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Residents urge scrutiny of artificial turf plans at Crocker Amazon over PFAS and microplastic concerns
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Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the commission to review proposed artificial turf installations at Crocker Amazon, citing PFAS, microplastics, environmental justice and habitat loss; speakers urged independent review, opposition to new fields and alignment with DTSC recommendations.
Two members of the public and community advocates asked the Commission on the Environment on Monday to scrutinize proposals to install artificial turf at Crocker Amazon and to take broader citywide action on microplastic and PFAS pollution.
Sophie Constantino said the proposed conversion of roughly 20 acres of Crocker Amazon parkland to synthetic athletic fields would remove permeable, natural parkland and risk introducing "forever chemicals" into soils and nearby watershed areas. "There are forever chemicals in turf that are going to leach into the ground," Constantino said, and she urged the commission to request independent review and to place artificial turf on the commission's priority docket.
Bob Halligan brought a bucket of turf fragments and described microplastics as "one of the most urgent environmental health threats facing San Francisco today." He cited a San Francisco Estuary Institute report and a California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) estimate he said shows each artificial turf field sheds about 2,003 pounds of turf blades annually; Halligan called on the commission to oppose new turf installations, support DTSC's microplastic work and recommend protections for overburdened communities near Crocker Amazon.
"I filled up this bucket in about 10 minutes," Halligan said, describing how artificial turf fragments are mobile in air, soil and water.
Commissioners did not take action on the specific Crocker Amazon project during the meeting. Staff did not present project-level technical analysis or an environmental review at this meeting; public commenters asked the commission to seek independent evaluation and align with state-level contaminant assessments.
The commission's agenda included other items related to municipal green building and waste management but did not include a department presentation on the Crocker Amazon proposal itself.
