{"id":2835,"date":"2011-05-20T17:33:32","date_gmt":"2011-05-21T01:33:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fogcityjournal.com\/wordpress\/?p=2835"},"modified":"2020-10-17T05:51:43","modified_gmt":"2020-10-17T13:51:43","slug":"sierra-club-calls-for-environmental-impact-report-on-att-utility-boxes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fogcityjournal.com\/wordpress\/2835\/sierra-club-calls-for-environmental-impact-report-on-att-utility-boxes\/","title":{"rendered":"Sierra Club Calls for Environmental Impact Report
on AT&T Utility Boxes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Citing concerns about sidewalk access restrictions and graffiti, the Sierra Club is calling on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to authorize an Environment Impact Report before granting AT&T the right to install 726 U-Verse utility boxes in San Francisco. Photo courtesy AT&T.<\/p><\/div>\n

By Rebecca Evans, Chair, San Francisco Group, Sierra Club<\/strong><\/p>\n

May 20, 2011<\/p>\n

Today, the Sierra Club is urging the Board of Supervisors to require AT&T to produce an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on its proposed installation of 726 utility boxes on the sidewalks of San Francisco.<\/p>\n

This issue is up for a final vote<\/a> by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. \u00a0Up to this point, neither AT&T nor Planning Commission have offered any objective and \u00a0transparent review process to ensure that the installation would not block our sidewalks and increase \u201ctagging\u201d right where we walk.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Photo courtesy SF Beautiful.<\/p><\/div>\n

Without an environmental evaluation, the impact of these boxes could be problematic to our neighborhoods.\u00a0 The placement of the boxes has not been established, although they will be built within close proximity of existing utility boxes and other equipment which could impede pedestrians.<\/p>\n

To be clear, the Sierra Club believes that an EIR is necessary because the utility boxes could block and diminish our walking, leading to driving and congestion increases.<\/a><\/p>\n

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) states that \u201cthe possible effects of a project are individually limited but cumulatively considerable\u2026 that the incremental effects of an individual project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects.\u201d<\/p>\n

AT&T currently has over <\/strong>1,000 existing boxes across the City.\u00a0 Adding another 726 is significant. While there was a categorical exemption granted, this was based on the premise that there is no \u201ccumulative effect\u201d.\u00a0 This reasoning is specious, at best.<\/p>\n

There is reasonable doubt that the evaluation process did not follow<\/em> CEQA regulations and that AT&T has not made a concerted effort to consider all alternatives.\u00a0\u00a0 (CEQA), requires an EIR to \u00a0ensure efforts are made to mitigate or eliminate environmental impacts. An EIR should buttress enforcement of existing regulations that prevent the needless privatization of our public sidewalks.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what\u2019s good for the environment\u2014and that is why we believe an EIR is necessary in this instance.<\/p>\n

We understand that bringing innovation and new technology to our citizens is important in keeping up with the digital age, but it should not be at the expense of our limited and endangered open, public spaces and already congested sidewalks .<\/p>\n

AT&T and their lobbyists have been working hard to push approval through quickly but the community urges the Board to do the right thing: have AT&T conduct an Environmental Review.\u00a0 Once the results are released, we can then determine whether or not this project is environmentally fit for our City.<\/p>\n

The Sierra Club, San Francisco Beautiful (SFB), Walk San Francisco, along with a coalition of neighborhood organizations are holding a Day of Action with a press conference and rally on Monday, May 23 at Noon, City Hall steps, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.<\/em><\/p>\n

LIST OF SUPPORTERS OF THE EIR (partial list)<\/strong><\/p>\n