Not green enough: ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach delay leases to toughen environmental requirements.(Ports)

Terminal operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach are learning the hard way: No matter how rapidly cargo volumes grow and how scarce land becomes, environmental concerns trump commercial interests in Southern California.

P&O Nedlloyd, which desperately wants a terminal of its own on the West Coast, thought it was the top bidder for an 86-acre facility in Los Angeles formerly occupied by Matson Navigation Co. Other bidders included Evergreen Marine Corp., Orient Overseas Container Line and Yusen Terminals, the terminal operator for NYK Line.

P&O Nedlloyd's bid included a goal that 80 percent of the vessels calling at the facility would operate from shore-side …