Across the San Francisco Bay shoreline, communities are living alongside the legacy of more than a century of industrial activity. From former chemical manufacturing facilities to hazardous waste sites, contaminated lands and waterways continue to shape the environment and public health of waterfront neighborhoods. As climate change drives sea level rise and raises groundwater tables, new questions are emerging about what happens when these contaminated sites meet a changing shoreline.
In this episode of Terra Verde, host and producer Hannah Wilton speaks with Kevin G. Ruano Hernandez of Richmond Shoreline Alliance and Makayla Marquez of San Francisco Baykeeper about environmental justice, shoreline contamination, and efforts to build more resilient waterfront communities in the face of climate change. The conversation explores Richmond’s industrial history and the ongoing challenges posed by contaminated sites such as the United Heckathorn Superfund site and the former Zeneca chemical facility.
To learn more, consider joining Richmond Shoreline Alliance and local environmental justice leaders for a Toxic Tour of the former Zeneca site. You can also report pollution concerns to SF Baykeeper through its pollution hotline 1-800-KEEP-BAY.