City of Albany, CA
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What is the “Bulb”?
The Albany “Bulb” is located at the foot of Buchanan Street at the Albany waterfront (map). The Albany Bulb was previously a construction debris landfill site until operations were ceased in 1984. The Regional Water Quality Control Board worked with the City and community members to achieve the requirements of a landfill closure order and establish the area as a public park.
Park Planning
In 2002, State Parks adopted a General Plan for Eastshore State Park (now McLaughlin Eastshore State Park) which includes the Albany waterfront and bulb. The Plan outlines how the area is intended to be maintained and utilized as an open space public park, identifying both conservation and passive recreation areas. In addition, the Albany community, through the lead of the City’s Waterfront Committee identified a number of planning goals for the Albany Waterfront as documented in the 1995 “Proposal for the Albany Portion of Eastshore State Park”.
Transition to Public Parkland
Both the State Parks General Plan for Eastshore State Park and the Proposal for the Albany Portion of Eastshore State Park underscore the primary goal to provide an open, usable parkland area for the enjoyment of the community at large. The site is currently owned by the City of Albany and is open to the public for recreational use. East Bay Regional Parks serves as an agent of the State Parks system to manage adjoining areas of the waterfront. The City owned portion of the Albany waterfront is ultimately designated to be part of the Eastshore State Park.
Intended Usage
As identified in the Eastshore State Park General Plan, the park area is to include multi-use trails, scenic vistas and allow for passive recreation while balancing park usage with protection and enhancement of upland habitat for wildlife. Park hours are outlined in the Albany Municipal Code, and closed between the hours of 10 p.m. – 5:30 a.m. The Albany Municipal Code prohibits overnight camping at public parks. Per City Council direction, the Albany Police Department will begin enforcing the no camping Ordinance beginning in October 2013. A list of frequently asked questions regarding enforcement of the City's no-camping ordinance at the Albany Bulb has been developed.
Recent Activity
City of Albany Gamma Surveys at Albany Bulb Completed:
The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) requested that the City of Albany investigate whether industrial waste materials containing alum mud were historically accepted at the former Albany landfill site on the Albany waterfront, including at the Albany Bulb.
The City has completed its initial investigation and submitted its findings to the Regional Board. Based on its review of historical documents, the City believes it is unlikely that the industrial waste materials were disposed of at the Albany Bulb, but the City will continue its investigation as described below. The initial investigation included surface level gamma surveys conducted in June to assess the radiological conditions. The gamma surveys covered 100% of the accessible areas at the Bulb. Overall, the gamma survey results were consistent with levels of naturally occurring radioactivity associated with soils and construction debris expected at a construction/municipal landfill. The survey identified several locations for further subsurface soil investigation. The City is preparing a soil sampling investigation work plan to further investigate for presence of the industrial material.
The City-owned portion of the waterfront is a former landfill that predominantly received construction and demolition materials between 1963 and 1983. In past years, numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate landfill materials, and neither the Regional Board nor the City has specific knowledge of any actionable public health and safety issues.
Related Documents:
Letter from the SFBRWQCB - Concurrence with Site Investigation Work Plan, 5/15/2024
Site Investigation Work Plan at the Albany Bulb, 2024
Letter from the SFBRWQB, 1/18/2024
Recent Media
Berkeley, Albany to test popular bayside parks for evidence of uranium and DDT - San Francisco Chronicle, 6/1/2024
Map shows where radioactive waste may have been dumped in Bay Area parks - San Francisco Chronicle, 5/14/2024
Revelations of possible radioactive dumping around Bay Area trigger new testing at parks - Los Angeles Times, 5/14/2024
Battle of the Bulb - San Francisco Bay Guardian, 9/24/13
If Albany Bulb Becomes a State Park, What Happens to Its Homeless? - KQED, 9/24/13
Time to flip switch at Albany Bulb park, city says - San Francisco Chronicle, 9/9/2013
Albany City Council approves funding to help relocate Albany Bulb residents - The Daily Californian, 9/5/2013
Albany: City stands by plans to remove homeless camps in October - Contra Costa Times, 9/4/2013
Council Reaffirms Plan to Remove Albany Bulb Homeless Next Month - Albany Patch, 9/4/2013
With eviction imminent, Albany's shoreline shantytown residents plead to be left alone - Contra Costa Times, 9/3/2013
Video: Homeless march from Albany Bulb - Albany Patch, 9/3/2013
ALBANY: Community torn over homeless encampment near waterfront - KTVU Channel 2 News