Environmental Impact

[JoeyandDavid]

The Port of Long Beach is expected to release the final environmental impact report today on a 10-year, $750 million harbor expansion that would accommodate the world's largest ships and create 14,000 permanent local jobs.

If all goes according to plan, work on the massive Middle Harbor project could begin as early as December.

Environmentalists and health advocates are demanding a number of revisions and at least $5 million worth of mitigation measures to counter the project's side effects -- heavy truck traffic, excessive noise and light, air pollution and higher rates of respiratory disease and cancer.

But with the unemployment rate hitting nearly 11 percent in Los Angeles County, supporters of the project believe that in upcoming debates the prospects of large-scale industrial growth will carry more weight than the potential environmental impacts.

"It's our very own economic stimulus package," James Hankla, head of the Long Beach Harbor Commission, which will vote April 13 on whether to go forward with the project, said. "We believe it will be approved."

Critics, many of whom complained about having only 10 days to review the voluminous impact report, were preparing to challenge the project. State air quality and health experts say 2,400 premature deaths a year are linked to emissions from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

[Longboysfan]

Is there currently a port area the ships use. I do not see a lot of cruise ships going out of LA.

I woud guess they will adjust the harbor and docking areas.

That involves dredging and toxic soil removal.

[JohnG]

There are two ports out there. The port for Los Angeles is San Pedro, and the other port is the port of Long Beach, which this article refers to.

Only Carnival sails from Long Beach, with the brand new Carnival Splendor sailing 7 night Mexican Riviera sailings every Sunday, and the Carnval Paradise sailing 3 and 4 night cruise on Friday and Monday, respectively.

Only RCCL Mariner is sailing year round from San Pedro, on 7 night Mexican Riviera cruises. Except during the Alaska season (May to Sept) Sapphire Princess and Norwegian Star sail from San Pedro on 7 night Mexican Riviera itineraries.

The Carnival terminal and the Queen Mary (hotel now) aren't even in the photo above. They are off right edge of the photo.

[DebbieandJerry]

Maybe, just maybe (and alot of wishful thinking) this means more itineraries, more options. Us WestCoast travelers would love to be able to "ship hop" like the Floridians and take advantage of any last minute cruise opportunities.

Thanks for the article