1/16 – Attend the Sharp Park Pumphouse Project CEQA Appeal Hearing at City Hall

After many continuances, the Sharp Park Pumphouse Project CEQA Appeal Hearing is finally confirmed for Thursday, January 16 at Noon, San Francisco City Hall, Room 400. We need to fill the room!!! Show your support for our appeal by attending and giving public comment.

Here are some talking points for your comment.

We believe a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is necessary because:

• Experts have stated even a mitigated Pumphouse Project will have significant impacts on the California Red-legged Frog and San Francisco Garter Snake populations at Sharp Park.
• The Pumphouse Project will have significant environmental effects on the water quality and hydrology at Sharp Park.
• There are alternatives to the Pumphouse Project and an EIR is needed to adequately consider these alternatives.
• Sharp Park is suffering from a piecemeal approach to planning.
• The Pumphouse Project conflicts with the Coastal Act.
• The impact on the recovery plan for the California Red-legged Frog is not addressed in the Pumphouse Project.

In October 2013, the Wild Equity Institute appealed the Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration released for Sharp Park Pumphouse Project, arguing that the city should do a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR). When this pump is used to drain Sharp Park Golf Course, it drains so much water that the California Red-legged frog egg masses are left out to dry and this kills future generations of frogs. The appeal document is attached in 3 parts. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

After reviewing our appeal, the San Francisco Planning Department’s recommendation remains unchanged. The Planning Department wants to see the Preliminary Negative Declaration approved because it is more expedient. If we are going to save the federally protected wildlife living at Sharp Park, the time needed to conduct a full EIR for the Sharp Park Pumphouse Project is essential. The Planning Department’s response can be found here.

The wildlife that calls Sharp Park home needs us to speak up for them! Thursday, January 16 at Noon, San Francisco City Hall, Room 400, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.