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Commission awards Brownfields outreach grant to Black Coalition on AIDS for Bayview assessment
Summary
The commission approved a grant, funded by a U.S. EPA award, to the Black Coalition on AIDS to conduct Brownfields outreach and a community-wide assessment supporting the Blue Greenway in the Bayview Hunters Point area; residents urged thorough outreach given local toxics and sea-level rise concerns.
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment voted to approve a resolution authorizing a Department of the Environment grant award to the Black Coalition on AIDS (BCA) to conduct Brownfields outreach and a two-year community assessment in support of the Blue Greenway project.
Annie Eng, Environmental Justice Program Manager, told commissioners that the Department received an EPA grant to support a community-wide Brownfields assessment on the eastern side of the Bayview to help prioritize sites for investigation and future cleanup. Staff issued an RFP in July, convened a new evaluation panel, scored five applicants and interviewed three finalists; BCA scored highest in the evaluation and is recommended to receive the outreach award. Eng said the work would include outreach to diverse communities to collect input on sites, priorities and vision for expanding waterfront open space.
Perry Lang, Executive Director of Black Coalition on AIDS and Rafiki Wellness Services, described BCA’s community outreach capabilities and pledged to convene stakeholders and gather broad input. "I live in District 10... I will also gladly reach across lines... to other community organizations that want input into this process," Lang said.
Public commenters including Green Action and long-time Bayview residents urged staff and BCA to address legacy toxics, sea-level rise and liquefaction risks in outreach and investigations. Doctor Espinola Jackson said earlier remediation work missed contamination layers and advised deeper investigation. Eric Brooks and others urged the department and contractor to integrate sea-level rise considerations into site prioritization and to work with respected local groups such as Green Action for Health and Environmental Justice.
Commissioner Josefowicz moved to approve the resolution awarding the outreach grant to BCA; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Staff said the two-year assessment aims to support later cleanup work and future open-space projects and that additional funding would be sought for remediation and implementation after the assessment.
No specific remediation actions were authorized at the meeting; the approved action is for outreach and assessment work funded by the EPA grant.
