Proposed VAMC Labs in the News

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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.

Biosafety Level 2 Labs on Seal Rock Drive

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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.

Meeting with SF VAMC, 8/26/2005

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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.

Starting up again

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Friends of Land’s End is a neighborhood group in the outer Richmond district near Land’s End and the Seal Rocks in San Francisco, California.

Currently we’re working on opposing the expansion of a computer room into a laboratory featuring animal testing and other biohazards less than 100 feet from our homes. Here’s a link to the flyer we will be handing out in the neighborhood: click here.