Friends of Lands End

Download the Environmental Assessment of the impact of the proposed research lab here.

I’m pleased to report we have achieved a small victory for the Lands End neighborhood, although the battle is far from over. On December 14, the Complaint filed by PAR (the Planning Association of the Richmond) and FOLE (Friends of Lands End) against the San Francisco VAMC regarding a planned research lab was stayed, pending completion of an environmental assessment by the SF VAMC.

What this means: We have an opportunity to open a dialogue with the SF VAMC about future plans to develop this 29-acre campus adjoining the Outer Richmond and national park land at the edge of our city.

That environmental assessment is now complete and available. We now until Februray 15, 2007 to review it and provide comments.

PAR, FOLE and our attorney are reviewing the EA for a legal response. But it is also critical that as many people as possible who care about the impact of planned longterm development at the VAMC campus. This development will add more than 400,000 square feet of built-out space, effectively doubling amount of build-out on the campus. Think: more people, more cars (less parking), more noise, more emmissions, more light.

Here is what you can do:

1. Get your own copy of the environmental assessment.

This assessment is limited to the proposed research lab and improvements to the main SF VAMC building, Building 203. It does not addres the longterm environmental effects of development in the next 5 years (through 2012).

You can download the Environmental Assessment from the FOLE.org website.

You can also get a copy from Dirk. W. Minnema, 415.750.2010 or from the VAMC Engineering Office (415.750.2009), Building 3, Room 19 between 8 am and 3 pm.

Copies are also available at the Anza branch and Main branches of the SF Public Library.

2. Commit to write a letter to express your opinion about the current proposal and to urge the San Francisco VAMC to conduct an environmental assessment of its longterm development plans on the community, the adjacent City and National Park lands, and our veterans.

Comments must be postmarket no later than Thursday, February 15, 2007.

Address comments to

Dirk W. Minnema
San Francisco VAMC
4150 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94121
Phone: (415) 750-2010

Send copies to

Julie Burns
Friends of Lands End
3755 Balboa Street, #201
San Francisco, CA 94121

PAR (Planning Association of the Richmond)
3145 Geary Blvd., #205
San Francisco CA 94118

3. Tell your friends and neighbors about this opportunity to impact the scope and scale of development in the Lands End area of San Francisco.

Let your associates who care about the quality of life in the Outer Richmond and the Lands End area of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, our own San Francisco national park know the time is now.

The clock is ticking…

People have been asking about the legal action that PAR and FOLE have filed against the SF VAMC. Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions. (Click here for a printable version.)

1. What is the substance of the Complaint?

The Complaint is a civil action against the Department of Veteran Affairs in Washington, D.C.. It argues that the San Francisco Veterans Administrative Medical Center (VA) has violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Complaint asks that the VA be enjoined from proceeding with development until a Environmental Impact Statement is completed to determine whether the proposed segmental developments on the Campus, and the placement of a wet dry laboratory building within 75 feet of the Seal Rock Drive residences will cause significant environmental impacts. The complete text is available at SF VAMC Complaint.

2. When and where was the Complaint filed?

The Complaint was filed with the US District Court, San Francisco Friday, March 31, 2006.

3. Why was this action necessary?

PAR and FOLE, together with other neighborhood groups (Ft. Miley Neighborhood Association, People for the GGNRA, Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association) have been meeting with SF VAMC Director and Administration staff for over two years in an attempt to craft an amicable solution that brings together all stakeholders and avoids a legal action. During this time, we have had active cooperation and participation from Representative Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco office staff, which we greatly appreciate.

Unfortunately, these meetings have been unproductive, notwithstanding the efforts of the community leaders and the Pelosi staff. The SF VAMC continues to be intransigent – attempting development in small, piecemeal segments without regard to the cumulative effects which legally trigger a NEPA review of the entire Campus – its building and expansion plans.

4. What about our Veterans?

We fully support our Veterans and believe they deserve outstanding health care. And we fully support the primary mission of the VA in caring for our Veterans through clinical services.

5. Who is potentially affected by the SF VAMC expansion plans and operations?

Both the City and County of San Francisco and the GGNRA are affected by the SF VAMC expansion plans and operations. This area of the City is a destination for visitors from around the world, whose experience of our City and our national parklands will be colored by the SF VAMC campus.

Individuals and families who enjoy the natural beauty and trails of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area, who visit the City of San Francisco’s Lincoln Park or the San Francisco Fine Arts Museum at the Palace of the Legion of Honor; and all those who live in the Outer Richmond district of San Francisco.

6. Who is filing the Complaint?

Plaintiffs include the Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR) and Friends of Lands End (FOLE).

7. What is the timeline of events?

2003-2005 Ongoing meetings between local organizations and SF VAMC

January 16, 2006 Freedom of Information Request (FOIA) filed regarding proposed construction of a Biohazard Two Research Lab adjacent to residential and GGNRA land

February 8, 2006 Denial of FOIA request

February 27, 2006 Administrative appeal of FOIA denial filed with the Office of the General Counsel, Department of Veteran Affairs

March 31, 2006 NEPA Complaint filed in US District Court, Northern District of California, and assigned to Judge Saundra Armstrong

May 8, 2006 Letter to Department of Veterans Affairs pointing out that 71days have elapsed since the filing of the Appeal; demanding a determination of FOIA appeal within 10 days; advising that failure to make a determination within 10 days will be considered a constructive exhaustion of administrative remedies;. and which will permit the filing of a FOIA action in the District Court

8. Who is PAR?

PAR (Planning Association for the Richmond), the largest neighborhood organization in San Francisco, was established in 1970. PAR has a dues-paying membership of about 1,600 households in the Richmond District. PAR’s mission is

- To develop and implement policies and recommendations for the maintenance and enhancement of the physical and social dimensions of life in the Richmond District

- To stimulate formation of neighborhood organizations in the areas of the Richmond District currently not served

- To support individual associations in pursuing issues relating to planning and the physical and social environment.

9. Who is Friends of Lands End?

FOLE is a group of residents and others interested in preserving and improving the Lands End area in San Francisco, California, including natural, historical and social resources. The Lands End area includes Sutro Park, the West Fort Miley area of the GGNRA, the network of trails surrounding Lands End, and the USS San Francisco memorial.

Contacts

PAR
www.sfpar.org
Ron Miguel, President
rm@well.com

FOLE
www.fole.org
Julie Burns
fole.org@gmail.com

Just to refresh your memory — on January 16, 2006 the Department of Justice was asked under the Freedom of Information Act to provide information about expansion plans as well as ongoing operations of the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center that potentially affect the Outer Richmond neighborhood, Lincoln Park, and the GGNRA. That request was denied and on February 27 an appeal was filed. According to the Department of Justice guidelines, a response to this appeal should have been received within 20 days. For those of you who are counting, it’s now been over 70 (yes, seventy) days since that appeal was filed. On May 8 the DOVA was reminded of that fact.

On March 31, 2006 the Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR) and Friends of Lands End filed a Complaint in the United States District Court for Northern California challenging the decision by the US Department of Veterans Affairs to issue a categorical exclusion and permit development of the Building 16 in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Read the full Complaint:

SF VAMC Complaint

For at least three years, neighbors and other representatives of the Richmond District have been trying to get answers about the plans and operations of the SF Veterans Administration Medical Center. To date, the SF VAMC has either failed to respond to inquiries or provided partial information. Even with help from Congresswoman Pelosi’s office, fundamental questions remain unanswered.

On January 16, 2006 a request was submitted to the SF Veterans Administration Medical Center under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for information to answer questions about the operation and plans of the SF VAMC — including questions about toxic materials, laboratory emergency procedures, and basic questions about the size and scope of long-range development on an already over-burdened campus.

On February 8, 2006 the Regional Counsel of the Department of Veterans Affairs categorically denied all 17 requests.

Read the request and decide for yourself.

FOIA Request Jan06

The January, 2006 Richmond ReView features a front page article by Todd Levinson, “Veterans Medical Center set to build new labs.” Levinson notes that “The San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center is continuing its plans to construct research labs on a corner patch of land that borders Seal Rock Drive” and Ft. Miley. The Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR) and concerned neighbors have requested that the VAMC conduct an assessment of the impact on the neighborhood and local environment, but the VAMC claims it is exempt from such a requirement — even though this project will exhaust air, sewage and waste, increase traffic, and increase noise.

While FOLE fully supports research to improve the health of our veterans, we question the appropriateness of locating labs handling biohazards immediately adjacent to residences. “These labs are going to be 75 feet from our homes,” FOLE co-founder David Burns is quoted as saying.

The full story is available at the Richmond ReView website.

The SF VAMC plans to build a 14,500 square foot building housing wet/dry labs adjacent to residences on the north side of Seal Rock Drive and to national park land (GGNRA Fort Miley).

The building will house animal and other testing involving hazardous materials. The architectural plans indicate the building will include 12 Biosafety Level 2 labs, which are associated with human disease hazard.

Additional environmental concerns include increased noise, light pollution, toxic fumes and waste, as well as the increased traffic associated with a facility that operates 24 hours a day.

To date, the architectural plans and information supplied by the SFVAMC leave many questions unanswered. Neighborhood groups (the Planning Association of the Richmond/PAR, People for a Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Miley Homeowners and Residents Association, and Friends of Land’s End/FOLE) are working to obtain more information about the impact of this building on the Outer Richmond neighborhood.

This document describes the building in more detail – and some of the questions which we would like the SFVAMC to answer.

A meeting took place Friday, August 26 at the Federal Building in San Francisco. Participants from the SFVAMC included Sheila Cullen, Director, Diana Carranza, Chief Engineer, Gene Gibson, information office, and Bob Obana, CEO of NCIRE. In addition, there was staff from the GGNRA and Congresswoman’s Pelosi office. Also present were Ron Miguel, President of the Planning Association for the Richmond, Amy Meyer, People for a GGNRA, and Gene Brodsky, Esq., who works tirelessly for the betterment of San Francisco and the Outer Richmond.

The main discussion concerned the construction a research building within 100 meters or closer to the homes on Seal Rock Drive, which may have an environmental impact on the area. At the request of Seal Rock Drive residents, the question of incineration from current hospital activities was also raised. Ms. Carranza had no recollection of any letters relating to odors from incineration, although Gene Brodsky told her that he was in possession of the correspondence. There was some uncertainty and disagreement between SFVAMC staff whether or not there are incinerators operating at the medical center! They represented that they would obtain this information and report back.

Residents of Seal Rock have been or will soon be contacted shortly by Julie and David Burns, Seal Rock Drive neighbors, to discuss the proposed research project to be erected very close to residents’ back yards. In addition, meeting attendees discussed scheduling a community meeting where the SFVAMC will provide information concerning the project. Residents will be able to ask questions concerning the impact of this proposed project. An effort will also be made to invite City officials as well as staff from the GGNRA, which has an interest in protecting the environmental values of West Fort Miley, which borders on the project area.

The SFVAMC claims the modular research building results from the need to find alternative laboratory space for research that is presently being conducted in Building 200. Within a short period, Building 200 will undergo a seismic upgrade, and the research area will be used for patient care.