Bluecore Energy, Inc; New Lease TR-26-06 Harbor Development Permit No. 26-019
Summary
SCH Number
2026070713
Public Agency
Port of Long Beach
Document Title
Bluecore Energy, Inc; New Lease TR-26-06 Harbor Development Permit No. 26-019
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/17/2026
Document Description
New lease TR-26-06 with Bluecore Energy, LLC (Bluecore), granting use of approximately 10,000 square feet (SF) of the Port of Long Beach’s (Port) D48 Warehouse, together with approximately 750 SF of paved land adjacent to the Warehouse for parking (Parcel 1), approximately 10,000 SF of paved land adjacent to the Warehouse for nonexclusive use of a shared driveway (Parcel 2), and approximately 6,000 SF of submerged land for mooring a barge (Parcel 3). Bluecore intends to use the leased premises for a research and development lab and office space to build, assemble, and store a non-hazardous zero-emission maritime reactor module prototype (module). The module is an empty steel vessel core that allows engineers to add sensors and controls to validate that its monitoring systems work properly and that it can provide zero-emission (nuclear) energy to ports and propulsion in cargo ships. The module may also be placed on a moored barge to perform testing and data collection from the movement of a barge on the water. No hazardous materials (i.e., batteries) will be stored onsite, nor would nuclear fuel be used. Testing of the nuclear-specific pieces of the module would be performed at the Idaho National Lab, the largest nuclear lab in the United States. Prior to occupancy, Bluecore would construct demising wall barriers and install electrical utilities within the interior boundaries of the D48 Warehouse under Harbor Development Permit application (HDP) #26-019. The lease will be effective upon execution by the Port’s Executive Director and shall expire two (2) years from the execution date, with one option for a three (3) year extension.
Contact Information
Name
Kofi Asante
Agency Name
Bluecore Energy, Inc.
Job Title
Founder and CEO
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Name
Jennifer Blanchard
Agency Name
Port of Long Beach
Job Title
Environmental Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Long Beach
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
Pier D, Berth D48
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Categorical Exemption Section 15301 Existing Facilities (Class 1):
Reasons for Exemption
The Class 1 Categorical Exemption consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Lease TR-26-06 grants Bluecore use of approximately 10,000 SF of space within the D48 Warehouse, together with certain adjacent land and submerged land areas to be used as a research and development lab to build, assemble, and store nonhazardous steel prototype zero emission maritime reactor modules. Bluecore would construct demising wall barriers and install electrical utilities within the interior boundaries of the D48 Warehouse under HDP #26-019. The project site previously operated as an ancillary port facility that provided towboat, water taxi, salvage, and repair operations. The Port’s Maintenance and Security Division currently use a portion of the approximately 3-acre D48 Warehouse for their operations, while the remainder of the Warehouse has remained vacant. Bluecore would lease 10,000 SF (approx. 7.5%) of the D48 Warehouse therefore the project would have negligible use or no expansion of existing or former use.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Categorical Exemption Section 15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures (Class 3):
Reasons for Exemption
The Class 3 Categorical Exemption consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure. Bluecore would construct demising wall barriers and install electrical utilities within the interior boundaries of the D48 Warehouse under HDP #26-019. The Port has determined that none of the exceptions to the exemptions in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15300.2 foreclose the use of Categorical Exemption CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 Existing Facilities (Class 1) and Section 15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures (Class 3); therefore, the Project is exempt from CEQA and no further environmental review is required.
The Port has determined that none of the exceptions to the exemptions in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15300.2 foreclose the use of Categorical Exemption CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 Existing Facilities (Class 1) and Section 15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures (Class 3); therefore, the Project is exempt from CEQA and no further environmental review is required.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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