Pointed Queries

Three California members of Congress are demanding information from the Navy about radioactive materials at Hunters Point Shipyard

Comments (0) By John Mecklin Wednesday, May 23 2001

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The reaction during the first week or so after Davis' series broke was, let us say, muted.

But then Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, who represents the district that includes the shipyard, announced she would sponsor legislation to clean each piece of the former base to "the highest standard," before any piece is transferred from Navy to city control. Such legislation would effectively kneecap a transfer agreement, signed last year by the Navy and Mayor Willie Brown, that allowed supposedly clean areas of the former base to move to city control while the Navy cleaned the "dirty" areas.

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Now, Feinstein, Boxer, and Pelosi, whose district includes the shipyard, have asked the Navy at least some of the right questions in regard to radiation and the proposed cleanup and transfer of the former naval base to civilian control. I don't make a habit of thanking public officials for doing their jobs, but I must say I appreciate Pelosi, Boxer, and Feinstein for taking the time to consider a serious work of journalism seriously, and to respond in a reasonable, responsible way.

Sometime in the next five years, if the facts warrant it, I'd like to be able to extend the same sort of performance-based thanks to Navy Secretary Pirie.

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The Hunters Point Shipyard Restoration Advisory Board meets at 6 p.m. tonight (that is, May 23) at the Bayview Police Station, 201 Williams St. The board includes representatives of the community and local environmental organizations who meet regularly to discuss shipyard cleanup issues with the Navy, the EPA, and other agencies.