Top Fairbank mesothelioma lawyers are now helping victims of asbestos exposure fight for justice. The presence of mines, energy production sites, transportation infrastructure, and several military bases in the Fairbanks area exposed residents and workers to this harmful mineral.
If you or someone you love are a victim of mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to substantial compensation for pain, suffering, medical expenses, and more. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about top Fairbanks mesothelioma lawyers, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim and much more.
FREE Financial Compensation Packet
- Info on law firms that will recover your HIGHEST COMPENSATION
- Learn how to get paid in 90 days
- File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
Asbestos in Fairbanks
- Although it is one of Alaska’s largest cities, Fairbanks is relatively small. There are about two asbestos-related deaths per year in the area.
- Fairbanks has the third-highest rate of asbestos deaths in the state.
- Mining, construction, power generation, and military bases have been major sources of asbestos exposure in Fairbanks.
Early Asbestos Use in Fairbanks, Alaska
The first settlement in Fairbanks was founded in 1901 as a trading post for miners and prospectors looking for gold.
In 1903 it was incorporated and named after Charles Fairbanks, a U.S. Senator from Indiana who served as Vice President under President Theodore Roosevelt’s second Administration.
Most of the early buildings in Fairbanks were built solely with readily available materials, such as timber. These construction materials were highly flammable, and in 1906 a fire burned much of the city’s original downtown area.
The city rebounded, but later construction would include many asbestos-containing materials.
Asbestos in Military Bases
In 1939, the government built Ladd Army Airfield outside of Fairbanks. This development helped create jobs, and the influx of workers resulted in a population and economic boom.
This led to more construction with asbestos materials, but the bases themselves also contributed to the asbestos problem.
Ladd was transferred to the newly created U.S. Air Force in 1947 and tested aircraft in cold weather. Since the 1960s, the base operated as the Army’s Fort Wainwright and is currently one of Fairbanks’s largest employers.
Fort Wainwright is one of Alaska’s most contaminated work sites; in 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added Fort Wainwright to the Superfund list.
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline
Fairbanks’ largest population and economic boom resulted from creating the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) between 1974 and 1977. The pipeline crosses 800 miles of Alaska from Prudhoe Bay in the north to the port of Valdez.
The building of the pipeline and a nearby pumping station transformed Fairbanks into a boomtown.
Ongoing construction of buildings related to the pipeline and residential homes included asbestos, especially after the 1950s.
Golden Valley Power Plant
One of Fairbanks’ most contaminated job sites is the Golden Valley Electric Power Plant in nearby Healy.
During its largest economic boom, the energy production facility provided electricity to the growing Fairbanks community for decades.
It was closed in 2000 because it was heavily polluted by large amounts of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and other toxic substances, including coal dust, throughout much of the facility.
As in most power plants built before the 1980s and before the EPA’s regulation on asbestos use at job sites, Healy contained large amounts of asbestos in almost every component of the coal-fired facility.
Asbestos was used in:
- Floor tiles
- Insulation
- Roofing materials
- Boilers
- Electrical tape
- Steam pipes
- Wiring insulation
- Fire-resistant hazard suits
- Work gloves and gear
- Fire blankets
Asbestos was also used as an additive in metals used to manufacture workbenches and tables installed throughout the plant.
It could be found in heavy machinery, especially in areas that generated high temperatures and high-voltage electric currents.
The Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) brought Healy Unit 1 back online due to the aging of other power plants in downtown Fairbanks.
Arctic Surplus Salvage Yard
Located just a few miles outside of the city, the former Arctic Surplus Salvage Yard is now a Superfund site. It was used as a public landfill and later a private salvage yard that disposed of military surplus materials.
Arctic Surplus became a Superfund site in 1990. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began cleaning the site immediately. Among many other toxins, the EPA removed 22,000 pounds of asbestos. Cleanup ended in 2006, and the site is now under long-term monitoring.
Job Sites and Businesses Associated with Asbestos Use in Fairbanks
Other buildings and workplaces where asbestos has been found in and around Fairbanks include:
Schools
- University of Alaska
Military
- Ladd Air Force Base
- Eielson Air Force Base
Additional Job Sites and Buildings
- City of Fairbanks Power Plant
- Fairbanks Exploration Company
- Fort Wainwright Utilities (manholes)
- Sea-Land of Fairbanks
- United States Smelting, Refining, and Mining Company
Why Do I Need a Fairbanks Mesothelioma Lawyer?
If you have mesothelioma, you were most likely negligently exposed to asbestos. This means you can hold companies accountable for damages. By filing a lawsuit or making a claim with an asbestos trust fund, you can get the compensation you need for medical care and other expenses.
You may be entitled to compensation, but asbestos lawsuits are complicated. You need an experienced mesothelioma lawyer and a firm with national reach. They can best represent you, prove your asbestos exposure, and maximize your compensation.
Mesothelioma Treatment in Fairbanks
If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, getting proper medical care from qualified physicians is important.
Choose a physician and cancer center specializing in mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses.
The Fairbanks Memorial Hospital’s J. Michael Carroll Cancer Center provides comprehensive, innovative treatment for people living with cancer, including those who suffer from an asbestos-related disease.
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital & Denali Center
1650 Cowles St.
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(907) 452-8181
Getting Legal Help in Fairbanks and Additional Information
If you have mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and much more. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area.
