HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03231999 - C97 TO; BOARD OF SUPERVISORS . � Contra
Costa
FROM: FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMITTEE
County
MATE: March 23, 1999
SUBJECT: REPORT FROM THE FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMITTEE ON POTENTIAL FUTURE USES FOR
THE FORMER PACIFIC REFINING WHARF NEAR POINT PINOLE
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RE_QQMMEN ATIONS
ACCEPT report from the Fish and Wildlife Committee on potential future uses for the former
Pacific Refining wharf near Point Pinole, as requested by the Board of Supervisors on
December 15, 1998.
FIJIAN IAL IMPACT
None,
REASQN FOR RECOMMENDATIONlBA KGROUND
On December 15, 1998, the Board of Supervisors directed the Fish and Wildlife Committee to
investigate potential future uses for the now-defunct wharf near Point Pinole which was
formerly operated by Pacific Refining Company. The State Lands Commission will require
Pacific Refining to remove the wharf if no new use for it can be found. The Fish and Wildlife
Committee discussed the matter on December 16, 1998, January 20, 1999 and February 17,
1999. Representatives from Inform Public Relations, the firm retained by Pacific Refining to
explore future uses for the wharf, attended both the January and February meetings to provide
information on the wharf and to answer questions.
At its February meeting, the Fish and Wildlife Committee unanimously approved the following
four general findings regarding potential future uses for the wharf:
1) Removing the wharf is more detrimental to fish and wildlife resources than leaving it
be. The wharf substructure provides valuable habitat for fish and other wildlife, and
removal of the facility would eliminate this asset and impact resources by disturbing
bay sediment and water quality.
2) The wharf has a several potential future uses which could pnefit the environment.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE
Thomas K.1Studley
Chair, Fish & Wildlife Committee
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON , 'p P APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED -. - .--
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT , I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
AYES: NOES: CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS prN THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact: John Kopchik (925) 335-1227 ATTESTED' f
cc: Community Development Department PHIL BATCHELOR, CL RK OF THE
County Administrator's Office r BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND
Clerk of the Board, Maddy Book COUNTY A MINISTRATOR
BY; r * DEPUTY
c:\fkopc\f&wbowrf.rn99
9
Report on Pacific Refining Wharf
March 23, 1999
Page 2 of 2
Such potential uses include the following:
mooring site for oil spill response vessels
-- monitoring station for water quality, fish, and other natural resources
-- staging area for any future commercial harvest of mitten crabs and other
damaging exotic species
Inform Public Relations has explored some of the environmentally-friendly uses listed
above (as well as many others), and their continuing efforts in this regard should be
supported. It should be noted that the lack of a connection from land to the wharf
makes finding a new use, environmentally friendly or otherwise, a challenge.
3) Inform Public Relations believes that a promising potential use for the wharf is as
centralized transfer terminal for ferry passengers, possibly enabling ferry service to
more East & North Bay harbors. The Legislature has created the Blue Ribbon Water
Transportation Task Force to evaluate expanded water transport on San Francisco Bay,
and Inform Public Relations requests the support of the Board of Supervisors in urging
the Task Force to include use of the wharf in its analysis. While it is outside of the
mandate of the Fish and Wildlife Committee to make a recommendation on this subject,
the Committee brings this issue to the attention of the Board of Supervisors so that the
Board may choose to act on it. However, the Committee does wish to mention that
increased water transport on the Bay could impact fish and wildlife resources.
4) If no future use for the facility can be found and Pacific Refining is compelled by its
lease with the State Lands to remove the wharf, the environmental impacts of removal
should be mitigated within Contra Costa County.
ATTACHMENTS:
Fact Sheet developed by Inform Public Relations on the Pacific Refining Wharf
c:\\jkopc\f&wbowrf,m99
Coastal
Th's&6rgy People
FACT SHEET
PACIFIC REFINING COMPANY WHARF
Location:
In San Pablo Bay in Contra Costa County at the edge of the shipping channel
leading into the Carquinez Strait, approximately 0.8 miles from the Rodeo
shoreline.
Description:
Overall length of wharf is 1200 feet, which includes platforms and dolphins, of
which the central platform is 60 by 160 feet. The facility is a free-standing group
of interconnected structures (not connected to land) and accessible only by
water.
Design Information:
100,000 DWT Tanker capacity Deck load 600 pounds/foot
Concrete Wind velocity 65 mph
42' water depth on tanker side Current velocity 04 mph
30' water depth on barge side Seismic coefficient 0.1 g
Lease Information:
The wharf is owned by Pacific Refining Company and is situated on land leased
from the California State Lands Commission, Pacific Refining Company's lease
expires in November 2000. Annual lease fee subject to negotiations with State
Lands Commission.
Operating Data:
Utilities previously supplied from the former Pacific Refinery site (e.g., water,
electricity, phone, etc.) must be relocated.
Potential Applications:
Water-related uses include: education, oil spill or emergency response,
environmental, recreation, research, search and rescue, etc.
For Additional Information, Contact:
Ralph Edwards, The Coastal Corporation, 800877-3939, x3929
Jim Lopeman, Pacific Refining Company, 5107998001
Tom Stewart, Inform Public Relations, 925-229-0440
The Coastal Corporation
COASTAL TOWER-WE GREEIMAY PLAZA-HOUSTON TX 77046-0995-7131877-1400-TLX 49616710