requires operators to take actions to reduce their air-quality impacts, including zero-emission trucks, electrification and solar infrastructure upgrades. MacMillan said the rule has reduced emissions by about 15%…