California Naval Shipyard
The California Naval Shipyard, also known as Mare Island Naval Shipyard, operated for more than 140 years until it was officially closed in April 1996 as part of the Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission military closures. As the oldest Navy base on the West Coast, the shipyard was responsible for the building of 512 ships and the overhauling of many more. Its World War II record of building the destroyer USS Ward in 17.5 days remains undefeated.
During its operational years, the various activities performed at the installation generated asbestos contamination as well as contamination from other hazardous wastes such as PCBs and lead oxide. In November 2003, the Navy released information regarding its plan to build a groundwater containment barrier and extraction trench to prevent ground water that had been polluted with asbestos and other contaminants from making its way into the wetlands and tidal marshes in close proximity to the facility. It was intended to be a temporary solution until a more permanent one could be implemented.
Asbestos affected various areas and workers in a shipyard and knowing the risks of exposure helps previous employees assess their risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. If you suspect you were exposed to asbestos at California Naval Shipyard, fill out the form on this page to request more information about free resources and assistance programs.
Asbestos was Found in Several Locations
An area of about 230 miles was included in what the Navy designated as Investigation Area H1. It included two landfills, the original Facility Landfill - which was in use during the years between 1965 and 1977 - and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Landfill - which was in use until 1989. Both of these sites were found to contain more than 600,000 tons of waste that contained asbestos. Additionally, the landfill created by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was not permitted to accept hazardous wastes; however, it was found to have asbestos-containing products.
Another site within the shipyard that was believed to have asbestos-containing materials was Northwest Dump Road Subarea, built on land that was originally used as a landfill until the early 1960s. It contained construction debris and large rock and concrete fragments.
The third location suspected of containing asbestos was the West Subarea, located west of the original Facility Landfill and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Landfill. It covered about 10 acres, spanning levees and former dredge ponds.
Asbestos Exposure was Routine in Certain Jobs
Not only did shipyard workers at Mare Island become exposed to asbestos because of the irresponsible disposing of waste materials, they were also exposed through the normal activities that were part of their job descriptions.
Pipefitters were responsible for removing and replacing asbestos-containing packing that acted as a seal on valves and gaskets that secured pipe joints. This was a frequent part of the overhauling procedure for the submarines and surface vessels brought to Mare Island for maintenance.
Insulators who also worked on these vessels removed and replaced asbestos-containing thermal insulation on the pipes contained in these ships. The pipefitters' and insulators' exposure was made worse by the fact that all work was performed in tight spaces without the benefit of a respirator or protective clothing.
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Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
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