The Oakland airport expansion project cleared another hurdle Friday after the Port of Oakland Commission unanimously certified the environmental impact report at its board meeting Thursday for replace an aging terminal and modernize existing infrastructure at the airport.
The project proposal will be forwarded to the Federal Aviation Agency for a federal environmental review of the project to streamline passenger service and modernize the airport. But opponents of the project say the EIR is “erroneous and incomplete” in its analysis of the project’s consequences on the environment and public health.
“The importance of the proposed OAK Terminal modernization and development project to the future of our airport and region cannot be overstated,” said Michael Colbruno, Chairman of the Port of Oakland Board of Directors. “This major step allows the Port to continue to advance the project while stimulating job creation and local economic activity.
The main feature of the project proposal is the replacement of parts of Terminal 1, which was built in the 1960s and is now obsolete by modern standards of efficiency, safety and seismic standards, according to the port of Oakland. The existing terminal would be demolished and replaced with a new terminal erected within the existing airport footprint. Supporters of the project say replacing the terminal would help Oakland Airport meet “anticipated demand for regional air transportation” over the next two decades.
Opponents of the project, however, rejected the commissioners’ reasoning, saying air travel has been down at the Oakland airport since the pandemic and continues to decline with the rise of virtual work. The Stop OAK Expansion Alliance said the project would “significantly increase toxic air pollution breathed by airport workers and surrounding communities”, and the final EIR failed to complete an impact assessment on community health.
“We are exploring legal and other options to delay this project to force the Port to comply with state law to protect the health of our vulnerable children in East Oakland subject to air pollution below the trajectories of theft, including the mothers’ testimony in the harbor last night, the commissioners chose to ignore the courtroom,” said David Foecke, a member of the Stop OAK Expansion Alliance steering committee.
Port of Oakland commissioners say they are committed to limiting the environmental impact of new development on the local community while modernizing 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 they deserve,” said Craig Simon, director of aviation at the Port of ‘Oakland. “We look forward to beginning the federal environmental review process as we work to secure the bright future we envision for OAK.” »
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