San Francisco Drydock
The San Francisco Drydock facility was among the busiest and most productive construction sites for both naval and civilian vessels since its construction in 1881. It also has a long history of asbestos contamination since the toxic mineral was so widely used throughout shipyards during the 20th century. Shipyard workers have consequently been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma cancer.
Environmental surveys at the site uncovered high levels of toxic materials: PCBs, lead-based paint, heavy metals and asbestos. A 2007 environmental assessment study commissioned by the Port of San Francisco found extensive asbestos contamination throughout the facility. According to the study, much of the machinery used a material called Transite as insulation for electrical systems. Transite insulation is known for containing high levels of asbestos in comparison to some other asbestos products.
The study also found asbestos-containing materials in several vital systems. Several panels in electrical control rooms used Transite-backing boards. Several epoxies used to keep components in place also tested positive for asbestos. Much of the thermal insulation, weather stripping and wiring insulation, as well as numerous gaskets were also laced with asbestos fibers. At the time of the facility's construction, asbestos was widely used as a fireproofing and insulation material.
Asbestos Cleanup Efforts
Efforts to remove asbestos from the San Francisco Drydock are both hazardous and time-consuming. The environmental study classified the asbestos-laced pipe insulation as requiring "Class I asbestos work" as defined by the state's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal-OSHA). The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), the city's air quality control office, mandates a 10-day notice for removing hazardous material such as asbestos.
Also, Cal-OSHA requires workers wear special coveralls and protective breathing masks to prevent them from inhaling the dangerous asbestos fibers from the pipe insulation. Workers also must be part of an asbestos abatement firm licensed by the state and have completed a four-day training class on how to handle asbestos-containing materials. The study classified the other materials, such as electrical insulation boards, as “Class II” asbestos, which does not require such strict regulations to remove.
San Francisco Drydock Renovation Costs
For years, workers at San Francisco Drydock constructed transport barges, "liberty ships" for wartime materiel transportation, as well as destroyers, cruisers and submarines for the U.S. Navy during both World Wars. In recent decades, though, facilities there fell into disrepair. A 2008 report from the Port of San Francisco detailed a plan to renovate the San Francisco Drydock area into a residential and commercial development site. The report estimated that the cost of such a project would top $636 million. Of that amount, $15 million would go to "soil remediation," which would include removing and disposing of the asbestos throughout the area.
Before the renovation project can begin, one of the steps mentioned in the report would include "[s]ite and building wide environmental testing" to quantify the level of asbestos contamination and "to determine ... remediation strategy and cost." A Department of Defense grant would cover costs for the testing. Also, the plan calls for the San Francisco Drydock to continue operating as a shipbuilding and repair facility both during and after the renovation.
If you were exposed to asbestos at San Francisco Drydock, you can use the Mesothelioma Center's free Doctor Match Program to find a doctor who specializes in asbestos-related disease.
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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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