Kenebrew, Jerice
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cityclerk
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 12:33 PM
Iraheta, Alba; Jomsky, Mark; Robles, Sandra; Sabha, Tamer; McMillan, Acquanette (Netta); Kenebrew, Jerice; Soo, Christine; Haskett, John FW: Pasadena Municipal Services Committee - Public Comments for 5-14-24, Item #1 SFVCRP Statement on Artificial Turf Agenda Item 1 - Pasadena Municipal Services Committee_5-14-2024 a.pdf
From: Terry Sauciei
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 12:30:02 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: cityclerk <[email protected]>
Cc: Kathy Schaeffer <[email protected]>; Diana Weynand <[email protected]> Subject: Pasadena Municipal Services Committee - Public Comments for 5-14-24, Item #1 You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. For more information about the Phish Alert Button view article "KB0010263" on the DolT portal.
May 14, 2024
To: Pasadena Municipal Services Committee
Re: Public Comment Agenda #1 - Artificial Turf
Attached please find comments from the Climate Reality Project San Fernanda Valley Chapter for today's 4PM hearing on Agenda Item 1-artificial turf.
Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to speak on this matter.
Kind regards,
Terry Saucier
Leadership Team, San Fernanda Valley Chapter
Climate Reality Project
terrvsaucierOigmail.com
httDS://www.sfvclimaterea I itv .org/
x
Albert Einstein "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value..."
httBS://climate,nasa^oy/ httDS://www.climaterealitvoroiect.org/ 1 The Cliniate Reality Project'
••;AN FEKNANUC) VALLEY, CA CHAr'l'EK
May 14, 2024
Pasadena Municipal Services Committee
Pasadena City Hall, Council Chamber
100 North Garfield Ave., Room S249
Re: Public Comment Agenda #1
Dear Committee Chair Williams, Council Members Hampton, Jones and Lyon:
Thank you for the opportunity to submit these comments on Agenda Item #1 and SB676, which now allows municipalities to ban artificial turf. The Climate Reality Project San Fernanda Valley Chapter and other coalition partners support a ban on new installations of artificial turf due to human health hazards, environmental contamination, and negative impacts on wildlife. We support natural grass fields and planting of native California plants. Synthetic turf is plastic turf and is not consistent with Pasadena's commitment to environmental responsibility. A number of cities in California and across the United States are wisely making the decision to ban artificial turf. Some of reasons include:
All artificial turf contains hazardous (PFAS) chemicals. PFAS "forever chemicals" have been identified as carcinogens, neurotoxins, and hormone disrupters that can cause thyroid disease, decreased fertility, early puberty, impaired vaccine response, and are associated with learning and behavioral problems in infants and children, as well as a long list of cancers. PFAS microplastic exposure can occur through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal (skin) absorption. Children and athletes playing on artificial turf are subject to all three routes of exposure. PFAS chemicals bioaccumulate, and are therefore especially harmful to children who are still developing.
Artificial turf is too hot, too hard, and may come with liability Issues. It can reach temperatures up to 80° higher than the air temperature, readily reaching 160°F or 180°F and more. This can lead to serious thermal bums and heat stress. Turf bums from friction and non-contact lower extremity injuries are also more frequent on synthetic grass. It has also been found to cause a "heat island effect," raising the surrounding temperature in the local environment. Artificial turf uses an inordinate amount of water for cooling before use on hot days.
With time, it can become extremely hard, increasing the risk of concussions. There are also liability risks - EPA has begun issuing regulatory limits on some PFAS; California is proposing more stringent regulations, and there have been class action suits for contaminated water and exposure to artificial turfs PFAS cancer- causing chemicals.
Artificial Turf pollutes local waters, soil and air. Unlike natural grasses and surfaces, artificial turf is an impervious surface (per State of Calif and US EPA) negatively affecting the recharging of groundwater and increasing the risk offloading. Stormwater run-offfrom artificial turf can cause PFAS to leach into groundwater, contaminating our drinking water. The EPA has recently reported there is no "safe" amount of PFAS for drinking water. Artificial turf sheds microplastics that pollute the soil and waterways; where they can end up in our oceans, never breaking down. The California Coastal Commission recently vetoed UC Santa Barbara's proposed 3-acre artificial turf baseball field because of its negative impacts on water and mandated that they use natural grass. Artificial turf can't be recycled and will end up in our landfills where it will continue to pollute the environment. Artificial turf also off gasses ethylene and methane (contributing to the climate crisis) versus real grasses and plants that are a carbon sink.
Nothing lives in plastic grass. California is one of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots with more native plant species than any other state in the U.S. Not only does artificial turf not support life, it actually kills the soil and
the living organisms in it for generations to come. Artificial turf takes away habitat from insects, birds, and local wildlife, contributing to the loss of biodiversity. Studies also show children benefit from interactions with natural surfaces and nature.
Artificial turf playing fields cost more than natural grass fields. Studies show over time artificial turf can cost two to four times more than properly installed and maintained natural grass fields; synthetic turf is a poor investment. When comparing natural grass playing fields to artificial turf it is important to compare the full product life cycle including capital cost of installation, annual maintenance, sod replacement as needed for natural fields, surface/in-fill replacement of the synthetic fields as well as disposal of artificial turf (removal, transport, and landfill fees).
Summary - Artificial turf is NOT a safer playing surface, does not significantly reduce water usage, and is not a sound investment. Installing artificial turf does not take into account the true cost to our children's health and the health of our environment. The solution is nature-based solutions - California native plants and drought- tolerant grasses that use less water, thrive in our climate, recharge our groundwater and provide food and habitat for local wildlife.
Thank you again for this opportunity to comment. We urge the city of Pasadena to support an ordinance that bans all new installations of artificial turf on residential, commercial, and all city owned and leased land.
Sincerely,
Terry Saucier
Leadership Team, San Fernanda Valley Chapter
Climate Reality Project
[email protected]
https://www.sfvclimaterealitv.orfl/
RESOURCES- Health & E nvironmental Impacts
CalMatters, Once it was hailed as a drought fix — but now California's moving to restrict synthetic turf over health concerns, 10/18/23, by Shreya Agrawal https://calmatters.orq/environment/2023/10/califomia- synthetic-turf-pfas/
Safe Healthy Playing Fields, Inc., https://www.safehealthvplavingfields.orci/ Fact Sheets and Articles, https://www.safehealthvDlavinafields.ora/fact-sheets
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Artificial Turf fact sheet, https://peer.org/wp- content/uploads/2022/IO/PEER fact sheet ArtificialTurf v03-1.pdf, articles http_s.7/Deer.ora/?s=artificia]+turf TURI Toxics Use Reduction Institute UMASS Lowell, Athletic Playing Fields Selecting Safer Alternatives:
resources on artificial turf impacts on human health and the environment, and cost of installation and maintenance of artificial turf vs natural grass, https://www.turi.org/0ur Work/Community/Athletic Playing Fields Beyond Plastics, Synthetic Turf is Hazardous fact sheet, https://www.bevondplastics.orc)/fact-sheets/synthetic-turf National Center for Health Research,4/18/22, NCHR Letter to Board of Los Gates Union School District outlining artificial turf health concerns, Dr. Diana Zuckerman, President, NCHR https://www.center4research.orci/nchr-letter-to-members-of-the-board-of-the-los-gsitos-union-school-district-on-artificial- turf-and-plavarounds/
Associated Press, EPA to limit toxic "forever chemicals" in drinking water, 3/14/23, by Michael Phillis https://aDnews.com/article/eDa-Dfas-forever-chemicals-water-contamination-regulations- 560d0ce3321e7fa8ed052f792c24f16f; Associated Press, Toxic "forever chemicals" about to get their first US limits, 3/2/23, by Michael Phillis, https://apnews.com/article/pfas-epa-water-reciulations- d2d5052c36a5a95f4e56866f028c9c4f
CHE Collaborative for Health and Environment Environmental Health Impacts Synthetic Turf & Safer Alternatives Webinar, 1/27/22,Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI); Northeastern University; lchan School of Medicine Mount Sinai,
https://www.healthandenvironment.orfl/assets/images/webinarimac]es/Artificial%20Turf%20Q&A FINAL.pdf /s Artificial Turf & Grass Toxic?, The Filtery, 8/23/23, by Jeanne Yacoubou, MS, https://thefiltery.com/is- artificial-turf-gras^s-toxjc/
Risky Play, A stew of toxic chemicals lurks in artificial turf. Some experts worry they could be linked to cancer in young athletes, Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/20/24, Barbara Laker and David Gambacorta, httDS://www.inauirer.com/news/pennsvivania/inq2/pfas-artificial-turf-cancer-athletes-pennsvlvania-ni-20240220.html National Football League Players Association, 9/30/20, NFLPA President JC Tretter, calls for NFL clubs to change all field surfaces to natural grass due to increased rate of lower extremity injuries on artificial turf fields https://nflpa.com/posts/on]v-natural-flrass-can-level-the-nfls-plavina-field Opinion: Pediatricians Warn That Synthetic Turf Is Especially Dangerous For Children And Teens, Amherstlndy, 12/2/2022, by Maura and Art Keene, cites Environmental Health Center at the lcahn School of Medicine Mt. Sinai Hospital in N.Y., https://www.amherstindv.orc)/2022/12/02/opinion-pediatricians-wam-that-synthetic- turf-is-especiallv-dangerous-for-children-and-teens/
COST OF ARTIFICIAL TURF PLAYING FIELDS VS NATURAL GRASS TURI Athletic Playing Fields Selecting Safer Alternatives, TURI Report #2018-002 December 2018 (updated April 2019),
https://www.turi.orfl/var/plain site/storafle/oriciinal/application/b9727dedf5860ae7e83e3226d058b7ee,|3df Safe Healthy Playing Fields Factsheet,
httDs://mail.qooale.com/mail/u/0/#sent/KtbxLwGnQSdiQxnGLahCXMvsvtvkZRbdQq?proiector=1&messagePartld:!0.2
LEGISLATION / ORDINANCES
Statewide 2023 (Passed SB676, Proposed AB1423, SB499)
City of Millbrae Artificial Turf Ordinance (2023) prohibits installation of synthetic turf and artificial grass landscaping effective 1/1/24, https://www.ci.millbrae.ca.us/276/Prohibition-of-Artificial-Turf California Coastal Commission, 11/30/2023, Notice of Impending Development UCS-NOID-0002-23 (Baseball Stadium Turf) for Public Hearing and Commission Action 12/13/2022, Commission vetoes UCSB's proposed 3-acre artificial turf baseball field due to negative impacts on water, and mandates natural grass httB.s://documents.coastai.ca.flov/reDorts/2023/12/W13.1 a/W13.1 a-12-2023-report.pdf RESOURCES FOR ALTERNATIVES Osborne Oraanics, httDS://osborneorcianics.com/ Toxics Use Reduction Institute, UMass Lowell - Organic Grass Care https://www.turi.ora/0ur Work/Communitv/Topic Areas and Past Grants/Healthy Schools/Organic Grass Care