BPC’s April 2014 Newsletter

Every month, we highlight a BPC member company to help spread the word about the exciting work and diverse interests of our membership base.  This month:
 

With the Bay Area economy once again “on the move,” major changes are evident around the Bay – from skyline to shoreline. Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is at the forefront of many high-profile and precedent-setting projects that will help shape decision-making, community landscapes, and natural resources management for years to come. As a leading environmental science and planning firm, ESA specializes in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, environmental and community planning, ecosystem restoration design, and regulatory compliance. We employ more than 350 professionals in offices throughout California, Oregon, Washington, and Florida.

Like many great things, we got our start in the Bay Area. Established nearly 45 years ago, we’ve partnered with clients to meet environmental requirements in compliance with NEPA and CEQA—landmark laws that have greatly influenced environmental planning and analysis across the country. Today, ESA is a recognized leader in providing multi-objective, holistic solutions that integrate environmental planning and design. We’ve continued to grow through strategic acquisitions – most recently the addition of Dr. Stuart Siegel’s firm Wetlands and Water Resources Inc. – and senior hires, who bring unique professional and technical expertise to our clients.

 

We have been collaborating with clients to restore, enhance, and contribute to the economic vibrancy of the San Francisco Bay on several exciting projects including:

Milestone EIR Certified! The City of San José’s master plan to rebuild the San José/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant includes forward-thinking long-term projects that address future water quality regulations, habitat restoration, economic development, renewable energy fields, and recreation on the plant’s 2,700-acre site on the South Bay. The Program-Project EIR was certified in November 2013 without legal challenge.

Living Shorelines around the Bay! These innovative projects use habitat restoration techniques to manage the shoreline, reduce coastal erosion, and maintain coastal processes while protecting, restoring, and creating natural habitat for fish and aquatic plants and wildlife. ESA is assisting with a pilot project in the San Francisco Bay introducing experimental plots of oyster reef structures and eelgrass beds for habitat enhancement and shoreline protection.

photo credit: Mike Rafferty

 

Planning for Sea Level Rise! When the Bay Conservation and Development Commission released a set of maps depicting areas of the San Francisco Bay shoreline vulnerable to sea level rise, the Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency (HASPA) took notice. HASPA commissioned a preliminary study by ESA to identify vulnerable infrastructure, and assess the feasibility of protecting shoreline infrastructure and wetlands along the local shoreline. A pilot project exploring those measures is underway with ESA working with the Oro Loma Sanitary District.

Circumnavigating the Bay! The Golden Gate Bridge and Transportation District is proposing to modify its ferry terminal facilities at Larkspur, San Francisco, and Sausalito to improve passenger accessibility and efficiency. ESA is preparing environmental documentation and regulatory approval/permitting necessary to begin construction at Sausalito later this year.

Visit our website at www.esassoc.com to learn more about our exciting projects and to meet our growing team of experts.
 

Blue Earth Consultants’ nimble, highly specialized team brings a breadth of experience developing solutions locally and globally with expertise in white water to blue water issues focusing on sustainable resources management and governance, sustainable business and finance, and organizational effectiveness.  Click on their logo to vist their website and learn more.

Not yet a member?

 

Thanks to the tireless work of our Bylaws Committee, Bay Planning Coalition was able to conduct a vote of its full membership for approval of Proposed Amended and Restated Bylaws. The new Bylaws passed, and were executed on April 17. They had not been fully overhauled since our founding in 1983.  You may view the new Bylaws here.

For 2014, Bay Planning Coalition formed 3 new Committees:  The Legislative and Policy Committee, the Energy, Water and Infrastructure Committee, and the Dredging and Beneficial Reuse Committee.

All of our committees have met at least once since they were formed, have reached agreement on their overall purposes, and in some cases have been actively tackling policy issues on behalf of BPC. The Legislative and Policy Committee has been working on:

Want to get involved? Any employee of a BPC member company is welcome to participate on our Committees. Feel free to email us at bpcstaff@bayplanningcoalition.org