SAN DIEGO -- The City Council Tuesday denied another appeal seeking more environmental study of the redevelopment of the Navy Broadway Complex along downtown San Diego's waterfront.

The council voted 6-2 to reject the appeal and uphold the 1992 environmental certification of the $1 billion project.

It was the third appeal of the project to be denied by the City Council.

Councilwomen Donna Frye and Toni Atkins cast the dissenting votes.

Opponents of the project, organized as the Navy Broadway Complex Coalition, filed the appeal on the grounds that the existing environmental documents fail to sufficiently address seismic concerns.

Donald Steele, a member of Citizens Coordinate for Century 3, testified that the 17-year-old environmental studies are "totally inadequate" and possibly "invalid and illegal."

Frye agreed.

"Things have changed," she said in arguing that more environmental review is needed before the project should be allowed to proceed.

Adm. Len Herring, commander Navy Region Southwest, told the council that any impacts that relate to geology or seismic hazards will be "adequately mitigated," and the developer will have to comply with all current state and municipal building standards.

He stressed that further delays would be costly.

"Rest assured, there are major financial impacts, as the delay to date has already cost the U.S. taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and the city is suffering a day-to-day loss on future income that will be received from this site," Herring told the council.

Proponents said the appellants are simply trying to stall approval of the project as a means to bring about its demise.

They argued that there is nothing new in the redevelopment plans to warrant further environmental review.

"They aren't here because of an earthquake fault," Councilman Jim Madaffer said. "They hate this project."

Local developer Douglas Manchester signed a 99-year lease with the Navy last year to redevelop the nearly 15-acre site, which is located between Pacific Highway and Harbor Drive south of Broadway.

In addition to 2.9 million square feet of office, hotel and retail space, the plan calls for the construction of a building to serve as the future headquarters of Navy Region Southwest.