Title
Recommendation to Review and Comment on the Port of Oakland's Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Oakland Harbor Turning Basin Widening Project and on City Staff's Draft Response Letter. (Planning, Building and Transportation 20962700)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On October 3, 2023, the Port of Oakland (Port) released a public review draft of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for its Oakland Harbor Turning Basin Widening Project. The City and members of the public have an opportunity to comment on the Draft EIR by December 18, 2023. The proposed project seeks to widen the existing Inner Harbor Turning Basin to accommodate modern cargo ships maneuvering at the Port of Oakland, and the project requires removing landside property along the Alameda shoreline at Alameda Landing to widen the turning basin. Staff prepared the attached letter identifying areas of deficiencies in the EIR analysis. The letter also states that the project is subject to Alameda City Council review and approval because the modifications to the Alameda shoreline and landside property will require City of Alameda (City) land use entitlements and building permits. At this time, City staff requests City Council to provide input on the draft letter commenting on the adequacy of the EIR (Exhibit 1).
BACKGROUND
The Port is one of the major seaports on the West Coast. According to Port documents, it is the only deep draft container port in Northern California, servicing more than 99 percent of the containerized goods that come to the Bay Area. In 2001, the Port created the Inner Harbor Turning Basin to allow cargo ships up to 1,150 feet in length to turnaround and exit. That project required removing and dredging land on the Alameda shoreline at Alameda Landing to create the turning basin.
Cargo ships have grown in length over time. The Port, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engi...
Click here for full text