Drywall facility demolition study released

The Port of Long Beach released a draft study Wednesday examining a proposal to demolish the Gold Bond gypsum wallboard manufacturing facility at 1850 Pier B St., Long Beach.

The environmental effects of the proposed facility demolition were evaluated in an initial study which found that potentially significant environmental impacts associated with the project could be reduced through the implementation of mitigation measures, resulting in the preparation of a mitigated negative declaration. The public can comment on the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration through 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. It is available at www.polb.com/ceqa.

The facility was originally constructed in 1964 by the first leaseholder, National Gypsum Co. In 2021, National Gypsum reorganized its corporate structure with Gold Bond Building Products, LLC taking over the lease and operation of the manufacturing facility. Gold Bond’s lease terminated in November 2024, with the company electing not to continue it. As a result, Gold Bond is required to remove from the premises all improvements and property belonging to them and restore the site to a condition equivalent to or better than before the start of the lease. There are currently no proposed development or uses for the site following demolition of the facility.

Comments may be submitted in writing to Renee Moilanen, Director of Environmental Planning, Port of Long Beach, 415 W. Ocean Blvd., 7th Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802, or to [email protected].

The Port of Long Beach is a global leader in green port initiatives and top-notch customer service, moving cargo with reliability, speed and efficiency. As the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade, the Port handles trade valued at more than $300 billion annually and supports 2.7 million jobs across the United States, including 691,000 in Southern California. It is one of 18 commercial strategic seaports in the United States, with a duty to support force deployment during contingencies and other national defense emergencies. In 2025, the Port is celebrating “20 Years of Leading Green,” marking two decades of its landmark Green Port Policy that has dramatically reduced environmental impacts from operations. Industry leaders named Long Beach "The Best West Coast Seaport in North America" for a seventh consecutive year and "The Best Green Seaport" in 2025. During the next 10 years, the Port is planning $3.2 billion in capital improvements aimed at enhancing capacity, competitiveness and sustainability.