Excerpt from the City of Alameda’s February 25, 2013 public scoping meeting staff report for the Alameda Point environmental impact report:
1. Is the Seaplane Lagoon safe for human activity?
Yes. The Navy’s remediation of the Seaplane Lagoon is nearing completion. The Navy’s work will be done only after the environmental regulatory agencies (US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), and Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region (Water Board) conclude that the Navy has achieved the cleanup goals to allow unrestricted use of Seaplane Lagoon.
2. Is the Navy only cleaning up to industrial standards in the Town Center area? Does that mean we cannot build any housing in this area?
No. Most of the Town Center area is being cleaned for unrestricted use. The only portion of the Town Center area that likely will have land use restrictions is the portion that is east of Seaplane Lagoon and south of Atlantic Avenue. The environmental regulatory agencies may permit residential land use in this portion of the Town Center area, provided vapor barriers are installed and maintained.
3. Are there concerns about the long-term effects of contamination on residents and employees at Alameda Point?
All of the Navy’s cleanup activities are actively overseen by environmental experts at least three regulatory agencies: EPA, DTSC, and the Water Board. Their foremost concern is protection of human health and the environment. Whenever feasible, they ensure that the Navy remediates Alameda Point for unrestricted land use. In the limited areas where cleanup to unrestricted use does not occur, land-use restrictions are enforced to prevent future residents and employees at Alameda Point from exposure to unsafe conditions. In making remedial decisions, the environmental regulatory agencies and the Navy specifically evaluate long-term effects.
4. Are the Navy clean-up efforts adequate to protect human health and the environment?
Yes. EPA, DTSC, and the Water Board engage the appropriate experts, including environmental engineers, toxicologists, groundwater hydrologists, ecologists, and risk assessors, to actively review the Navy’s cleanup. Their foremost concern is protection of human health and the environment, and they make sure clean-up decisions are made accordingly.
5. Will the City be using something similar to the Environmental Issues Management Plan that was used for the former Moffett Field? If so, what does it accomplish? Item 7-A Page 7 of 7 February 25, 2013 Planning Board Meeting
Yes. The Alameda Point Site Management Plan (SMP) is analogous to Moffett Field’s Environmental Issues Management Plan. Both documents describe procedures to address the known remaining environmental conditions. These plans also describe contingency actions to be taken in the event that previously unknown environmental conditions are encountered during development. The Alameda Point SMP will be closely patterned after existing SMPs that have been developed for FISCA (Alameda Landing) and the portion of Alameda Point that was proposed for the LBNL second campus, both of which received regulatory approval. The SMP must be reviewed and approved by EPA, DTSC, and the Water Board.
Alameda Point Environmental Report 