San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard History and Operations

The San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard has a rich history that spans over a century. Established in 1891, it was initially used as a repair yard for the US Navy's Pacific Fleet.

The shipyard's strategic location on the San Francisco Bay made it an ideal spot for naval operations. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean allowed for easy access to the open sea and facilitated the movement of ships in and out of the yard.

The shipyard's early years were marked by rapid growth and expansion, with the addition of new facilities and equipment to support the increasing demand for naval repairs and maintenance. By the early 20th century, the shipyard had become a major hub for naval activity in the Pacific.

One of the shipyard's most notable features is its dry dock, which was completed in 1905 and was one of the largest in the world at the time.

Suggestion: Lake Washington Shipyard

The Hunters Point Naval Shipyard was a significant industrial site in southeastern San Francisco that operated from 1939 to 1974. It housed the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory from 1946 to 1969.

The Navy's activities at the shipyard contaminated the soil and groundwater, as well as surface water and sediment in the San Francisco Bay. The contaminants included petroleum fuels, pesticides, heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and radionuclides.

The site also contained naturally occurring asbestos and metals in the native soil. The Navy is responsible for investigating and cleaning up the site, with the US EPA and California state regulatory partners overseeing and enforcing their activities.

The cleanup site does not include Parcel A, which was used for residential and administrative purposes. The Shipyard was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989, making it eligible for long-term funding under the federal Superfund program.

The Shipyard is a massive site that spans 866 acres in the southeastern part of San Francisco. The Hunters Point Naval Shipyard operated as a shipyard from 1939 to 1974.

The Navy's activities at the Shipyard contaminated the soil and groundwater, as well as surface water and sediment in the San Francisco Bay.

The Pacific Reserve Fleet was a combination of mothballed ships and submarines stored in the San Francisco area. This fleet was made up of the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Mare Island and Pacific Reserve Fleet, Hunters Point.

Some ships in the fleet were reactivated for the Vietnam War.

The Hunters Point Naval Shipyard is a significant site in the southeastern part of San Francisco, spanning 866 acres. It operated as a shipyard from 1939 to 1974.

The site housed the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory (NRDL) from 1946 to 1969. This laboratory was a major contributor to the site's contamination.

The Navy's activities at the Shipyard contaminated soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment in the San Francisco Bay. This contamination is a major concern for the site's cleanup and restoration.

Today, the Shipyard is the subject of cleanup and restoration requirements governed by federal law. Ongoing efforts include cleanup, operation and maintenance activities, and continuous monitoring.

The San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard has a complex cleanup process involving multiple agencies. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the lead federal regulatory agency overseeing the Navy's investigation and cleanup.

The EPA has deemed Parcel A suitable for residential use, according to a memorandum issued in November 2020. However, it's essential to note that the cleanup process is ongoing and requires collaboration among various agencies.

The Navy is the lead agency responsible for the investigation and cleanup, and they're obligated to share information and updates with the City through a Conveyance Agreement. This agreement ensures transparency and cooperation among the parties involved.

Here's a list of the agencies involved in the cleanup process:

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) has an interdisciplinary team monitoring cleanup progress and communicating with the community. This team is dedicated to ensuring the health and well-being of Bayview-Hunters Point residents.