Virtual Forum: PFAS in San Francisco Bay Fish

Virtual Forum on PFAS in San Francisco Bay Fish, February 4th, 2022

Thank you for joining environmental and public health agencies, representatives of tribes and local fishing communities, and the general public to discuss PFAS sources and the contamination of San Francisco Bay sport fish. This forum sought to build consensus for next steps to protect everyone who catches and eats fish from the Bay. Please click here to access the meeting summary.

Members from local tribal, African American and Asian fishing communities were able to share community perspectives on PFAS exposure from Bay fish, alongside presentations from scientists and policy makers working on PFAS. The dialogue that began at this meeting is an important first step in working together to envision solutions to address this issue.

A meeting summary, presentation slides, related materials, and an agenda can be found below.

This event was made possible thanks to funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Satterberg Foundation, and the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, with assistance from the Green Science Policy Institute and the Water Foundation. 

MEETING AGENDA        

Welcome & Session 1: PFAS and Perspectives from Bay Fishing Communities

• Goals of Today's Meeting and Land Acknowledgement; Dr. Rebecca Sutton, San Francisco Estuary Institute; Adria Ventura, Clean Water Action; Sherri Norris, California Indian Environmental Alliance (Osage Nation)
• Reducing Harm from PFAS for Healthier People and Environment; Dr. Arlene Blum, Green Science Policy Institute
• Perspectives of Historically Disadvantaged, High Risk, Long-Term Exposed African American Communities; LaDonna Williams, All Positives Possible; Dominique Brooks, Healing Impacted Communities; Lonnie Mason, First Generations Environment and Economic Development
• PFASs Measured in Biomonitoring California's Asian/Pacific Islander Community Exposures (ACE) Project; Duyen Kauffman, California Department of Public Health
  • Additional Materials
    • ACE2 Questionnaire
    • ACE2 Questionnaire with Pictures
    • ACE2 Mock Results
• Panel Discussion

Session 2: State and Regional PFAS Monitoring

• PFAS Site Investigation; Wendy Linck, State Water Resources Control Board
• Looking for Sources of PFAS in Bay Area Wastewater; Dr. Lorien Fono, Bay Area Clean Water Agencies, Miguel Mendez, San Francisco Estuary Institute
• Regional Water Board Perspective on PFAS Sources and Management Approaches; Tom Mumley, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
• Panel Discussion

Session 3: PFAS in Bay Fish

• Cultural Importance of Fishing for Local Native American Communities; Valentin Lopez, Amah Mutsun Land Trust; Sherri Norris, California Indian Environmental Alliance (Osage Nation)
• PFAS in San Francisco Bay Fish; Dr. Jay Davis, San Francisco Estuary Institute
• The OEHHA Fish Advisory Program; Dr. Wesley Smith, Office of Environmental Health Hazard
• PFAS and New Jersey Fish Consumption Advisories; Dr. Sandra Goodrow, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
• Historical Patterns of Exposure, Genetic Variance and Increased Susceptibility; Dr. Raymond Tompkins, African American Health Equity Council
• Panel Discussion

Session 4: Where Do We Go From Here?

• Discussion moderated by Juliet Christian-Smith, Water Foundation
• Wrap Up and Next Steps; Dr. Rebecca Sutton, San Francisco Estuary Institute; Adria Ventura, Clean Water Action; Sherri Norris, California Indian Environmental Alliance (Osage Nation)
   

ORGANIZING PARTNERS 

Clean Water Action • San Francisco Estuary Institute • California Indian Environmental Alliance 

with assistance from Green Science Policy Institute 

FUNDED BY The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation • Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment