MORENO VALLEY – (INT) – Opponents of the proposed World Logistics Center are back in court.

Environmental-justice and conservation groups have sued Moreno Valley for approving the massive a 40-million-square-foot warehouse project.

Their contentions are familiar that the project would worsen already poor air quality and harm wildlife in the nearby San Jacinto Wildlife Area.

It’s estimated the World Logistics Center would generate 400,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution annually and require more than 14,000 truck trips to the site every day. Those trucks would be transporting goods 80 miles from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to Moreno Valley along congested freeways and surface streets.

Initially approved by the city in 2015, the controversial project was challenged by numerous government agencies, community and environmental groups. A Riverside Superior Court judge ruled in 2018 that the environmental review for the project was inadequate. The ruling was appealed and is currently pending before the 4th District Court of Appeal.

In the meantime the city and developer continue to push forward with the project and reapproved it with a revised environmental impact report in June.

The lawsuit was filed July 17th in Riverside County Superior Court by Earthjustice, the Center for Biological Diversity and Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP on behalf of Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, the Center for Biological Diversity, Coalition for Clean Air, Sierra Club and San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society.

Story Date: July 28, 2020