The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Navy have announced a plan to clean up contamination at the final designated area of the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Superfund site in San Francisco. The cleanup will focus on contaminated underwater sediment in an approximately 443-acre area of San Francisco Bay around the former shipyard, known as Parcel F. This effort will be overseen by the EPA, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and Regional Water Control Board.
“Today we’ve reached a milestone in finalizing the cleanup plan for the final parcel of the Hunters Point site, marking a significant step in ultimately returning this area to productive use for the local community,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “EPA will continue playing our critical oversight role at Hunters Point, to include review of the Navy’s cleanup work, to ensure the community and the Bay are protected.”
“This Record of Decision is a milestone for the Navy and all the agencies that worked together to agree on the cleanup approach for Parcel F,” said Danielle Janda, Base Closure Manager for Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. “Under the plan, the Navy will address sediments surrounding the former Shipyard using proven techniques to reduce contamination and will help the health of San Francisco Bay. The Navy remains committed to protecting public health and environment, and we will have a long-term monitoring and maintenance program in place to ensure remedies continue to protect community and environment here at Hunter’s Point.”
The selected cleanup plan addresses sediments contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), copper, lead, and mercury. Objectives include reducing risks to animals living in sediment, birds eating contaminated fish or sediment, and humans consuming shellfish or fish from around Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Cleanup work is expected to begin in 2027 after completing remedial design and planning documents.
Various technologies such as dredging, treatment in place, capping, monitored natural attenuation, and institutional controls will be used based on location depth and concentration of contaminants. The removed sediment will be disposed of at a landfill yet to be determined.
Parcel F shares a boundary with Yosemite Slough cleanup site; coordination between EPA, private entities involved with Yosemite Slough's remediation efforts ensures consistency across both sites' remedies. Collaborative efforts with California Department of Parks & Recreation aim towards significant benefits for historically underserved communities within San Francisco.
During transport handling phases during cleanup operations under EPA oversight measures taken ensuring no impact on public health; trucks screened radiation before leaving entering sites minimize dust generation air quality concerns addressed via specific dust control plans daily monitoring conducted during construction activities submitted relevant authorities including Bay Area Air Quality Management District California Department Toxic Substances Control
Regular meetings held addressing community concerns about Parcel F other aspects overall cleanup Former Naval Shipyard record decision document available post-signature online via Navy website
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