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Arthur Kill Powerhouse

The Arthur Kill Powerhouse began operations in 1959 in New York as part of Consolidated Edison. The 15-acre facility, located on the banks of Staten Island’s Arthur Kill Waterway, was built when Staten Island was mostly rural and had a population of less than 190,000. The 842-megawatt generating station consists of two units designed to burn gas or oil. The powerhouse was acquired in 1999 by NRG Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Northern States Power Company.

In September 1998, a transformer fire occurred at Arthur Kill Powerhouse, posing a threat to the surrounding environment and residents. Nearby areas were contaminated by large levels of oil, which contained a high number of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other toxins. The toxins contaminated a neighboring wetland, which ran into the waterway. Although Con Ed did some immediate remediation, additional clean-up was delayed and the area was further contaminated. More investigation into fallout from the fire did not come until two years later, and remediation was not completed until 2008, nearly a decade after the fire.

Arthur Kill Powerhouse and Asbestos

Emissions from the Arthur Kill Powerhouse include nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ammonia, hexane, sulfur dioxide and other toxins.

Until the late 1970s, employees working in the powerhouse also were exposed to asbestos. The substance was regularly used for various purposes in facility equipment. It was considered a cost-effective material with which to insulate and strengthen tools and machinery. Therefore, various types of workers – such as pipefitters, electricians and mechanics – likely encountered asbestos daily.

Asbestos is at its most dangerous when it is old or damaged or when it needs to be trimmed or cut. Power plant employees and contract employees at Arthur Kill Powerhouse were involved in activities that may have included cutting or grinding asbestos materials. Many of them inhaled toxic asbestos fibers as a result. These fibers can become lodged in the lungs and cause serious illnesses.

Arthur Kill Powerhouse and Asbestos Litigation

Power plant workers didn’t know of health risks associated with asbestos exposure until the late 1970s. At the time, it became clear that many company owners and managers knew the material was dangerous yet withheld this information from employees. Exposed workers began filing lawsuits against asbestos companies because of the negligence.

One 2007 case awarded $4 million to a former Arthur Kill Powerhouse electrician and his wife. Joel Rosenberg first came in contact with asbestos in 1960. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma decades later. His cancer was linked to his time working at a variety of New York worksites, including Arthur Kill Powerhouse. Rosenberg died at the age of 64 shortly after the ruling.

Resources for Power Plant Workers

Mesothelioma and asbestosis can have latency periods of 20 to 50 years. If you were employed by Con Ed at Arthur Kill Powerhouse or were a contract employee who visited the plant, you are advised to schedule regular medical checkups. An early diagnosis of asbestos-related illnesses may help in the treatment process. For more information on mesothelioma, complete the form on this page or call a Patient Advocate at (800) 615-2270.

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