LBREPORT.com provides extended on-demand VIDEO coverage of the announcement (plus reporters' Q & A) below.

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Mayor Garcia described the two Breakwater modifying alternatives as follows:

• (1)Western Notching Alternative: Would create two 1,000 ft. notches in the western portion of the LB Breakwater; Mayor Garcia said preliminary wave modeling shows this alternative "would result in some increased swells that could impact the oil islands, Pier J as well as the Carnival Cruise terminal. However stones removed from the Long Beach Breakwater could be used to build mitigation measures, including protective structures along the oil islands, Pier J and open along the coast."

• (2)Eastern Removal Alternative: Would remove one third (24 acres) of the eastern end of the current LB Breakwater. Mayor Garcia said preliminary wave modeling indicates this would have impacts on LB's oil islands, possibly Belmont Pier and issues involving the Navy's use of its explosives anchorage in Seal Beach. The Mayor likewise said "we're looking at whether stones removed from the Long Beach breakwater could be used to build mitigation measures and this includes protective structures around the oil islands, the Belmont Pier, and of course we are working with our Navy partners." Mayor Garcia revealed that "just a few weeks ago, I met with the Navy and the top leadership...over here at the Navy base to discuss this measure and to work together in partnership as we move forward. Additionally, higher elevation near-shore rocky reefs will be added to mitigate the impacts to the Peninsula and to adjacent infrastructure."

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Mayor Garcia said the Corps of Engineers has deemed anything beyond these alternatives was not deemed feasible (and thus won't be included in its environmental review process.)

The two Breakwater modification alternative include the ecosystem restoration measures in the three non-breakwater modifying alternatives (such as restoring eel grass, kelp, oyster beds, reefs, etc. each of which progressively builds on the others; a fourth alternative for evaluation is a legally required "no build.")

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Ed DeMesa, Planning Division Chief for the Army Corps of Engineers (Greater L.A. area), said the agency's target for a draft report is "sometime in early 2019."

Asked by LBREPORT.com how much the two Breakwater reconfiguration actions would cost, Mr. DeMesa, said "we are not at that stage of our process yet...I'm not in a position to give that out at this point."

Asked by LBREPORT.com what alternative the Mayor would recommend, Mayor Garcia said:

Mayor Garcia: I've said from day-one as Mayor that I absolutely support this process, and that I believe that ecosystem restoration is critical to the future of this coastline and it's the right thing to do. As far as where we end, I think we've got to be very committed to the science telling us which of these alternatives are feasible, what the impacts are and then how we mitigate when there are impacts. Clearly, and I have said, I think that, I love the idea of going as far as we can with including all our mitigation but I think we want to make sure that those that are going to take over and do this environmental review have an opportunity to do so extensively and that we'll wait till we get the results and see what happens at that point.

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