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CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO BIODIESEL MARINE COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETINGAPPROVED MINUTESTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2007, 11:00 A.M.
PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO, PIER ONE CONFERENCE ROOM BAYSIDE 3 SAN FRANCISCO, CA
TASK FORCE MEMBERS: Eric Bowen (Chair), Richard Berman, Joe Burgard, Kate Horner
ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Call to Order and Roll Call. The Biodiesel Marine Committee meeting convened at 11:15 a.m. Present: Chair Bowen, Members Berman and Ving. Excused: Member Burgard. Absent: Member Horner.
2. Approval of the October 9, 2007 Biodiesel Marine Committee Regular Meeting Draft Minutes (Discussion and Action). Upon Motion by Member Ving and second by Chair Bowen, the October 9, 2007 Meeting Minutes were approved (AYES: Chair Bowen, Members Berman and Ving. Absent: Members Burgard and Horner) (Explanatory Document: October 9, 2007 Approved Meeting Minutes).
3. Informational Report to the Board of Supervisors: Marine Committee Draft Report Section Review (Discussion and Possible Action). SPEAKERS: Member Karri Ving and Joe Burgard
Member Ving distributed an initial draft of the Marine Committee Informational Report that once finalized would be included in the Task Force Report to the Board of Supervisors. A description was given of the report’s contents. Member Ving discussed the Introduction section, goals of the Task Force Subcommittee, and reported on the section on current ongoing maritime private commercial use of biodiesel. It was stated that Member Burgard represents the section on the Red and White Fleet activities. Member Ving had spoken to Alcatraz Cruises recently who indicated that they have had their Master Island Services Contract approved and would be splash blending B20 into their existing tanks by Spring 2008. It was reported that Alcatraz’s goal is to move in two-year increments from B20, to B50, to B80 then to B100. Once the B20 pilot program goes through successfully and is analyzed, they want to convert their cruise fleet.
The next section reported on was Member Burgard’s overview of biodiesel on the San Francisco Bay that includes past and current projects and potential users. This section includes the smaller operators located around the bay, the different marinas, and explains dock, truck, and barge fueling methods that are being pursued. Member Burgard included his perception of how a marine biodiesel market could be developed and its challenges, his survey of managers and their concerns about using biodiesel, and recommended next steps. Member Ving reported that there are sections that are not yet available and being worked on; e.g., the permit and regulation summary, the Boaters Handbook, and summary of Mr. von Wedel’s experiences in establishing a fuel dock in Sausalito. Member Ving indicated that she would be connecting with a Gas House Cove contact to determine if there is a change in the status of retrofitting their docks.
Member Ving reported that an article on “Cruise Lines Sign onto the Biodiesel Contract” will be included in the section on “Which Cruise Lines use Biodiesel.” A request was made to add the article and the Friends of the Earth Biodiesel Marine Vessels fact sheet to the Task Force website. Member Berman requested that a date be added to the fact sheet. Member Ving reported that additional Port information on the cruise line award program would be included as well as recognition for their work. Chair Bowen stated that he would work on a draft proposal letter on adding a sustainability component to the cruise ship award criteria to present to Mr. Nerney. Member Ving stated that she would work with Member Burgard on putting his analysis into a narrative format with an option of adding an appendix with attachments to relevant documents.
Public Comment:
Chair Bowen asked Mr. Mike Ayres, GP Petroleum, if GP’s biodiesel activities on their existing fuel docks could be added to the Informational Report. Mr. Ayres stated that they are working on converting their fuel dock to B5 in the near future and would be analyzing cost effects on users. It was reported that there are many questions surrounding the use of biodiesel, and GP will have to determine how well B5 is received. Mr. Ayres reported that GP provides a lot of diesel to the major oil companies for their ship operations and were planning on adding biodiesel to diesel, but the shipping company had been opposed because they did not want to experiment with a new product. Mr. Ayres recommended that the Task Force engage in a conversation with major oil companies about a pilot program. Mr. Ayres stated that GP would consider moving to B20 in the future based on economics.
4. Boater’s Handbook Review. Recommendations for revisions to the handbook (Information and Discussion) (Continued from the October 9, 2007 Meeting). SPEAKER: Member Karri Ving
Continued to the December 11, 2007 meeting.
5. Gas House Cove Potential Fueling Site Location (Information and Discussion). Determination on the feasibility of Gas House Cove as a potential fueling site location (Continued from the October 9, 2007 Meeting). SPEAKER: Member Karri Ving
Continued to the December 11, 2007 meeting.
6. Sausalito Fuel Dock Location. Summary of what steps were taken for installation of a fuel dock, the agencies involved, and their requirements (Information and Discussion) (Continued from the October 9, 2007 Meeting). SPEAKER: Member Karri Ving
Continued to the December 11, 2007 meeting.
7. Review of the Cruise Ship Environmental Award (CSEA) to Consider Addition of a Renewability Component to the Award Criteria (Discussion). SPEAKER: Chair Eric Bowen
Chair Bowen discussed updating the existing cruise ship award recognition criteria to add renewable fuel. Chair Bowen stated that he would work on a draft proposal letter to send to Mr. Michael Nerney, Port Maritime Marketing Manager. Continued to the December 11, 2007 meeting.
8. New Business/Future Agenda Items (Information and Discussion). Member Berman requested that the Marine Committee review the effects of the Cosco Busan oil spill. Member Ving suggested a review of the Black Sea oil spill and a discussion of exploring a combination of better containment and less toxic fuel.
The Task Force Secretary discussed (1) Marine Committee membership attendance and (2) asked that web addition requests be emailed. Member Ving asked Mr. Ayres to attend Marine Committee meetings quarterly to provide updates and asked Mr. Ayres to consider providing a press release on GP’s future activities on biodiesel. Chair Bowen suggested placing a one-page flyer near the fuel pump stating that the San Francisco Biodiesel Marine Task Force is pleased and encourages GP’s efforts in providing biodiesel and is interested in users’ feedback and to provide an email address for additional information. Chair Bowen reported that there would be one more meeting of the Marine Committee this year and then there would be an every other month meeting schedule.
Public Comment: Mr. Ayres stated that he would create an informational flyer to provide reassurance to users and welcomed an inclusion of additional material by the Marine Committee. Mr. Ayres stated that there was greater toxicity with the Black Sea oil spill. It was reported that California had a law that would make everybody burn diesel in the bay, but that starting this year a lawsuit dropped the requirement due to demand increase. Mr. Ayres stated that diesel is environmentally less dangerous than black oil, and if there were a diesel spill, it would have all been gone by now. Chair Bowen stated that there is published information on the effects of spills from different types of fuel.
9. Public Comments: Members of the public may address the Task Force on matters that are within the Task Force’s jurisdiction and are not on today’s agenda. There was no public comment at this time.
10. Adjournment. The Marine Committee meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.
The next meeting of the Biodiesel Marine Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 11:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted by, Monica Fish, Task Force Secretary
** Copies of explanatory documents are available at (1) the Task Force office, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, California between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., (2) upon request to the Task Force Secretary, at telephone number 415-355-3709 or via e-mail at [email protected], or (3) on the meeting website as attachments to the agendas or meeting minutes.
Approved: May 13, 2008
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