Above image provided byTiger Mapping Project, 1996.
This community is currently host to two existing power plants, the city of San Francisco's largest wastewater treatment facility, both federal and state Superfund sites, hazardous waste storage facilities, and 280 "hot spots" containing toxic substances (Greenpeace Campaign Updates, 1996). Bayview Hunters Point is also home to the second largest concentration of Leaky Underground Storage Tanks (LUSTs) in the city with 53 (O'Conner). Adjacent to the community is the 522 acre Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, a national Superfund site, containing substances such as asbestos, PCBs, lead, solvents, and radioactive materials. The proposed power plant would use approximately 400,000 gallons of aqueous ammonia and release 350 tons of airborne toxics into the air each year. This is in addition to the 550 tons of similar pollutants emitted by the two existing power plants (Johnson, 1996). Nitrogen oxides, precursor organic compounds, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter (pm10) containing known carcinogens such as asbestos and lead would be released into air that already does not comply with state pm10 standards for a 24 hour period.
In direct response to the concerns of residents that they were experiencing high cancer rates, a preliminary cancer study was conducted by the City Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology. Using data from the California Cancer Registry and the Northern California Center, 60 black women in Bayview Hunters Point were found to have breast cancer. Approximately 41% of these cases were women who were under the age of 50. In the rest of San Francisco, 22% would be expected to have the disease (Johnson, 1996). For all women in Bayview Hunters Point, breast cancer rates are higher than those of white women in that city, who have the highest reported rates in the world. Rates of cervical cancer were also found to be double that of the citie's average. An array of other health problems have also been recently noticed by residents. At the Southeast Health Clinic, the most common reported cases are those of upper respitory problems. Higher incidences of asthma and bronchitis, especially among children at Whitney Young and Malcolm X elementary schools have many concerned. Currently, the health department is reviewing 25 years of breast cancer cases and expanding studies of asthma and bronchitis in the area.The Southeast Alliance for Environmental Justice (SAEJ) was formed in 1995 by seven local neighborhood associations which were concerned with the threat of this new power plant in their community. Many local residents felt that "enough was enough" and began to organize several small neighborhood groups together. The SAEJ has been both instrumental and effective in opposing the development of a new power plant in the Bayview Hunters Point district, as well as increasing community awareness of the detrimental human and environmental effects of pollution and toxic waste.
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(1990 U.S. Census Data)
|
Bayview Hunters Point |
San Francisco |
Population (1990) |
27,239 |
723,959 |
Median Income |
$25,170 |
$33,414 |
Average Income |
$32,600 |
$44,663 |
Race: |
|
|
White |
11.45% |
53.64% |
Black 1 |
64.05% |
10.9% |
American Indian |
.07% |
.46% |
Asian, Pacific Islander |
20.04% |
29.15% |
Other |
4.39% |
5.85% |
Additional pollution from a third power plant:
Pollutant: |
Lbs/Day |
Tons/Year |
Particualte Matter(pm10) |
298.0 |
49.7 |
Nitrogen Oxide |
544.7 |
97.61 |
Precursor Organic Compounds |
110.45 |
42.64 |
Carbon Monoxide |
314.6 |
85.3 |
Sulphur Dioxide |
39.1 |
6.77 |
The SFEC claims that the community will actually see a decrease in the number of air pollutants. Plant spokesman, Robert Morgan, believes that the new plant will replace two older plants that are "dirtier" and less efficient. Morgan also points out that the plant complies with 186 federal, state, and local ordinances, laws, and regulations designed to protect public health and safety (Southeast Alliance for Environmental Justice, 1996).
Some community residents are advocating the construction of the power plant due to the perceived economic benefits that it will bring to the local community and the San Francisco bay area. This includes a $13 million dollar community benefits package and possessory taxes to the city amounting to $2 million dollars. However, opponents of the plant point out the fact that the plant will employ a peak construction force of 195 and a permanent work force of only 20-25. Many claim that the health of an entire community is not worth 25 jobs, half of which are only guaranteed to be residents from the local community
Hundreds of local volunteers devoted hours of their own time organizing on the grassroots level. Using a variety of tactics, SAEJ embarked on a mission to educate the public. Volunteers donated time knockingdoor-to-door, hosting weekly neighborhood meetings, passing out educational flyers, and lecturing at school and church events. The SAEJ utilized the media and local newspapers to bring their struggle to the attention of local communities in the Bay.
Although SAEJ recieved fundraisers and private donations , most funds came from an EPA Environmental Justice grant. This $28,000 grant was designed to help grassroots community organizations in their fight for environmental justice. Most activists were and still continue to be volunteers, with only one administrative assistant serving as a part time paid employee for the organization.
Networking with other local community groups and large organizations such as Greenpeace helped extend awareness of their problem beyond the local community. Several nonviolent demonstrations and rallies were key in not only showing local government authorities that the organization was not willing to back down, but also drew media attention from both newspaper and television personnel. Personal contact through lecturing at public events, convening weekly meetings, and distributing flyers allowed the SAEJ to increase its membership, while educating school children and people in the community.
The group gained assistance and formal recognition from the local government and the San Francisco Energy Company through legal representation. Legal representation allowed many to see that the organization not only had an emotional arguement, but a legal one as well. Through formal recognition, inclusion in evidentiary and administrative hearings, and its ability to organize, the Southeast Alliance for Environmental Justice became both a powerful and successful grassroots organization.
Greenpeace San Francisco
http://www.greenpeace.org
Eng, Anne. Environmental Law and Justice Clinic at Golden Gate University School of Law
Greenpeace Campaign Updates.1996."Citizens Block Power Plant Proposal."June 19. Washington D.C.
Johnson, Clarence.1996."Disputed SF Power Plant Expected To Get 1st OK." San Francisco Chronicle.March 4: 13A.
Kay, Jane. 1996."Pollution Fears Stir Activists in Hunter's Point." San Francisco Examiner. February 26:1A.
O'Conner, Daniel. "Leaking Undergroung Storage Tanks and Urban Neglect." http://www.earthisland.org/ei/uhp/r11-lusts.html
PG&E website http://www.pge.com/whats_new/news/hunters_point.html
Southeast Alliance for Environmental Justice http://www.sirius/com/~abootch/SAEJ/fact.html
Whooley, James.1995. "Bayview Fights The Power." http://garnet.berkeley.edu:3333/.mags/NPW/.npw-0395-power.html