Norfolk / Portsmouth Exposure Map
Documented Exposure Sites
| # | Facility | Area | Industry | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norfolk Naval Shipyard | Portsmouth | Naval Ship Repair | Critical |
| 2 | Naval Station Norfolk (NAS Norfolk) | Norfolk | Military / Naval | High |
| 3 | Colonna’s Shipyard | Norfolk | Commercial Ship Repair | Critical |
| 4 | Atlantic Dry Docks (Portsmouth) | Portsmouth | Ship Repair | High |
| 5 | Virginia Electric & Power (VEPCO) Chesapeake | Chesapeake | Power Generation | Moderate |
| 6 | Norfolk & Western Railway Shops | Norfolk | Railroad | High |
| 7 | DuPont (Spruance Plant) | Richmond / Chesterfield | Chemical Manufacturing | High |
Norfolk Naval Shipyard & Navy Veteran Exposure
Norfolk Naval Shipyard — located in Portsmouth and in continuous operation since 1767 — is one of the oldest and busiest naval ship repair facilities in the world. Workers stripped, refitted, and rebuilt Navy vessels that were laced with asbestos insulation throughout their construction. Every overhaul of a naval vessel meant tearing out old asbestos insulation before new insulation could be installed — the most dangerous phase of ship repair work.
Naval Station Norfolk is the world’s largest naval base and home port for the Atlantic Fleet. Navy personnel who worked in shipboard engine rooms, boiler rooms, and mechanical spaces aboard vessels homeported at Norfolk were exposed to asbestos throughout their service.
Yes. Sailors who worked in engine rooms, boiler rooms, and below-deck spaces aboard ships homeported at Naval Station Norfolk were routinely exposed to asbestos insulation on pipes, boilers, and steam lines. Ship repair and overhaul work at the adjacent Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth was even more hazardous, as workers disturbed existing asbestos during refits. Virginia’s 2-year statute of limitations runs from the date of mesothelioma diagnosis under Va. Code § 8.01-249.