Treasure Island Closed for 2007 2008 Season

"The current estimate would be completion in the September/October 2008 timeframe, subject to any change in conditions or project plans."

To no ones surprise, the remediation work that is being conducted by the Navy at Treasure Island has fallen behind schedule. The Navy now estimates that their work will be complete in June. The access areas traditionally used by windsurfers will remain closed until the work is complete.

The Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA) has indicated that they are willing to formally recognize windsurfing as an authorized use at the site once the Navy vacates the area. SFBA will work with TIDA to develop safety signage that will enhance safety for windsurfers and address city and Navy concerns about liability.

The Navy and the Department of Toxic Substances Control today issued a response to the concerns expressed by windsurfers with regard to their planned closure of the windsurf access area at Treasure Island. The Navy plans to proceed with the closure and will not provide any access for windsurfers. The area in question is not a part of the island that was included in the lease to the Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA) and as such, the Navy argues that the windsurfing use was unauthorized and does not need to be accommodated. SFBA worked hard to convince the Navy to allow at least partial access to no avail. SFBA's next step is to work with TIDA to have the area we use added to their lease so that we can sublease it or obtain a use permit so that the Navy can't ignore windsurfers and other recreational users who want to access the Bay between next September (when the project is expected to be complete) and whenever the island transfers from Navy hands (an estimated 2 years which could mean ultimately 3-4 years or more.

Navy/DTSC Response Document

The San Francisco Boardsailing Association (SFBA) and concerned members of the windsurfing community have asked the Navy to modify its plan to allow for windsurfing at Treasure Island to continue. While windsurfing has been occurring at Treasure Island for years with the knowledge and assistance of the Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA), the Navy is taking the position that the windsurfing use is not permitted and that it unusually risky (despite the fact that they have not cited any case of injury or any claims).

To learn more about SFBA's concerns, please see our comment letter submitted to the Navy and DTSC:

SFBA Letter re Navy DTSC Remediation Plan 2007-01-19.pdf

SFBA re Navy DTSC Remediation Plan 2007-01-26.pdf

To reference the documents prepared and released by the Navy and DTSC:

http://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/profile_report.asp?global_id=38370044&cmd=community_involvement

The goal of the SFBA is to get the Navy to modify the remediation plan so that it is compatible with windsurfing access. The City of San Francisco and TIDA have worked long and hard in order to have the Navy move forward with the remediation work and SFBA would like to see the work proceed. SFBA has discussed the alternatives with the Navy and has not heard any convincing evidence that the windsurfing recreational use could not be accommodated without delaying the clean up or causing undo problems for island residents.

Primary items of concern:

• The Navy is not conducting environmental remediation in the area where windsurfers normally park and launch. In preparing a remediation plan, the Navy's contractors found it convenient to use the area where windsurfers normally park and launch as a dirt and debris storage and truck loading area. Because there are other open areas in the vicinity and because windsurfers could maintain access if a limited access corridor were provided, it appears that the Navy could mitigate the impact to the windsurfing with nominal changes to their plan and at limited expense.
• The Navy held some public meetings during the planning of the remediation work but did not indicate in the meeting notice that they might choose to close areas that were outside of the zone where the environmental remediation work will occur. The Navy was advised a month or more before they released their public documents that they had selected a popular access area for recreational users as an area for debris storage and truck loading.
• The DTSC prepared a draft Negative Declaration that found that the project would have no negative impact on recreational use even though the plan calls for preventing windsurfers from using the boat ramp parking lot or reaching launch sites by foot. The site has been used for over 10 years and is of regional importance given that there are less that a dozen windsurf sites along the 200 miles of publicly accessible shoreline in the San Francisco that accommodate large numbers of windsurfing users.
• The Navy has indicated that it will start work regardless of the public comment received. The Navy advised the Treasure Island Development Authority on January 10, 2007 that they have already started moving equipment and materials into place and will commence work during the first week of February despite the fact that the public comment period ends on January 29, 2007.
• The Navy initially indicated that they were looking for ways to modify their remediation plan in order to accommodate some windsurfing use. After the Navy received comment letters that argued that windsurfers have a right to use the area, the Navy indicated that there would be no access allowed at all and that they may move to block access after the remediation work is completed.