SeaTurtles.org won strong protections for San Francisco Bay's air and water during the America's Cup and waterfront development projects  in the environmental impact report that was approved last week. Program Director Teri Shore testified in support of measures requiring cleaner fuels, engines and shoreside power for race management vessels, media and spectator boats, and superyachts at Planning and Port Commission meetings. Download our comments in a PDF here.

Shore also recognized the importance of a new long-term shoreside power project at Pier 70 for drydocked cruise ships and large vessels that  will offset the shutdown of shorepower at Pier 27 for two or three years. The project will benefit residents who live in the Southeast corner of San Francisco with improved air quality for years to come.

The city and port of San Francisco also committed to clean boating programs that will prevent discharges of wastewater and marine debris into the Bay. These plans will be fine-tuned over the next year or two leading up to the America's Cup races in August and September 2013.

However, several environmental and neighborhood groups remain concerned that promised protections fall short of ensuring a clean and green America's Cup. The groups filed an appeal of the certification of the Final EIR and will seek support from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to intervene and resolve final issues including protection of Crissy Field and shoreline habitat; protection of marine mammals and birds during races; and traffic and crowd control in city neighborhoods around the Embarcadero.