CEQA Appeal Hearing
Matthew Arms
Director of Environmental Planning
Harbor Department
Long Beach City Council Meeting
November 15, 2022
Deep Draft Navigation Feasibility Study and Channel Deepening Project
Deep Draft Navigation Feasibility Study and Channel Deepening Project Purpose & Objectives
• Purpose
o Increase transportation efficiencies for
container and liquid bulk ships at the Port of Long Beach o Improve conditions for ship operations and safety
• Objectives
o Reduce transportation costs, ship congestion,
harbor wait times
o Increase channel depth to encourage replacement of small, less efficient ships with large, more efficient ships
o Remove channel restrictions to enable ships
at maximum capacity
Lightering
Light-Loading
Main Channel
Bend-Ease (widen)
Portions to -76 feet
Approach Channel
-76 feet to -80 feet
Pier J South
Approach Channel,
Turning Basin, Slip,
Berths to -55 feet
Pier J Breakwater
Structural
Improvements
Pier J Electrical Substation
Electric Dredging Equipment
West Basin
-50 feet to -55 feet
Deep Draft Navigation Feasibility Study and Channel Deepening Project Overview
*Approximately 7.4 million cubic yards
of sediment to be dredged
•
Fully Complies with CEQA
• Partnership with United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) • Joint NEPA/CEQA document; USACE completed NEPA in July 2022 •
Scope of Project is Accurate and Adequate
• Construction activities for vessel navigational efficiencies and safety; • No changes to, or expansion of marine terminal operations •
Findings Supported by Substantial Evidence
• In conjunction with NEPA EIS, the EIR is comprehensive to support findings Deep Draft Navigation Feasibility Study and Channel Deepening Project Environmental Impact Report
•
Cargo Growth and Capacity
• No expansion – No physical modifications to marine terminals •
Air
Quality, Health Risk Assessment, and
Greenhouse
Gas
• Regulatory-approved guidance, methodologies, standards, and thresholds • No change to or expansion of marine terminal operations •
Endangered
Species and Water Quality
• No impacts to special-status or endangered species
• Project will allow for fewer ocean-going vessel trips; reduced impacts Deep Draft Navigation Feasibility Study and Channel Deepening Project Appeal Issues
•
Environmental Justice
• No significant impacts associated with Toxic Air Contaminants • Special Condition: $146,753 to Port Community Grants Program •
Cumulative Impacts
• Region of Influence: Inner Harbor Channels of Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles in the north to outer breakwater in the south • CEQA Guidelines: “…standards of practicality and reasonableness” •
Mitigation Measures
• All feasible mitigation measures imposed
• CEQA requires nexus — No nexus between Project and marine terminals operations Deep Draft Navigation Feasibility Study and Channel Deepening Project Appeal Issues
City Council
• Determine whether the
Board of Harbor Commissioners’ certification of
the Final EIR is
in compliance with the requirements of CEQA.
Deep Draft Navigation Feasibility Study and Channel Deepening Project CEQA Appeal
Deep Draft Navigation Feasibility Study and Channel Deepening Project Thank you