Bay Area Exposure Map
Documented Exposure Sites
| # | Facility | Location | Active Period | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hunters Point Naval Shipyard | San Francisco | 1869–1994 | Critical |
| 2 | Mare Island Naval Shipyard | Vallejo | 1854–1996 | Critical |
| 3 | Kaiser Richmond Shipyard | Richmond | 1942–1945 | Critical |
| 4 | Bethlehem Steel San Francisco | San Francisco | 1905–1988 | Critical |
| 5 | Chevron Richmond Refinery | Richmond | 1902–present | Critical |
| 6 | Pacific Gas & Electric (multiple plants) | Bay Area | 1905–1985 | High |
| 7 | Benicia Arsenal / Military Ocean Terminal | Benicia | 1851–1964 | High |
| 8 | Western Pacific Railroad Shops | Sacramento/Bay Area | 1910–1970 | Moderate |
Hunters Point Naval Shipyard
Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in southeast San Francisco operated from 1869 through 1994 and was the primary ship repair facility on the West Coast. During WWII and the Cold War, the shipyard overhauled hundreds of Navy vessels, all of which were extensively insulated with asbestos on boilers, steam lines, engine rooms, and interior bulkheads.
The site is now a Superfund cleanup zone, and former workers and residents near the shipyard have filed thousands of asbestos and environmental exposure claims. California’s 2-year statute of limitations applies to mesothelioma personal injury claims from diagnosis date.
Kaiser Richmond Shipyard — World’s Fastest Ships
Henry Kaiser’s four Richmond shipyards employed over 90,000 workers at their peak in 1943, building Liberty ships at a record-setting pace. The Richmond shipyards used asbestos insulation throughout every vessel, and workers — many of whom had no prior industrial experience — were exposed without protective equipment for the duration of the war.
Rosie the Riveter worked at Richmond. Many of those workers, and their families, developed mesothelioma decades later from wartime asbestos exposure.
California Code of Civil Procedure §340.2 provides 2 years from the date of mesothelioma diagnosis (discovery rule). This applies to personal injury claims. Wrongful death claims also have a 2-year window from the date of death. California courts (Los Angeles Superior Court and San Francisco Superior Court) both maintain established asbestos litigation dockets.
Yes. VA disability claims and civil lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers are completely independent. Veterans can pursue both simultaneously. VA benefits provide monthly income while trust fund claims and lawsuits pursue larger lump-sum compensation. There is no deadline for filing VA claims, making it especially important to file immediately after diagnosis regardless of where you are in the legal process.