Oil Spill in L.A. Harbor Still under Lens
The Coast Guard and California Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response are continuing their investigation of an oil spill that occurred on Sunday in the Los Angeles Harbor. A unified command has been established that includes the Coast Guard, California Fish and Wildlife, and the responsible party. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach command center received a report at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, of an unknown quantity of oil in the vicinity of the 577-foot cargo ship, Istra Ace. The ship was reported to have been leaking heavy fuel in the Cerritos channel at Berth 198. Oil was also observed throughout portions of Cerritos Channel, where booming strategies have been employed.
New L.A. Harbor Commissioners Hold First Meeting
The newly assembled Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners held its first meeting, with four of the five-member panel newly appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Three of the commissioners are Harbor Area residents. The Harbor Commission is expected to elect its president and vice-president at the next Board meeting on December 12 th. “Spurring investment and creating job opportunities at our nation’s No. 1 Port is critical to Los Angeles and the entire country,” said Mayor Garcetti.
L.A. Harbor Commission Approves Railyard Project
The Los Angeles Harbor Commission certified the final Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) intermodal railyard and approved a landmark rail infrastructure project that would increase the efficiency and competitiveness of moving containerized cargo through the nation’s busiest harbor complex to U.S. and global markets. “Modernizing our transportation infrastructure is crucial to creating jobs, strengthening our economy and improving our quality of life in Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino.
LA Harbor Commission to Consider Final EIR
The Port of Los Angeles has released a Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) Project. The proposed project, which involves the construction and operation of a railyard on outer Port property, is located in an industrial area between Sepulveda Boulevard to the north, Pacific Coast Highway to the south, SR-47 to the east and the Dominquez Channel to the west. The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners will consider certifying the Final EIR at its meeting on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 8:30 am. The original meeting location in the Final EIR notice has now been changed to the Cruise Center Terminal Annex Building, located at 390 N. Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro, just north of the USS IOWA.
LA Gets USCG Nod for Electric Boat
Port of Los Angeles gets final Coast Guard approval to create first harbor tour vessel retrofitted with Hybrid-Electric propulsion system. The Port of Los Angeles has received final approval from the U.S. Coast Guard to install a hybrid propulsion system on its 42-year-old harbor tour boat, the Angelena II. Upon completion later this spring, the Angelena II will be the first harbor craft of its kind retrofitted with a hybrid propulsion system that will reduce emissions and fuel usage by more than 95 percent.
Less Diesel Exhaust at Port of Los Angeles
New data from four state-of-the-art air quality monitoring stations in and around the Port of Los Angeles show concentrations of elemental carbon in the Port area air fell in 2009 for the third straight year. Elemental carbon is used as an indicator of diesel particulate matter, or DPM, which is the soot produced by the combustion of diesel fuel. DPM has been designated a toxic air contaminant and known carcinogen by State of California health officials. The results are proof-positive that air quality in the L.A. Harbor is improving as a result of substantial investments the Port, its tenants and other Port-related businesses have made in recent years by purchasing cleaner equipment and participating in a variety of emission-reduction initiatives.
Authorities Investigate Spill in LA Harbor
The U.S. Coast Guard and California Department of Fish and Game, Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) are conducting a joint investigation to determine the cause of an estimated 210 gallon diesel fuel spill into Los Angeles Harbor late Thursday night . Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach received the report of a diesel sheen at berth 240 in the Port of Los Angeles. The Coast Guard immediately responded to the location to conduct an investigation and locate the source of the discharge. The initial investigation did not reveal a source or responsible party. The Coast Guard accessed the Federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and hired Patriot Environmental Services to conduct the $50,000 clean up operation.
