In a letter sent this week to the Secretary of the Army Togo West, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) insisted upon an appropriate and timely clean-up of hazardous waste on the grounds of the Presidio. According to the recently released Defense Environmental Restoration Program report to Congress, the estimated year of completion for the clean-up is 2005. "This estimate is simply unacceptable," Pelosi said. "In order to accommodate the high public use of the Presidio, protect the resource, and ensure the financial success of the Presidio Trust, it is imperative that this work be done in a much shorter time period."
In addition, Rep. Pelosi included language in the fiscal ‘98 Military Construction Appropriations bill directing the Secretary of the Army to issue a detailed plan for the environmental restoration of the Presidio by a time certain. The legislation states: "The Committee (Appropriations) is concerned that environmental restoration of the Presidio of San Francisco should meet the deadlines identified in the National Park Service's General Management Plan. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of the Army to report the detailed plan for achieving environmental restoration, as well as steps being taken to coordinate Army clean-up activities with General Management Plan deadlines. This report is to be submitted to the Committee by September 8, 1997." The bill awaits President Clinton's signature.
Since February of 1996 Rep. Pelosi has sent seven letters to the Army reinforcing her position that the timely clean-up of the Presidio is not only a matter of public health, but also integral to the fiscal vitality of the national park.
Attachments: Letter to Sec. of the Army Togo West
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I am writing to forward a copy of my letter which was submitted as part of the public comments to the Department of the Army's Feasibility Study for the Presidio.
In the letter, a number of important concerns are outlined, most of which we have discussed in our exchange of letters over the past year. Recent news reports are enclosed which also emphasize the need to provide a timely clean up of the Presidio that meets the standards for high public use as a national park.
New concerns which have been raised relate to the Army's statement of limited responsibility relative to a Nike missile site and a recent statement that they do not intend to meet the agreed-upon Crissy Field cleanup deadline. Reversals like these will have serious effects on the safety of the Presidio and the financial viability of the Presidio Trust. Specific commitments and implementation are key to protecting the Presidio and the millions who will visit the historic Army post. The Army's letter of June 25, 1997 includes a schedule for reaching a final decision document that is already hopelessly behind. I would again suggest that areas such as Crissy Field be split off from the rest of the Presidio and cleaned up now.
In my letter attached, I make the suggestion that the Presidio could serve as an innovative, fast-track model of defense cleanup: "The best example of a ‘fast-track' clean up could be realized at the Presidio, as a tribute to the Army's longstanding commitment to the Presidio and as a symbol of the public-private cooperation that exists in support of the Presidio." I would urge the Army to implement such a plan for the Presidio as soon as possible.
Because of continuing concerns about the pace and quality of the Presidio cleanup, Chairman Ron Packard (Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee) included report language requesting a report from the Department of the Army to develop specific cleanup deadlines that coincide with the Park Service General Management Plan for reuse of the Presidio. The Military Construction appropriations measure is expected to be cleared soon for the President's signature and I urge you to make this information available to the Committee at the earliest possible time.
Once the Committee has the report and there is an opportunity to review the schedule for cleanup, I suggest we schedule our long overdue meeting to discuss any remaining outstanding issues at the Presidio. As you know, Senators Boxer and Feinstein share similar concerns and would welcome the opportunity for us to meet.
Thank you for your support of the Presidio. I look forward to our continuing cooperative efforts on behalf of ensuring a timely cleanup of the Presidio which will render it suitable for public use as a national park. I look forward to meeting with you.
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