PG&E Making Progress After First Year of Environmental Cleanup in San Francisco

This summer PG&E has been hard at work completing the first year of environmental cleanup work near San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. The cleanup removes contaminants found in underwater sediments along the waterfront. This contamination was the result of a former Manufactured Gas Plant that operated in the early 1900s. This is one of the Environmental Remediation Department’s largest projects. It will take place over five years and help protect water quality and Bay habitat for decades to come Some activities completed this year include:

• Dredging and removing over 21,000 cubic yards of impacted Bay sediment
• Installing over 100 piles to protect the pier from seismic activity
• Installing 22,000 tons of sand and rock materials, capping deeper sediment impacts and protecting water quality during future Port of San Francisco dredging activities
• Installing equipment to monitor the cleanup’s long-term effectiveness

What sets cleanups conducted on the water apart from other projects is the limited work window. Work at this site can only take place between June and November. This protects fish species, including steelhead and salmon.

“We have completed all dredging, barging and offloading activities planned for 2025. We are ready to wrap up and return these areas to the Port and their tenants in November,” Rob Saur, PG&E’s consulting remediation project manager.

PG&E is leading the cleanup, but progress involved years of coordination with the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board. It also includes working with project partners like the Port of San Francisco, maritime tenants, neighbors and businesses.

“Thanks to strong partnerships and making good on our promises, we are completing a complex and exciting year of work. We look forward to continued coordination to complete more phases of the work in the coming years,” said Iain Baker, environmental remediation director.

Returning tenants to their permanent locations

The last step of the season is to return relocated tenants back to their original locations. This includes the historic submarine the U.S.S. Pampanito and ferry service provider the Red and White Fleet. No businesses like interruptions, but PG&E worked with tenants to make this process as smooth as possible.

“We have hosted monthly working groups, site walks and all-hands-on-deck meetings focused on logistics. We are committed to the return of these tenants with minimal impacts and addressing concerns in real-time,” said Luke Wegener-Vernagallo, senior remediation project manager.

Tenants have capitalized on these relocations to improve their future operations. For example, the Red and White Fleet will be able to operate an additional boat out of their docks.

“We appreciate PG&E’s thoughtful coordination throughout the project, and we look forward to returning to our original operating location. We’ll have more space for additional vessels and can offer more opportunities for visitors to enjoy San Francisco Bay,” said Tyler Foster, managing director and partner, Red and White Fleet.

Protecting marine wildlife

PG&E’s commitment to neighbors does not just extend to humans. It includes a commitment to the diverse wildlife in the Bay. Although the area may be well known for the presence of sea lions, this year there was a record number of whales. PG&E used National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-approved monitors throughout the project to protect these species.

“Monitoring for whales was necessary over a large area to minimize potential impacts. We had monitors stationed at the Golden Gate Bridge and on Treasure Island during different times. This allowed us to adjust our work to be protective of these species,” said Brenda McConathy, environmental remediation manager.

PG&E worked with The Marine Mammal Center to ensure a thorough approach to protections. This included sharing work plans. The center also hosted a training with monitors to share their learnings about species migration patterns and habits.

“We appreciate PG&E’s commitment to carrying out this important remediation project in a thoughtful way that minimizes risk and prioritizes the health and safety of the marine mammals in San Francisco Bay,” says Dr. Jeff Boehm of The Marine Mammal Center. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with PG&E over the next five years to ensure this project protects both the environment and the animals that call it home.”

Upholding our commitment to communities

PG&E has a longstanding commitment to serve the planet. This project is one of the many ways we deliver on this purpose. To learn more about PG&E’s efforts to take responsibility and cleanup legacy contamination, visit pge.com/environmentalremediation.

Contact us

PG&E is committed to keeping our neighbors and stakeholders informed about our work. If you have any questions about this project, please reach out to: (415) 973-0270 or email remediation@pge.com.

For more information about the project, visit sfport.com/beachstreet. You can also learn more in this project fact sheet.

Visit pge.com/mgp for more information about former manufactured gas plants.