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Committee approves waiver allowing ESA to lead compressed CEQA work for America’s Cup environmental review
Summary
Given an abbreviated timeline to meet host-and-venue obligations, the committee supported waiving competitive solicitation to contract Environmental Science Associates for CEQA and permitting work related to the 34th America’s Cup, while demanding robust environmental analysis and public participation.
Brad Benson of the Port and Edgar Lopez of Public Works presented a request to waive competitive bidding so the Port can contract with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) to complete an accelerated California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review for the 34th America’s Cup and to fold related state and federal permitting work into that contract. Staff emphasized a strict timeline set in the host-and-venue agreement; CEQA work must be completed in 2011 and scoping should begin immediately.
DPW staff said ESA was recently selected in a competitive solicitation for the Pier 27 cruise terminal EIR, is San Francisco–based, and proposed 30 percent local subcontracting—double the HRC local business goal. Supervisors expressed concern about the precedent of waiving competition but acknowledged the recent competitive selection and the need to meet tight deadlines; several urged that public participation and rigorous CEQA analysis be preserved.
The Port and DPW said combined analysis could produce cost savings and ensure consistent cumulative-impact datasets. Public commenters broadly urged environmental protection and public benefits, and several supervisors said they would support the waiver given the specific circumstances and the connection to a recently completed competitive solicitation for related work. The committee sent the waiver ordinance forward with a recommendation.
