WHEREAS, 27 organizations and agencies of the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture have agreed to an achievable vision for restoration of the Estuary, described in Restoring the Estuary: Implementation Strategy of the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture (2001, which includes habitat goals for the restoration and enhancement of 102,000 acres of Bay habitats and seasonal wetlands;

WHEREAS, the foundation and primary framework for the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture's habitat goals is the scientifically based ecosystem management plan Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals Report (1999);

WHEREAS, the Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals Report, developed by more than 100 scientists, concluded that "as filled or developed areas within the baylands become available, their potential for restoration to fish and wildlife habitat should be fully considered" and "natural transitions from mudflat through tidal marsh to adjacent uplands [be restored] wherever possible";

WHEREAS, the Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals Report specifically addresses the Mountain View area, linking Moffett Field's wetlands to the condition of the entire South Bay, by recommending: "Restore large areas of tidal marsh and provide a continuous corridor of tidal marsh along the bayshore";

WHEREAS, the Santa Clara Basin Watershed Management Initiative, initiated in 1996 by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the State Water Resources Control Board and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, and including as signatories the cities of Cupertino, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, as well as 26 other community, local and state agency stakeholders, has adopted as a principal goal "To protect and/or restore streams, reservoirs, wetlands and the Bay for the benefit of fish, wildlife and human uses" (WMI Goal 5);

WHEREAS, tidal restoration projects have successfully been undertaken at Shoreline Park (Shoreline Marsh) and other sites in the San Francisco Bay Estuary;

WHEREAS, Moffett Field Site 25 offers an excellent opportunity for restoration to tidal marsh;

WHEREAS, tidal restoration of Moffett Field Site 25 would be in accord with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) criterion for community acceptance of the Moffett Field Site 25 Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (CERCLA; Interim Final, October 1988, EPA 9355.3-01);

WHEREAS it is beneficial to the health and welfare of all citizens of the South Bay to live in a diverse and vibrant environment of high ecological quality and sustainability;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of __________________ that the City approves the following statement concerning

RESTORATION OF MOFFETT FIELD SUPERFUND SITE 25 TO TIDAL MARSH:

The City of _______________ finds that a reasonably anticipated future land use of Moffett Field Site 25 is restoration to tidal marsh, and, therefore

Moffett Field Site 25 Superfund remediation should be performed at a level that would support future restoration of the site to tidal marsh - that is, to allow the controlled flow of waters, fish and wildlife from the San Francisco Bay into the Moffett Field wetlands.

RESOLUTION ENDORSED BY:

Acterra

Alliance for a New Moffett Field

CLEAN South Bay

Green Party of Santa Clara County

Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society

Save The Bay (Save San Francisco Bay Association)

Sierra Club - Loma Prieta Chapter

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition

Sustainable Mountain View