The situation at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard has resulted in ongoing litigation, with the Navy and the U.S. Department of Justice facing 12 lawsuits related to the site.
Residents living in a previously turned-over parcel have reported health issues and attribute them to the contamination.
Furthermore, rising sea and ground levels pose an additional threat of spreading the radioactive contamination into the adjacent bay.
“Given that this land is in queue to be turned over to the city, getting to the bottom of this would be helpful, but that would involve institutional candor which appears to be in short supply,” Jeff Ruch, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility attorney, said.