The proposed growth of Oakland Airport handed one other hurdle on Friday after the Port of Oakland Fee unanimously licensed the Environmental Impression Report at its board assembly Thursday to exchange an growing older terminal and modernize current infrastructure on the airport.
The undertaking proposal will head to the Federal Aviation Company for a federal environmental assessment of the undertaking to streamline passenger service and modernize the airport. However opponents of the undertaking say the EIR is “faulty and incomplete” in its evaluation of the environmental and public well being penalties of the undertaking.
“The importance of the proposed OAK Terminal Modernization and Development Project to the future of our airport and our region cannot be overstated,” Port of Oakland Board President Michael Colbruno stated. “This major milestone allows the Port to continue moving the project forward while boosting local job creation and economic activity.”
The primary characteristic of the undertaking proposal is the substitute of components of Terminal 1, which was constructed within the Sixties and is now outdated with trendy requirements for effectivity, security and seismic requirements, in accordance with the Port of Oakland. The present terminal can be demolished and changed with a brand new terminal erected inside the current airport footprint. The undertaking’s advocates say the substitute of the terminal would help Oakland Airport in assembly “forecasted regional air travel demand” over the subsequent 20 years.
Opponents of the undertaking rejected the commissioners’ reasoning, nevertheless, stating that air journey is down at Oakland Airport because the pandemic and continues to fall with the rise of digital work. The Cease OAK Growth Alliance stated the undertaking would “dramatically increase toxic air pollution breathed by airport workers and surrounding communities,” and the ultimate EIR didn’t carry out a Group Well being Impression Evaluation.
“We are exploring legal and other options to delay this project in order to force the Port to comply with state law to protect the health of our vulnerable children of East Oakland subject to air pollution under the flight paths, whose mothers’ testimony in the Port hearing room last night the Commissioners chose to ignore,” stated David Foecke, a steering committee member for Cease OAK Growth Alliance.
Port of Oakland commissioners say they’re dedicated to limiting the environmental impression of the brand new growth on the local people whereas updating the airport.
“We celebrate the Board’s certification of the Final EIR and what it means for our mission to serve travelers with the modern state-of-the-art facilities that they deserve,” Port of Oakland Director of Aviation Craig Simon stated. “We look forward to beginning the federal environmental review process as we strive toward the bright future we envision for OAK.”
Initially Revealed: November 22, 2024 at 5:00 PM PST
