ALAMEDA COUNTY

HEALTH CARE SERVICES

AGENCY
COLLEEN CHAWLA, Director
OFFICE OF THE AGENCY DIRECTOR
1000 San Leandro Boulevard, Suite 300
San Leandro, CA 94577
TEL (510) 618-3452
FAX (510) 351-1367

May 11, 2020

Sent Via Email

Laurie Shelby, Vice President, Environmental, Health, and Safety

Tesla
45500 Fremont Boulevard
Fremont, CA 94538

Dear Ms. Shelby,

We have heard reports from several sectors today that Tesla has reopened its Fremont plant
and may have recommenced normal operations. As you know from our conversations and
communications, currently only Minimum Basic Operations are allowable under the health
officer order. The Order defines Minimum Basic Operations as:

i. The minimum necessary activities to maintain and protect the value of the
business’s inventory and facilities; ensure security, safety, and sanitation;
process payroll and employee benefits; provide for the delivery of existing
inventory directly to residences or businesses; and related functions. For clarity,
this section does not permit businesses to provide curbside pickup to customers.

ii. The minimum necessary activities to facilitate owners, personnel, and contractors
of the business being able to continue to work remotely from their residences,
and to ensure that the business can deliver its service remotely.

If the reports we have received are true, Tesla is engaging in work beyond Minimum Basic
Operations, and is in violation of the Health Officer Order. These activities must cease until
the Health Officer approves Tesla’s site-specific plan as required by the State of California
guidance and checklist for manufacturing, and issues an order permitting manufacturing
generally. We hope that Tesla – like other businesses who have been notified of non-
compliance – comes into compliance with the Order without the need for additional
enforcement measures.

We have been working collaboratively over the last two weeks, making progress towards
agreement on a plan that would allow Tesla to safely resume operations in compliance with
local and state public health requirements. Per our communication of earlier today, you will be
submitting Tesla’s site-specific plan to me later today. We will review that plan once we
receive it and will schedule time to review our feedback with you within 24 hours.
Laurie Shelby
May 11, 2020
Page 2 of 2

I look forward to continuing our productive conversations and moving Tesla to resuming safe
operations. Until then, however, you must maintain no more than Minimum Basic Operations.

Sincerely,

Colleen Chawla
Health Care Services Agency Director

cc: Board of Supervisors, Alameda County

County Administrator, Alameda County
County Counsel, Alameda County