“While historically the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were fierce rivals, by the early 1980s, cooperation began replacing competition. The focal point of joint action was the 2020 Plan, which was intended to solve land, transportation problems well into the 21st century. By the mid 90s, Long Beach chose a separate development path while Los Angeles stayed the 2020 course. It remained committed to dredge and fill expansion and its partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers because it has few alternatives…Though a deep water port, Los Angeles’ main channels are shallower than Long Beach’s. The Port of L.A. had to deepen its main harbor channels in order to accommodate larger ships…Renamed the Pier 30/400 Implementation Program, the new development program was essentially the first phase of the 2020 Plan.”
- “Globalizing LA: Trade Infrastructure and Regional Development” by Steven Erie, published by Stanford University Press, 2004
One of the less complicated ways to solve these transportation issues was to fill in by dredging portions of the outer harbor. In addition, the Port needed to move the petroleum transfer facilities to areas away from the surrounding community to protect their populations. After much study, the Port decided to create Pier 400, Berth 408 as a petroleum and cargo terminal.
Pacific L. A. Marine Terminal LLC chose Pier 400, Berth 408 as an ideal petroleum terminal because it is located away from the communities, and the strategic placement of the pier creates an additional water buffer. In order to create the landfill for Pier 400, Berth 408, the Port dredged a deep channel from the ocean to the west side of Pier 400. This dredged channel is 81 feet deep and is suited for large deep draft crude tankers.
Pacific L. A. Marine Terminal LLC has been working with the Port on the Pier 400-Berth 408 Project since late 2001. Our formal Port application process was approved on December 4, 2003. The EIR/EIS process officially began on July 8, 2004 with a public scoping meeting. Pacific L. A. Marine Terminal LLC has been working closely with the Los Angeles Mayor’s office, Councilwoman Hahn and other Harbor Department and city officials.
