Project Description

The ICTF is located approximately 5 miles from the POLA and the POLB, at the terminus of State Highway 103, known as the "Terminal Island Freeway". The existing ICTF operational core is located on 148 acres of POLA land subleased by Union Pacific from the JPA within the City of Los Angeles. Adjacent supporting uses are located in the City of Carson, on approximately 15 acres Union Pacific purchased from the Watson Land Company, and another approximately 74 acres Union Pacific leases from the Watson Land Company. Surrounding land uses are primarily heavy industrial to the west and south with a medium-density, single-family residential neighborhood to the east and north in the City of Long Beach.

Union Pacific estimates that the ICTF Project will increase the annual average number of containers transferred from truck to rail transportation from the present 725,000 to a projected 1.5 million. Despite this increase in capacity, the ICTF's operational footprint will shrink under the proposed Project to 177-acres from its current 233-acre area. In addition to the projected average annual container lift increase, Union Pacific expects the number of average annual one-way truck trips to increase from 1,087,086 to 2,268,0004, the average number of daily train arrivals and departures to double and container storage to increase from 3,500 40-foot wheeled spots to 8,400 40-foot stacked spots. According to Union Pacific replacement of 10 existing diesel-fueled rubber tired gantry (RTG) cranes with 39 electric wide-span gantry (WSG) cranes would substantially increase container transfer efficiency and dramatically reduce air emissions and noise generation.

Union Pacific estimates the electrical power system required for the modernized ICTF, including the WSG cranes, reefer container receptacles, and yard lighting will consume an estimated peak demand of 30 megawatts. Either the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) or Southern California Edison (SCE) would likely provide primary and secondary feeds to satisfy this demand. LADWP would continue to provide drinking water and wastewater disposal services. Aside from new electrical substations, the proposed Project includes only two new structures: (1) a gate house with offices, restrooms, and canopies; and (2) a Crane Parts Building and Service Center to support the electric WSGs.

In their 2007 ADPA, Union Pacific proposed the removal of more than 60 100-foot-tall light poles. These would be replaced by approximately 160 poles between 40- or 60-feet high. The new lighting fixtures, similar to those presently used at the ICTF, would be hooded to direct light downward within the Facility. Light would be shielded from surrounding properties to minimize offsite glare to the extent possible.

The ADPA also includes the elimination of all on-site diesel fueling and storage facilities within the ICTF, including the existing 20,000-gallon, above-ground diesel storage tank and the 1,000-gallon, above-ground unleaded gasoline storage tank. Potential fuels to be used for the two remaining on-site yard hostlers include biodiesel, propane or liquefied natural gas (LNG). The proposed Project does not require new underground fuel pipelines, because alternative fuels will be trucked to the Facility.

Union Pacific has proposed Project construction occurring in multiple stages of approximately 4 to 6 months each. As new loading tracks are completed and placed in service, the next pair of tracks would be constructed. Construction would likely take approximately 3 to 4 years. Union Pacific estimates that maximum ICTF container throughput would occur by 2016. Union Pacific has indicated they would maintain or exceed existing ICTF container throughput during all phases of the proposed Project