The cleanup of the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, a large site slated for a major redevelopment project in San Francisco, has been rocked by scandal, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The project has allegedly been plagued by faked soil samples, falsified documents, two criminal convictions, and three federal lawsuits. The Navy’s effort to remove radioactive contamination from the site has relied on “decades-old, obsolete safety standards in order to avoid cleaning up dangerous substances,” the Chronicle reported.
That strategy lowers the Navy’s costs, but would increase the risk of people living or working on the site getting cancer. The500-acre Superfund site is one of the most contaminated places in the country.
A scientist working for a private watchdog group said that no one knows what is actually in the ground, even after decades of study and cleanup work.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Mar 11, 2021
Los Angeles commits to carbon-free city buildings
City will take into account embedded carbon when contracting to buy construction products.
Codes and Standards | Mar 10, 2021
‘Smart retrofitting’ will be crucial to net zero aspirations
AI, analytical software, Internet of Things are keys to decarbonization of built environment.
Codes and Standards | Mar 9, 2021
Salt Lake City is first jurisdiction to adopt new standards for off-site construction
Code Council and Modular Building Institute developing standards and compliance protocols.
Codes and Standards | Mar 8, 2021
Hyperlocal zoning could spur more affordable housing construction
Letting blocks and streets pass their own rules could have impact.
Codes and Standards | Mar 5, 2021
Biden builds on Trump’s “Buy American” order
New administration extends preferences for domestic construction materials.
Codes and Standards | Mar 4, 2021
Biden administration overturns Trump’s federal building design mandate
Previous order promoted classical and “traditional” architecture above others.
Codes and Standards | Mar 3, 2021
Texas freeze raises questions about risks of electrifying buildings
Gas stoves helped residents cook, boil water when power went out.
Codes and Standards | Mar 2, 2021
New Seattle building code eliminates fossil fuels for most space and water heating
Also increases on-site solar photovoltaics, reduces envelope heat loss, air leakage, and interior lighting power allowances.
Codes and Standards | Feb 25, 2021
It’s not just lumber—roofing material prices are also on the rise
Lower demand for petroleum products means less asphalt production.
Codes and Standards | Feb 23, 2021
USGBC offers education on LEED Safety First pilot credits
Four courses address COVID-19.
