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Bayview residents urge DBI and health agencies to act on dust, asbestos monitoring at Candlestick demolition
Summary
Residents and public-health experts told the Commission they found few dust monitors near schools and daycare centers and alleged developer lapses in water and dust-control measures at the Candlestick demolition; they asked DBI to inspect and intervene before large‑scale excavation begins.
Residents of Bayview-Hunters Point and environmental-health experts urged the Building Inspection Commission on Feb. 18 to intervene on dust controls at the Candlestick Park demolition site, saying the developer’s monitoring and mitigation measures leave neighboring schools, child-care centers and residences unprotected.
Shirley Moore of the Clean Air Health Alliance said the group has repeatedly attempted to engage developer Lennar Urban and that community members could locate only two monitoring stations around the site, none adjacent to Bret Hart Elementary, day-care facilities or other nearby sensitive sites. "There isn't a monitor there," she said, urging DBI to inspect and, if necessary, shut down operations until the site complies with dust-control and asbestos-monitoring requirements.
Julia Barber, also with the Clean Air Health Alliance, and Dr. Tompkins (an environmental scientist with decades of research experience) described visible uncovered dust piles and photographic evidence they said showed watering had not been applied consistently. Dr. Tompkins told commissioners he and collaborators found examples that suggested watering was simulated and described health data showing elevated asthma and cardiovascular rates in Bayview-Hunters Point. He urged enforcement: "Please do not permit them until they get in compliance with the dust regulation plan," he said.
Commissioners and DBI staff agreed the issue warranted follow-up. DBI said it had received a dust-control report from the Health Department and that a code-enforcement officer (Donald Duffy) would visit the demolition site and the district inspector would observe progress daily. Commissioner Marr asked that DBI provide an update at the next meeting and requested any inspection notes or daily observations be included.
DBI and public-health agencies have overlapping roles; commissioners asked staff to coordinate with the Air District and the Health Department and to bring findings to the Commission for further action if compliance is not achieved.
(Article based on public comment and staff response at the Feb. 18 meeting transcript.)
