Navy must clean up asbestos and PCBs from Hangar One

Oct 29, 2009

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was asked to make a decision about the restoration of Hangar One at the former U.S. Naval Air Station Sunnyvale, California. Hangar One now belongs to the NASA Ames Research Center, but it is the U.S. Navy that is responsible for cleaning up the asbestos and PCBs in the historic structure’s siding.

The restoration project will cost over $15 million, and the OMB was called upon when negotiations broke down over funding. The Navy had announced that it would be awarding a contract to remove the siding regardless of the OMB’s decision, but they have since stated that they will defer until a decision is made by the White House. Critics had voiced disapproval about removing the siding, raising concern that leaving the hangar wide open would cause irreversible corrosion damage to the steel frame.

There is no doubt that the Navy has to clean up the hazardous materials in Hangar One’s siding, but it will be up to the OMB to decide how the work should be completed. It will be at least six months before cleanup work begins.

For the full story, go to Mountain View Voice.

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