One month after the Port of Oakland approved construction of an Open-Air Gravel and Sand Facility, a West Oakland environmental group filed a lawsuit to stop it.
The West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project claims that the Port of Oakland approved the facility, without properly considering the potential impact on nearby neighborhoods.
The group wants an injunction that will stop the project until the port does a more thorough environment study. This requires Eagle Rock Aggregates to do a more comprehensive environmental assessment and the port must agree to additional safeguards to avoid pollution.
In a press release today, Margaret Gordon, cofounder of WOEIP, stated that this sand-and-gravel project would have serious negative impacts on the health and well-being of my community.
The 18-acre gravel yard could store 2.5 million tons of sand & gravel annually, offloaded from approximately 48 ships that visit the port. The material would be transported by truck through West Oakland and on to regional cement plants via freeways.
WOEIP is concerned about dust from the rock and the sand piles that will not be covered. This could cause an increase in asthma and other illnesses that have been associated with industry at the port. Increased truck and ship traffic will also produce harmful particulate matter, and greenhouse gases.
Robert Bernardo, Port of Oakland Director of Communication, said that the port can’t comment on active litigation.
The environmental impact report for the project and comments from various community groups, as well as other public agencies, can be found here. Here are some examples.
The facility will use cement from the facility to build large buildings and other major projects in the Bay Area. Eagle Rock Aggregates is a privately-owned company that operates in the East Bay through the Levin Terminal in Richmond. Cement made from imported gravel of the company was used for the construction of the Bay Bridge, and the high-rises at downtown Oakland.
Brian Beveridge co-founder of WOEIP acknowledged that the lawsuit poses a serious threat to the Ports authority. However, he said that his group feels that legal action should be taken. The Port Commission has abandoned its obligation of protecting our public interests in the coastline and our air.
WOEIP is not the only one criticizing the gravel project. California Air Resource Board is a state agency that oversees clean-air laws. Send a letterTwo years ago, port officials were informed that the project will increase air pollution in disadvantaged communities and that Eagle Rock and the port should do more to reduce dust emissions from the rock piles and trucks transporting the gravel.
The lawsuit was filed at Alameda County State Superior Court. WOEIP is represented by Laura Beaton of Shute, Mihaly, and Weinberger
