A surprise push earlier this month by U.S. Navy officials to disband Moffett Field's lone environmental watchdog panel has generated plenty of public opposition — including Silicon Valley's political heavyweights.

Last week, U.S. Reps. Anna Eshoo, Zoe Lofgren and Ro Khanna signed a joint letter urging the Navy to hold off on dissolving the Moffett Field Restoration Advisory Board (RAB).

"We write to express our strong opposition to the Navy's proposal to adjourn the Moffett Field RAB," the letter states. "No successor RAB has been formed to ensure public oversight and accountability if the Navy moves forward."

Established in 1994, the RAB monitors cleanup of the contaminated groundwater left after the Navy exited Moffett Field as part of the base closure. Toxic chemicals, cancer-causing Trichloroethylene (TCE) in particular, are in slow-moving plumes of the underground water.

More recently, the group has also been involved in preserving Hangar One and tracking development at Moffett Field by Google affiliates like Planetary Ventures.

On May 11, Navy officials announced they were taking the first step toward disbanding the RAB by starting a 30-day public comment period.

The congressional letter echoes the recommendation made by RAB members that the public comment period should be extended to six months, at least. RAB members said they hope to use that time to create some kind of new successor to their group.