Port Commission to vote on July 10
Earlier this month, the Port of Oakland released its 630-page Final Environmental Report on its proposed Turning Basins Widening Project, which is designed to widen both the Inner and Outer Harbor turning basins at the Oakland Seaport. The project is expected to be considered for approval by the Board of Port Commissioners on July 10, according to a City of Alameda post on Facebook.
Alameda City Council “will continue to discuss the project in Closed Session on July 1” and is “preparing to send a supplemental comment letter to the Board of Port Commissioners urging them to take additional meaningful actions to mitigate the impacts of this project on Alameda,” the post stated.
In December 2023, following an earlier draft environmental report, the City sent its Initial Comment Letter—110 pages including exhibits and attachments—which stated, “Although our partnership with the Port and the Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps or USACE) is crucial, the City of Alameda is compelled to take an assertive stance against the Project unless its concerns are adequately addressed.”
Noting that more than half of the Project is located within the City of Alameda, the letter stated, “The Project includes the removal of approximately six acres of land and over 200,000 square feet of maritime commercial buildings in Alameda. The Project greatly impacts City resources, including maritime commercial land uses, seismic shoreline hazards, air quality, noise, and transportation.”
The letter indicated that the City was concerned that the initial report “omitted crucial information about the scope of impacts to Alameda” and failed to “accurately and completely describe the City’s jurisdiction and authority over certain Project elements.”
In addition to issues related to the removal of land and buildings on Alameda Point, the letter outlined transportation, noise and air quality impacts, along with geology/soils, seismic, and sea level rise impacts in Alameda. Proposed mitigation measures were specified.
In conclusion, the letter stated that the environmental impact report “must explore alternatives that avoid using Alameda’s land altogether. The alternatives should include exclusive or complete use of Howard Terminal to facilitate the expanded Turning Basin, which is on Port property and no longer being pursued for a Major League Baseball stadium and waterfront ballpark project by the Oakland Athletics (A’s).”
The complete Initial Comment Letter and Final Environmental Impact Report are available to read or download in PDF format online.
