MCL commented on the Draft Environmental Impact Report on August 25, 2011 (see below.)

Races are planned for both 2012 and 2013. The 2012 series, the America’s Cup World Series, involves twenty days of racing in late summer and early fall. The course runs along the San Francisco waterfront from the Bay Bridge, slightly under the Golden Gate Bridge, past Sausalito, along the south end of Angel Island, west of Treasure Island, along the north side of the Bay Bridge, and back to San Francisco. An alternative to have the races outside the Gate on the ocean was dismissed because the boats would have to be specially built for the open ocean.

The races in 2013 are planned to run from June through September and include the Louis Vuitton Cup, America’s Cup Challenger Series, potential America’s Cup Defender Selection Series and the Match. These will follow essentially the same course, but the anticipated visitor numbers are much greater. The DEIR estimates landside spectators for 2013 weekday events at 43,700 per day, a number which is anticipated to jump to as many as 316,000 on the weekends. Spectators on boats on weekends are estimated at 18,000 per day.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) on both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge will be heavily impacted by spectators and, therefore, was required under federal law to prepare its own Environmental Assessment (EA) to address impacts on the Marin Headlands and other GGNRA sites. MCL reviewed and commented on this document on September 22, 2011 (see below). California State Parks will probably develop a plan for Angel Island. Both areas would provide excellent views of the races, but crowd control will be essential to avoid environmental destruction. Other public agencies with responsibilities for waterfront construction, water safety, public access, and water quality include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission, and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The entire SF FEIR and DEIR can be read by visiting the SF Planning Commission's website. (Scroll down to 2010.0493.E). The GGNRA documents can be accessed at www.americascupnepa.org.

• September 22, 2011, MCL comments on the America's Cup Environmental Assessment (GGNRA)
• August 25, 2011, MCL comments on the America's Cup DEIR (SF City and County)