Report studies California coking plant demolition

The former operator of an idled steelmaking coking coal facility at the Port of Long Beach may be closer to receiving approval to demolish structures at the site after the recent release of a 30-page report.

The “Application Summary Report” prepared by the Port of Long Beach says Texas-based Tesoro Refining and Marketing Co. LLC submitted its initial application to demolish its calciner facility (a kiln that converts coal to coke) in January 2023. Tesoro operated at the site from 2013 to 2022.

The Calciner facility originally was constructed in 1982 by Martin-Marietta Corp. as a joint venture with the former Champlin Petroleum Co.

“Prior to termination of their lease with the port, Tesoro is required to remove from the premises all improvements and property belonging to it and restore the site to a condition equivalent to or superior to its condition prior to the commencement of the lease,” the port authority says.

The goal of its demolition project, which involves several industrial structures, is to vacate the premises and restore the site to a status equivalent to or superior to its condition prior to its leasing of the site. Approximately 7.3 acres of the facility is located within the Long Beach Harbor District while 8.8 acres is within the Los Angeles coastal zone.

“Tesoro proposes to demolish the existing, non-operational calciner facility consisting of above- grade buildings, above ground and underground storage tanks, process equipment, structures, footings, building foundation piers and piles, former petroleum coke storage vessels, piping, electrical equipment, instrumentation, concrete slabs and asphalt paving,” the Port of Long Beach says.

Existing railroad tracks, rail spurs, other rail-related equipment and a Southern California Edison Co. electrical substation and its associated equipment will be left in place.

While the port authority will undoubtedly seek redevelopment and new tenants, the report says there currently is no proposed new development, no proposed new operations or proposed new land uses at the site following activities associated with the proposed project.

The report does not offer any cost estimates or materials estimates regarding how much steel, nonferrous metal, concrete, asphalt or other marketable secondary products could be yielded from a demolition process.

“Port staff recommends that the Board of Harbor Commissioners adopt this Application Summary Report [since] the proposed project would not require an amendment to the existing Port Master Plan because it is not a new development," the report says.

“The proposed project would merely demolish the existing, nonoperational calciner facility and its associated above ground structures and underground utilities.”

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners will consider the 30-page report, which can be accessed via the port authority website, and public feedback collected during a review process at a meeting Sept. 9.