West Coast Shipbreaking Woes

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

WEST COST SHIPBREAKING HAS TROUBLE, TOO

Companies dismantling old Navy ships at former Navy shipyards in the San
Francisco Bay Area are having financial and environmental problems, like
their counterparts in the East. The San Jose Mercury News (May 10, 1998)
reports that Pegasus Inc., established to dismantle six ships, including
an aircraft carrier, at Mare Island, is now bankrupt, caught in a
vicious battle between its founding partners. Former shipyard workers
have not only lost their jobs again; some have lost pay and even their
savings. Reportedly, lead, asbestos and PCBs have been released into the
environment through slipshod operations.

The Mercury-News asked how the project went "astray"? It concluded: "The
city of Vallejo and the Navy, which together provided the facilities to
the company, take a hands-off position." However, the Navy says it
"scrapped its contracts when the company couldn't follow through on its
plans to complete the job." The city, as landlord, says it couldn't
interfere in the operations of its tenant.

Critics say that the Navy should have made sure that Pegasus was up to
the job, before turning over the ships. And though the article doesn't
make it clear, both the city and the Navy may be liable for some of the
company's environmental misdeeds.

Meanwhile, at Hunters Point, in San Francisco, another, shipbreaking
operation is having similar financial and environmental problems. The
federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has assessed
$600,000 fines against Astoria Metals, the operator, for "willful and
serious" violations, including the exposure of workers to lead. Although
the Mercury News doesn't mention it, Astoria reportedly sent partially
dismantled ships to the Far East for final scrapping.

Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight (AKA SFSU
CAREER/PRO)
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/968-1126
lsiegel@cpeo.org