Evidence
10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).
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[1]Naval Vessel Register, DURHAM (LKA 114) (ex-AKA 114), Amphibious Cargo Ship - vessel status, milestone dates, builder, physical characteristics, custodian (NAVSEA-maintained official inventory; live page is script-rendered - content verified via Wayback capture 2020-10-29, record 'Last Updated 03/05/2018') [other_primary]
- Locator
- NVR LKA-114 ship-detail page, all blocks (Wayback capture 20201029150322)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Official register record for this hull: class LKA 113 (Charleston class), UIC 05845; builder Newport News Shipbuilding; award 1965-06-11; keel 1967-07-10 (as AKA-114); launch 1968-03-29; delivery 1969-04-28; commission 1969-05-24; decommission 1994-02-25; stricken 2015-08-31 with status 'Stricken, Final Disposition Pending'; berth NAVSEA Inactive Ships On-site Maintenance Office, Pearl Harbor, HI. Characteristics: 576 ft OA / 550 ft WL, 82 ft beam, 9,937 t light / 18,322 t full, steel hull and superstructure, one propeller, propulsion type 'Steam Turbine', accommodations 50 officers + 592 enlisted.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1965-2020
- Limitations
- Authoritative for registry status and milestone data; the NVR record contains no asbestos, materials, or condition-survey information and supports no asbestos claim. Live nvr.navy.mil page returned only navigation chrome to automated fetch 2026-09-21 - field values verified from the 2020-10-29 Wayback capture of the same canonical URL.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-durham-aka114-01
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[2]U.S. Navy (Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet) news release, 'RIMPAC 2020 Participants Conduct Sinking Exercise,' 2020-08-31; identical release at DVIDS (dvidshub.net/news/377100) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Navy news article 2330016; DVIDS release 377100; Navy photo 200830-N-NO842-1002
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Official Navy record that live fire from RIMPAC 2020 participants sank the decommissioned amphibious cargo ship ex-USS Durham (LKA 114) on 2020-08-30; the release states ex-Durham was a Charleston-class amphibious cargo ship commissioned 1969-05-24 and decommissioned 1994-02-25, named for Durham, North Carolina, and that she served during the Gulf War.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 2020 (release); 1969-1994 (service dates cited)
- Limitations
- Official service release; establishes identity, disposition, and Gulf War service only. Contains no asbestos or materials information and supports no asbestos claim. navy.mil blocked direct automated fetch (HTTP 403); article text verified via search index and the identical DVIDS release.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-durham-aka114-02
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[3]U.S. Navy / DVIDS release 377100, 'RIMPAC 2020 Participants Conduct Sinking Exercise' - SINKEX hulk environmental-preparation requirements (EPA general permit under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act) [other_primary]
- Locator
- DVIDS release 377100, paragraphs 4-6 (hulk preparation, certification, sink criteria)
- Finding type
- environmental_record
- Finding
- The Navy documents that ex-Durham, as a SINKEX hulk, was prepared under a general permit the Navy holds pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, with a 'rigorous cleaning process' including removal of all liquid PCBs from transformers and large capacitors, small capacitors to the greatest extent practical, all trash and floatable materials, mercury- and fluorocarbon-containing materials, and readily detachable solid PCB items, plus petroleum cleaned from tanks, piping and reservoirs; a Navy environmental/safety/health manager and QA supervisor inspect and provide signed certification of the remediation per EPA requirements before sinking in at least 1,000 fathoms at least 50 nautical miles offshore.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 2020
- Population
- Remediation/prep crews at Pearl Harbor inactive-ships facility (implied by process; not enumerated)
- Limitations
- Ship-specific documented hazmat remediation - but the enumerated removal categories do NOT name asbestos; this record does not establish whether asbestos-containing material was removed from this hull or remained aboard at sinking. The signed certification is not public (archival lead, ev-09). Does not establish presence, quantity, or absence of asbestos.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-durham-aka114-03
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[4]In re Asbestos Products Liability Litigation (No. VI), Holczer v. A.O. Smith Corp. et al., Civil Action No. 21-420 (E.D. Pa.), MDL Docket 875 - Memorandum and Order, Elizabeth T. Hey, U.S.M.J., filed 2021-10-21 (2021 WL 4902338); filed on master docket 1:19-md-02875-RMB-SAK as Doc. 2490-9, 2023-09-15 [court_record]
- Locator
- Doc. 2490-9, pp. 1-5 (Background section cites Third Am. Compl. Doc. 188; Holczer Dep. at 10, 37-38, 86-87)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- A docketed MDL-875 record names this hull: the court records that plaintiffs John and Wanda Holczer seek damages for injuries allegedly caused by John Holczer's exposure to asbestos-containing products during U.S. Navy service 1974-1977 'on the USS Midway and the USS Durham' (Third Amended Complaint, Doc. 188); Holczer's deposition states he was assigned to both ships; plaintiffs' discovery sought 'all documents concerning products sold by Viad for use on the USS Midway and USS Durham' and 'all documents concerning asbestos on such products.' The order denies plaintiffs' motion to compel against Viad Corp. (no responsive documents in Viad's possession; claimed successor-in-interest status to Griscom-Russell unproven at discovery stage).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 2021 (order); alleged exposure 1974-1977
- Population
- John Holczer (plaintiff); USS Durham crew 1974-1977 (alleged exposure window)
- Limitations
- Pleading/discovery-stage record: the USS Durham reference is an unadjudicated allegation, not a finding that asbestos was present aboard or that Holczer was exposed there. The order resolves a document-production dispute only. The substantive ship-history detail in the order (boiler room, evaporator rooms) concerns USS Midway. Case originated in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, removed under 28 U.S.C. 1442(a) 2021-01-29; final disposition of the Durham-related claims not located.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-durham-aka114-04
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[5]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2 (full text blocked, HTTP 403)
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented the Navy's asbestos-protection program and insulation-removal policies contemporaneous with this ship's first decade of service - program-level documentation that the Navy had recognized asbestos hazards aboard ships and in shipyards during the period LKA-114 was operational.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1979 (report); ship's service era 1969-1994
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers and shipboard personnel (program scope)
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation, not hull-specific; supports era context only. Does not establish that asbestos was installed aboard this hull, nor quantities, nor what was removed or retained. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403) - content via product-page description, same limitation noted in the batch-01 Missouri record.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-durham-aka114-05
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[6]Naval Vessel Register LKA-114 propulsion data ('Steam Turbine', one propeller) + NavSource Charleston-class specification table (two boilers, one geared turbine, 22,000 shp, ~20 kts) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NVR characteristics block (Wayback 2020-10-29 capture); NavSource LKA-113/114 specification table (Wayback 2023-09-30 capture)
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- The documented propulsion plant - a 1967-69 steam-turbine installation with two boilers and a single screw - is of the type for which U.S. Navy thermal-insulation specifications of the era incorporated asbestos-containing insulation on boilers, steam piping, valves and machinery; GAO-documented Navy asbestos problems (HRD-80-2) cover this ship's service era. No hull-specific insulation survey located; asbestos presence aboard is era/design inference consistent with but not proven for this hull.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1967-1969 (build); 1969-1994 (service)
- Population
- Construction trades (Newport News, 1967-69); engine-room crew; overhaul workers
- Limitations
- Inferred from documented propulsion plant plus era specifications plus GAO-documented Navy-wide asbestos problems; no hull-specific insulation survey or materials inventory located. Not a quantity; does not establish individual exposure, causation, or what material was aboard at decommissioning or sinking.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-durham-aka114-06
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[7]NavSource Online Amphibious Photo Archive, USS Durham (LKA-114) page - campaign credits, awards, commanding officers, and cataloged NARA/NHHC and DVIC photo records (USN 1162119, K-107629, NH 107737-KN, DNST9109191) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource LKA-114 page: campaigns/awards blocks, photo captions, CO list (live fetch blocked; Wayback capture 2023-09-30)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Service detail transcribed from official sources: Vietnam campaign credits (Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1970-06-11; Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase VII 1970-71; Vietnam Evacuation/Operation Frequent Wind 1975-04-29 to 30); three Vietnam campaign stars plus Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Frequent Wind and Eagle Pull; Combat Action Ribbon 1991-01-17 to 02-28, Southwest Asia Service Medal and Kuwait Liberation Medal (Gulf War); NARA/NHHC photographs document Durham receiving refugees from the Phan Rang area on 1975-04-03 and 04 (USN 1162119, K-107629); DVIC photos document return from the Persian Gulf 1991-04-17; berthed NISMF Pearl Harbor in category 'B' reserve status as of 2000-03-30.
- Verification
- partial
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1969-2020
- Population
- Crew (service periods); evacuated refugees embarked April 1975
- Limitations
- NavSource is a volunteer transcription archive, not an official repository - campaign/award items are its transcription of official credit lists; the NARA photo numbers and DVIC imagery are official records the page catalogs. NavSource's 'Struck 15 August 2015' conflicts with the NVR's 08/31/2015 (NVR adopted - see correction row). No asbestos information; supports no asbestos claim.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-durham-aka114-07
-
[8]NVR LKA-114 record (stricken date 08/31/2015; accommodations 50 officers + 592 enlisted) vs. NavSource LKA-114 page ('Struck ... 15 August 2015'; complement 34+375 ship / 15+211 troops; launch-ceremony caption dated 1969) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NVR ship-detail milestone/accommodations blocks; NavSource specs + photo captions (Wayback captures)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Source discrepancies resolved: (a) stricken date - NavSource prints '15 August 2015'; the NVR's 'Date status changed' and 'Stricken Date' fields both read 08/31/2015; NVR adopted as controlling. (b) complement - NVR accommodations (50 officers, 592 enlisted) include embarked-troop berthing; NavSource lists ship's complement 34 officers + 375 enlisted plus troop accommodations 15 officers + 211 enlisted; carried separately, not merged. (c) NavSource photo caption dates the launching ceremony '29 March 1969' - inconsistent with the NVR launch date 1968-03-29; caption treated as a typo.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- correction
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1968-2015
- Limitations
- Resolves secondary-source discrepancies against the official register; does not affect identity or service timeline materially. No asbestos content in any of these sources.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-durham-aka114-08
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[9]Batch-986 search ledger (this record): Naval Vessel Register (live + Wayback); navy.mil/DVIDS RIMPAC 2020 releases; NavSource LKA-114; MARAD ShipHistory; NHHC DANFS index; VA BVA decisions; CourtListener (API blocked - RECAP document retrieved via index) [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-durham-aka114-01 through sl-uss-durham-aka114-09
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No qualifying ship-specific asbestos record located beyond the Holczer pleading-stage allegation: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, or adjudicated finding naming LKA-114 was found in the sources searched. No DANFS entry exists for this ship. The only docketed asbestos-litigation record naming the hull is an unadjudicated MDL-875 allegation (ev-04). The SINKEX remediation record (ev-03) does not enumerate asbestos.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 2026-09-21
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1969 steam-powered amphibious cargo ship is era-consistent with installed asbestos-containing materials, and the signed SINKEX remediation certification (not public) may document material removed. CourtListener API queries at research time were rate-limited (shared 2800/day quota exhausted); the Holczer document was located via its indexed RECAP PDF and a docket-level exhaustive search remains open (see search_ledger). Does not establish or defeat any exposure claim or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-durham-aka114-09
-
[10]NARA Guide to Federal Records: RG 24 (Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel / Navy deck logs) - LKA-114 deck logs 1969-1994; plus the Navy's signed SINKEX environmental-remediation certification for ex-Durham described in the navy.mil release (obtainable via FOIA/NAVSEA); Newport News Shipbuilding contract/outfitting records for hull AKA-114 [other_primary]
- Locator
- archives.gov RG 24 guide; navy.mil release paragraph on signed certification; NVR award/milestone data
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Archival leads (not retrieved - no research-room visit or reproduction order authorized): (a) NARA RG 24 deck logs for LKA-114, 1969-1994 - would document operations, yard periods, and the 1974-77 window alleged in Holczer; (b) the Navy's signed SINKEX remediation certification for ex-Durham (described in the official release) - would itemize hazmat categories actually removed and is the most likely ship-specific record of any asbestos abatement before sinking; (c) Newport News Shipbuilding construction/outfitting records for the AKA-114 contract (NVR award 1965-06-11) - would document as-built insulation specifications.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-21
- Study period
- 1965-2020 records
- Limitations
- Record-series mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents for this hull is unknown until surveyed. The SINKEX certification's contents are unknown; the public release's enumerated categories do not name asbestos. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-durham-aka114-10