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Longshoreman raises environmental and safety concerns at Darling International's Pier 92 site
Summary
A Pier 92 employee and ILWU member told the Port Commission that Darling International's facility lacks retaining protections for storm drains, has a deteriorating tank-farm retaining wall, is noncompliant on recycling/composting, and has an out-of-service odor hotline; port staff representatives were acknowledged as responsive.
Kerry Dahl, a Pier 92 employee at Darling International and a member of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 6, urged the Port Commission on Aug. 13 to press for environmental and safety improvements at the Darling facility.
Dahl listed four concerns: storm drains on Amador Street adjacent to the loading area are largely unprotected while railcars are loaded with "yellow grease"; the retaining wall around the facilitys tank farm is in poor condition and would not contain a spill from a large tank; the site does not meet city recycling and composting requirements; and an odor-complaint hotline required by the company's lease has been out of service for at least two months. Dahl told commissioners the union and port staff have been exchanging documentation since 2010 and that port staff (Shannon Alford and Richard Berman) have been responsive, conducting inspections and discussing potential solutions.
Commissioners asked that staff follow up on the outstanding complaint hotline and other operational issues raised in public comment. Director Moyer and staff were thanked for prior responsiveness, and the item was noted for follow-up under "new business."
