Google barge with no permit may have to leave

[SAN FRANCISCO] A mystery barge being built by Google on a pier at a former Navy base in the San Francisco Bay may be told to cast off. It turns out that officials running the base while it is in the process of being turned over to the city of San Francisco don't have permits for the Internet titan or anyone else to construct a vessel on the shore of Treasure Island.

"This is Google's vessel, but we are not dealing with them," San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission regulatory affairs director Brad McCrea said. "It is the pier that doesn't have permitting; whether they use it to build a barge or a speed boat or have a rodeo, TIDA doesn't have the authority to do anything." He was referring to the Treasure Island Development Authority, which is running the former Navy property as it makes the transition into the hands of San Francisco.

The state commission sent a letter to TIDA stating that it had received complaints about work on a "Google Barge" and, after investigating, determined that no permits were issued to use the pier for that or any other project. The situation could be resolved by simply moving the barge, or by getting a permit. Commission officials have met with Google, but the permit issue is a matter to be resolved by TIDA.