India basin neighborhood association hires arc ecology to provide technical services for usepa technical assistance grant for the hunters point shipyard

In January 2011, the India Basin Neighborhood Association obtained final approval from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to contract with Arc Ecology to review the upcoming environmental cleanup documents for the Hunters Point Shipyard. India Basin is the neighborhood on the north western side of the Shipyard running from Cargo Way to the Shipyard gate on Innes Avenue.

Dealing with Trucks
Like the rest of the Bayview, the India Basin Neighborhood has been impacted in a number of ways by the pollution and cleanup of the Shipyard. Trucks carrying contaminated sediments rumble out of the Innes Gate on their way to disposal, trucks loaded with clean fill rumble their way back in. Dust and track out from these trucks have been an ongoing complaint of IBNA members and Bayview residents.

Living Shoreline
Recently IBNA weighed in on the Navy’s decision to destroy a newly forming beach on the Shipyard’s India Basin facing northern Parcel B shoreline to armor the site against erosion and the escape of residual contamination. Both IBNA and Arc Ecology argued that the armoring was unnecessary, destructive to the developing habitat, destructive to the community recreational opportunity created by the beach, and was not demonstrably technically more protective than creating what is called a living shoreline at the same location. A living shoreline would have enhanced the beach, created more habitat, room for Kayaking and have been a substantial improvement for the neighborhood and Bayview Hunters Point over the rock rubble the Navy has deposited instead.

Upcoming Reports & Decisions
The contract is particularly timely for IBNA and the community as the Navy has property transfer documents for Parcels B and G up for final review and will be producing a Feasibility Study for Parcels E and Proposed Plans for Parcels E and E2 - the southern shoreline - over the next six months to a year. The resolution of the Parcel E2 Dump cleanup plan is of particular importance to the community as it is the site of the six month long landfill fire of 2000. Arc Ecology’s roll will be to review critical documents, help IBNA and community members evaluate their contents and develop commentary that support community interests.

Green maritime An industrial vision for a changing climate

Forthcoming Arc Ecology Report Shows the Environmental and Economic Potential for Developing Bay Area “Green” Maritime Industry.

The Suisun Bay Mothball Fleet is just one example of the effects of the Maritime Industry on our local and global environment. The US EPA’s website on energy indicates that there are 5,200 Power Stations in the United States, the majority of which generate electricity through the burning of fossil fuels. There are currently 54,000 cargo vessels plying the world’s oceans all of which burn heavy sulfurous bunker oil. When one includes Ferries, Tug Boats, Cruise Ships, Navies, and personal vessels into
this total and it becomes quickly clear that the impact on the global environment is enormous and of great concern.

Enter Green Maritime
Since 2003 the European Union and nations like Japan have become aware that the solution to this problem is the greening of the world’s maritime and Naval fleets.

Recently Region 9 EPA announced that switching cruise ships docked in San Francisco to shore side electrical connections will reduce carbon emissions by more than 80 tons a year. While important, cruise vessels represents a fraction of the Bay Area’s ship visits and just scratches the tip of the environmental impacts and industrial opportunity.

Green Maritime Bay Area
In 2011 Arc Ecology will be launching a major initiative to draw attention to the environmental need for and the economic benefits of establishing a major green maritime industrial presence in the Bay Area. Watch this space for notice of the report’s publication and availability.