Review Needed Before Mexican Trucks Hit U.S. Roads

A federal appeals court in San Francisco has ruled that the government must complete an environmental review before letting Mexican trucks on U.S. highways.

The decision was handed down today by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It comes after a coalition of groups asked the court to stay President Bush’s decision opening highways to Mexican trucks beyond the 20-mile commercial border zones.

Now, cargo is transferred to U.S. trucks inside that zone. U.S. trucks take the cargo to its final destination.

The coalition had argued that the Department of Transportation didn’t adequately review how Mexican trucks would affect air quality north of the border. The government says it´s reviewing the decision and hasn’t decided if it’s going to appeal.