The Port of Los Angeles, which is the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), released the documents earlier this month. The training centre is also planned to be built on its property in Wilmington and requires various approvals for site preparation activities, including grading, compacting, and paving. Moreover, in addition to the construction of buildings, utilities, a substation, and accessory structures to support workforce training activities will be needed.

LA and LB want the workforce training centre to provide a range of skilled training programmes that will truly replicate goods movement environments, such as the use and operation of STS cranes, RTGs/RMGs, top handlers, side picks and FLTs while providing a safe training environment for workers.

It is hoped that better trained personnel will result in safer, more sustainable and secure cargo handling operations. Both ports’ productivity levels and overall competitiveness should also be improved. It is proposed that if built, the training facility will remain in operation for up to 30 years.

The IS/NOP is available for review on the Port of Los Angeles website at portoflosangeles.org/ceqa. The IS/NOP is intended to solicit feedback, which helps to identify any potential environmental impacts and suggest possible alternatives for the project that can be incorporated into the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).

Meanwhile, a virtual public meeting will be held for the proposed project at 16-00hrs (Pacific Standard Time) on Thursday, 22 February.