Meghan Hodges
Despite improvements in air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area over the past 30 years, the region still experiences unacceptable levels of air pollutants like carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate matter. While vehicles are the largest contributor to ozone pollution, there are over 1,600 industrial facilities that discharge toxic runoff into the Bay and nearby waterways, including scrap metal yards, shipyards, and semiconductor manufacturers. These facilities harm the environment and public health, and organizations like Baykeeper work to hold them accountable through legal action and pollution control recommendations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main pollutant | Ozone (O₃) |
| Other pollutants | Carbon monoxide, particulate matter |
| Source of pollutants | Automobiles, industrial facilities, power plants |
| Companies/Facilities responsible | Scrap metal yards, boat and shipyards, trucking terminals, landfills, semiconductor manufacturers |
| Effects of pollution | Harm to wildlife and people, contamination of soil and water, risk of flooding |
| Actions taken | Tighter regulatory controls, cleaner burning engines and fuels, lawsuits, pollution controls, reduction of emissions |
| Monitoring tools | Live air pollution maps, air quality monitors |
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What You'll Learn
Industrial facilities and scrap metal yards
San Francisco has seen substantial improvements in air quality over the past 30 years, despite population and employment growth. This is due in part to tighter regulatory controls on industrial sources of air pollution. However, the Bay Area is home to some of California's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, and industrial facilities continue to be a source of pollution in the region.
Industrial facilities, including scrap metal yards, boat and shipyards, trucking terminals, landfills, and semiconductor manufacturers, are a significant source of pollution in San Francisco. These facilities often discharge toxic runoff into the Bay and surrounding waterways, contaminating the soil and water and harming wildlife and people in the area. This type of pollution is particularly prevalent during the rainy season when runoff from industrial sites can carry toxic pollutants into the Bay and nearby communities.
One organisation, San Francisco Baykeeper, works to identify and hold accountable industrial polluters in the Bay Area. They collect data and samples during the rainy season to identify the most problematic polluters and then use drones and boats to gather evidence of illegal pollution. Once they have filed a lawsuit, they work with the companies to implement cost-effective pollution controls and agree on actions and deadlines to stop polluting. They continue to monitor these facilities for up to five years to ensure that pollution controls are effective and maintained.
Through these efforts, Baykeeper has successfully gotten over 50 industrial facilities to take measures to stop polluting the Bay and its tributaries, with many more making significant progress toward reducing pollution levels. This has not only improved the environment but also the health and safety of the people living and working in the Bay Area.
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Oil and gas extraction
One of the most prominent examples of the negative impact of oil and gas extraction in San Francisco is the Chevron refinery in Richmond, California. The Chevron refinery processes nearly 250,000 barrels of crude oil each day and has a long history of accidents and pollution. In 2012, a fire at the refinery sent a plume of black smoke over nearby residential areas, causing concern among the local community. Chevron has also been criticised for its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, with activists in Richmond taking a stand against the company's role in perpetuating the climate crisis.
Oil refineries, in general, pose a danger to the Bay and surrounding communities. In addition to the risk of oil spills and wastewater pollution, refineries release toxic byproducts into the environment, such as selenium, which can have detrimental effects on wildlife and aquatic life. For instance, high levels of selenium have been found in fish and clams in the North Bay, downstream from the region's oil refineries, posing a threat to larger species that consume them.
Furthermore, oil and gas extraction can have far-reaching consequences for wildlife and natural habitats. The development of extraction sites can remove large areas of vegetation and rangelands, fragment habitats, and disrupt animal communication and breeding patterns. These impacts can be long-lasting, with sites taking centuries to fully recover even if abandoned by oil and gas companies. The noise, air pollution, and damaged landscapes associated with extraction can also negatively affect people who visit public lands for recreation and nature appreciation.
While California has implemented programmes like "cap and trade" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, critics argue that it has established a market of pollution that disproportionately hurts communities like Richmond. Oil and gas companies have also faced scrutiny for accelerating their extraction of fossil fuels even as the detrimental effects on the planet and humanity became evident. Despite claiming to support emissions reduction targets, these companies continue to expand their operations and contribute to the climate crisis.
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Automobiles and vehicle emissions
While San Francisco has not violated air quality standards in recent years, the city still experiences unacceptable levels of air pollutants like carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate matter. Westerly winds carry these pollutants to the eastern and southern areas of the region.
The major source of air pollution in the Bay Area is automobile tailpipe emissions. The large number of commuters who drive into the city contributes to this issue. Transportation accounts for 44% of carbon emissions in San Francisco, making it the largest emitter alongside buildings. Emissions from cars and trucks are responsible for 46% of the city's carbon footprint.
To address this issue, San Francisco has set an ambitious goal of achieving 80% of trips by transit, biking, walking, or carpooling by 2030. The city is also encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles, with electric vehicle sales encompassing 37% of all new vehicle sales in 2022, four times higher than any other U.S. county. This shift towards electric vehicles has already led to a significant drop in carbon emissions across the region, with a 1.8% annual decrease in carbon dioxide emissions from 2018 to 2022.
The city has also implemented initiatives like the Transportation Sustainability Program, which works with employers and developers to promote cleaner and more sustainable trip-making. Additionally, the Transportation Demand Management program aims to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips and encourage the use of transit, bicycling, walking, and carpooling.
San Francisco is committed to expanding access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with plans to install 5,000 curbside chargers by 2030. The city hopes to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, five years earlier than the statewide target, and aims to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035.
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Greenhouse gas emissions
While there is no explicit ranking of companies that contribute the most to pollution in San Francisco, several industries and companies have been identified as major polluters. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has recognised San Francisco's leadership in promoting clean air. Despite this, the city still experiences unacceptable levels of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate matter.
The Bay Area is home to some of California's largest emitters of greenhouse gases. California's cap-and-trade program requires these major polluters to pay for their emissions, with the cost of allowances increasing annually to incentivise emissions reductions. Industries purchasing carbon credits include timber, dairy, and chemical companies. The transportation fuels industry has also been exempt from California's climate rules, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, oil refineries along the coasts and gas extraction in Southern California are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. The construction of a power plant in Southern California that buries carbon dioxide underground has been proposed as a potential solution to meet the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals. However, this project has faced opposition due to concerns about health and air pollution.
Furthermore, industrial facilities around San Francisco Bay, including scrap metal yards, shipyards, trucking terminals, landfills, and semiconductor manufacturers, discharge toxic runoff into the Bay and nearby waterways during the rainy season, contributing to water pollution and harming wildlife and nearby communities. While some companies have taken measures to reduce pollution levels, there are still thousands of toxic sites across California, many of which are located along the Bay shoreline, impacting soil and water quality.
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Regulatory controls and compliance
The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board plays a crucial role in regulating water quality in the region. The Board is responsible for developing, adopting, and implementing the Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan), which serves as the master policy document for water quality regulation. The Basin Plan includes legal, technical, and programmatic aspects of water quality management, such as designating beneficial water uses, setting water quality objectives, and implementing regulatory programs.
To address nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, which is a significant issue in the Bay Area due to land runoff, rainfall, and drainage from various sources, the Region 2 Board is implementing NPS management measures through programs that adhere to the California NPS Program Plan and NPS Policy. The Site Clean Up Program (SCP) is specifically designed to address and clean up unauthorized discharges, primarily focusing on groundwater but also addressing surface waters and sediments.
Stormwater pollution, another major source of pollutants in the Bay Area, is being addressed through the issuance of NPDES permits by the State and Regional Boards. These permits mandate the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control stormwater pollutants. The State Board has issued general stormwater permits for industrial facilities and construction sites, requiring notification, BMP implementation, and monitoring. Meanwhile, the Regional Board has issued municipal stormwater permits to urbanized areas, directing local governments to take specific actions, such as public education, municipal activities, monitoring, and inspections.
Air quality improvement is also a key focus for San Francisco. While the city has not violated air quality standards in recent years, it recognises the impact of its pollutants on the eastern and southern areas of the region due to westerly winds. To address this, San Francisco cooperates with regional agencies to promote air quality improvement and adhere to State and Federal air quality standards. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has imposed tighter regulatory controls on industrial and related sources of air pollutants, contributing to improved air quality in the region. Additionally, the reduction of pollutant emissions from mobile sources, such as automobiles, is a priority to further enhance air quality and reduce congestion.
To ensure compliance with environmental regulations, the San Francisco Environment Department (SFE) has enacted various regulations. For example, Regulation No. SFE-19-02-RSO implements the Refuse Separation Compliance Ordinance, and Regulation No. SFE-22-01-RE mandates the use of 100% renewable electricity in non-residential buildings above 50,000 square feet. The SFE also enforces regulations related to construction and demolition debris, commuter benefits, and the safe disposal of unwanted drugs.
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Frequently asked questions
Although it is difficult to pinpoint exactly which companies are the biggest polluters, industrial facilities, refineries, oil and gas extraction, and transportation are the biggest contributors to pollution in San Francisco.
There are various types of pollution, including air pollution, water pollution, and soil pollution.
Every rainy season, industrial facilities allow toxic pollution to run off their sites and into the Bay, rivers, creeks, sloughs, and storm drains.
Organisations like Baykeeper investigate and file lawsuits against polluters, compelling them to stop harming the environment. They also work with facilities to implement pollution controls and monitor their progress.
Individuals can reduce their contribution to air pollution by reducing automobile usage, supporting environmental organisations, and advocating for stricter emissions regulations.
