The City of San Francisco has released a draft EIR, or Environmental Impact Report, as part of its planning for the 34th America's Cup sailing regatta, which will take place on San Francisco Bay in 2012 and 2013. The EIR is intended to address the potential environmental impacts of the races and accompanying shoreline development and spectator crowds. Baykeeper worked with other environmental groups to provide input to the City on possible impacts and proposed solutions in order to help ensure that the races are safe and healthy for San Francisco Bay.
The full report is available here: http://www.sfplanning.org/index.aspx?page=2719&recordid=45&returnURL=%2f...
As many as two million people are expected to visit San Francisco for the America's Cup, and many will crowd the shorelines for a glimpse of the races. Many others will join thousands of local residents in boats on the Bay.
Earlier this year, Baykeeper helped form the America's Cup Environmental Council, a coalition of environmental and historic preservation groups. In March the Council offered a series of recommendations to race planners, laying out suggestions that include:
- Increased public transit to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions;
- Keeping crowds away from sensitive shoreline habitats where species like Snowy plover’s live;
- Restrictions on the sale of plastic trinkets and single-use water bottles;
- Adequate containers for composting and recycling;
- Expanded clean boating education; and
- Better controls on toxic boatyard pollution.
Download the pdf of the full comment letter.
Over the next two months, the City will continue to develop the EIR based on feedback from Baykeeper, other enviromental groups and area residents. We'll keep you updated as the process continues.
Photo: Flickr(CC) by Roger Meike