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National Park Service outlines Alcatraz site‑selection process; Port staff urges retention of Alcatraz landing on port property
Summary
National Park Service and Port staff briefed the Commission on an information‑only site and operator selection process for Alcatraz embarkation sites, identifying Fort Mason and several piers on the northern waterfront as potential long‑term sites and saying the process will use NEPA scoping this summer with a selection expected by fall 2014; port staff said it prefers keeping the landing on port property.
Port staff and National Park Service (NPS) officials provided an information briefing on a planned site‑selection and operator‑selection process for the Alcatraz Island ferry embarkation site.
John Dahl of Port planning and development said NPS has approached the Port to begin a site‑selection plan; Dahl said the Port prefers the Alcatraz landing remain on port property at a northern waterfront site such as Pier 31½, Pier 41, Pier 45 or Fort Mason. “Port staff prefers NPS to consider port sites in the Northern Waterfront,” Dahl said.
Frank Dean of the National Park Service described the process as being in the scoping stage and noted that it will use NEPA as the federal public review framework. Dean said the selection process is separate from operator selection — under the proposed approach, NPS would pick a long‑term site and then select an operator for a 10‑year lease. Dean explained the scoping stage runs through June and July, with a draft plan and alternatives expected about a year later and a site selection targeted for fall 2014.
Public commenters urged the NPS and Port to keep the Alcatraz landing on Port property. Taylor Safford, speaking for Pier 39 interests, said Fisherman’s Wharf businesses rely on the historic ferry service and “the historic ferry service really needs to stay on port property.” Veronica Sanchez requested an update on Hornblower’s CEQA obligations and on the status of Pier 31½ substructure repairs scheduled to be completed before Hornblower’s contract expiration.
Port staff said Hornblower’s operator agreement with NPS is slated to expire in 2016 and Hornblower’s lease with the Port expires in 2014, and acknowledged that lease expirations may overlap with the site‑selection process; staff said the City and Port will coordinate strategies as issues arise. Staff indicated that if a port site is selected, further Port Commission action and potentially CEQA review would follow.
Because the item was informational, the Commission did not take action; staff said it will continue to provide updates as NPS proceeds through scoping and then the draft plan stage.
