Barbours Cut Docks
The Barbours Cut Container Terminal in LaPorte, Texas, sits at the mouth of Galveston Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. The site functions under the authority of the Port of Houston and is one of the largest centers for the processing of standardized shipping containers.
The Barbours Cut location also includes a cruise ship terminal, although no cruise ships have used the location since 2007. The facility also has a poor environmental history record, including a documented history of asbestos contamination. Asbestos exposure is the lone cause of mesothelioma.
Workers at the Barbours Cut Terminal, like those in many other shipyards around the United States, risked exposure to asbestos by working there. A 2003 report from the Port of Houston Authority Commission showed that at an administration building at the site contained asbestos and that the Commission was accepting bids for removing and disposing of the carcinogenic material. The contract was estimated to cost the Port Authority more than $32,000.
Former shipyard workers are considered to have high-risk jobs for getting mesothelioma because of the levels of general asbestos exposure. To understand why and what other occupations are high risk, get a free copy of the Mesothelioma Center's informational packet. You can fill out this form and have a packet mailed to you at no cost.
EPA, Asbestos and Barbours Cut Docks
A 2008 report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cited another building at the terminal that tested positive for asbestos. The Universal Maritime Service/Sealand Terminal was mentioned in a report among sites that processed vermiculite asbestos ore from the WR Grace asbestos mine in Libby, Montana.
According to the report, "Exposure to Libby amphibole fibers would likely be limited to workers who had direct contact with the vermiculite through opening bags, equipment maintenance or cleaning." To date, however, there are no documented lawsuits by former Barbours Cut Docks employees who battled mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases. Texas in recent years made it more difficult for mesothelioma patients to sue for financial restitution based on their disease by setting a higher bar for documentation of the disease and exposure to asbestos.
Environmental Impact
The Barbours Cut facility was first U.S. port developed to meet the then-new ISO 14001 environmental safety standards. However, a March 2004 report from the National Resources Defense Council gave the Port of Houston a grade of "F" for its land use in developing the Barbours Cut Terminal and the accompanying Bayport container terminal. The report cites that the Barbours Cut Terminal displaced many local residents and did not provide adequate access to rail lines and highways. It did not mention asbestos.
History of Barbours Cut Docks
The Port of Houston Authority opened Barbours Cut Container Terminal in 1977. The terminal was the first facility in Texas to engage in processing standard-sized shipping containers and cost $53 million when it was constructed (almost $200 million in 2011 dollars).
Since its construction, the terminal increased its area to 250 acres and its depth to 40 feet. Because of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, the facility plans to dredge for an additional 10 feet of depth to handle more ocean-going traffic.
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Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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