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Conservation campaigns and issuesThis page provides a brief outline of the conservation issues we work on. Please see the San Francisco Bay Chapter campaigns page for additional information about conservation campaigns in our area and beyond. Please contact us if you would like to become active in these campaigns. HerculesThe city is at a crossroads as it works to realize the community’s vision for the area between I-80 and the bay. On one front it is fighting Walmart’s attempt to impose a disruptive big box store; on another, it is studying a proposal for a commercial and residential center on the present park and ride lot on San Pablo Avenue. For news and to get involved, go to Friends of Hercules. Richmond Shoreline DevelopmentThe Sierra Club has a many-decade history of successful campaigns to protect the northern shoreline area of Richmond from inappropriate development. At present, we are part of the North Richmond Shoreline Open Space Alliance. Together we have been working to have the East Bay Regional Parks District acquire the Breuner Marsh area. Though the District has voted to acquire most of this land by eminent domain, we must remain vigilant to prevent inappropriate development of the unprotected upland area. We also oppose a proposal for a casino complex at Point Molate. On the south shoreline, we are working, along with the Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Point Richmond, to improve developer Toll Brothers’ design for its Point Richmond Shores development. Also in the south, testing and cleanup continue on land dangerously laced with toxics from past chemical manufacturing. In spite of the hazard, the landowner has proposed an intensive residential and commercial development on the former Zeneca Chemical property. Bay Area Residents for Responsible Development (BARRD) has been instrumental in transferring oversight of the cleanup to the State’s Department of Toxics Substances Control. Read background and media reports compiled by a local resident. For details see below. Visit the Richmond Environmental Defense Fund for more information about these issues. El SobranteThe Sierra Club continues to work closely with the El Sobrante Legal Defense Fund and Canyon Park Friends of Open Space to fight bad housing proposals on the slopes of San Pablo Ridge. One such is the Forest Green development above and west of the end of Clark Road. It would destroy a beautiful oak forest and wildlife habitat on landslide-prone slopes adjacent to Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. The EIR is expected to be released in early 2007. Richmond General PlanThe City is in the process of updating its General Plan. The Club is working to ensure that it provides for responsible use and protection of the city’s 32 miles of shoreline, wise development, and the health of its residents. Please tell Richmond's city planners that they can protect the shoreline and help the economy of Richmond at the same time.
Industrial Safety and ToxicsThe Sierra Club has a representative on the Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Commission and we try to follow closely all issues of industrial safety and toxics. We would like to participate more fully in this important area of environmental protection, but we lack members who can contribute their expertise in this area. We especially are looking for someone who can comment on safety plans - perhaps a retired engineer or working in the oil and chemical field. Parks, Trails, and Open SpaceWe work with Citizens for the Eastshore State Park, Trails for Richmond Action Committee, and others to help create parks, trails, and open space in our area. Environmental JusticeOur Executive Committee and conservation activists strive to ensure that environmental justice is a basic goal for all our conservation activities. TransportationAll regional groups within the Chapter support efforts to make public transportation more convenient and to increase funding and ridership. Other organizations supporting transit include the Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC). Agencies with regional transportation planning and funding authority are the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee. Details for Zeneca and UC Field Station Toxic SitesTo join BARRD's e-mail list for news updates, Send a message. The community advisory group (CAG) for these areas was formed to provide advice and guidance from the public's perspective to DTSC. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Meet in the Bermuda Room, Richmond Civic Center, 403 Civic Center Plaza, (door on north side of Nevin at the corner of Nevin and 26th Streets across from the Richmond Main Library and the Richmond Hall of Justice). You are invited to attend. The public is also invited to attend the group’s Toxics Committee meetings on the third Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Meet in the Shimada Room, Richmond Temporary City Hall, 1401 Marina Way South, Richmond (door is in the back of the building with a sign and arrow that says "Council Chambers").
For more information from DTSC, check out:
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©2005 San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club