Evidence
10 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-10).
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[1]H.R. 2585, 106th Congress (introduced July 21, 1999, Rep. Shays; referred to Committee on Armed Services) - 'To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to convey a National Defense Reserve Fleet vessel to the Glacier Society, Inc., of Bridgeport, Connecticut' (govinfo BILLS-106hr2585ih) [other_primary]
- Locator
- H.R. 2585 IH, Section 1(b)(1)(D)
- Finding type
- regulatory
- Finding
- A federal bill naming this hull - 'the vessel in the National Defense Reserve Fleet that was formerly the U.S.S. GLACIER (United States official number AGB-4)' - conditioned its conveyance on the recipient agreeing 'to hold the Government harmless for any claims arising from exposure to asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, or lead paint after the conveyance of the vessel.' A ship-specific federal record treating asbestos exposure as a foreseeable liability attached to this vessel.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1999 (introduced); vessel in NDRF custody
- Population
- Prospective museum/donation workers and visitors (anticipated conveyance parties)
- Limitations
- Precautionary conveyance language standard to NDRF ship-donation legislation of the period; it anticipates potential asbestos-exposure claims but does not identify, locate, or quantify asbestos aboard, and is not a survey or a finding that ACM exists on this hull. The bill was introduced-only and never enacted (the later donation attempt ran through MARAD's standard Ship Donation Program); no statute resulted.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-glacier-agb4-01
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[2]Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. CA-341, 'U.S. Coast Guard Icebreaker Glacier (USS Glacier) (WAGB-4) (AGB-4),' Brian Clayton, HAER contract historian, National Park Service (draft Fall 2008; prepared as NHPA Section 106 mitigation, deposited via MARAD) [haer]
- Locator
- HAER CA-341 written history pp. 1-14; fiberglass insulation at p. 6 (main deck description) and p. 11 (conclusion); 'boiler room' space in photo index CA-341-35
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Full NPS engineering recordation of this hull: diesel-electric plant (10 Fairbanks-Morse 12-cyl opposed-piston diesels @2,400 hp, 10 Westinghouse 900V DC generators, 2 Westinghouse motors @10,500 hp, 21,000 shp, twin 17-1/2' screws); high-tensile welded double hull with 1-5/8-inch plating; 309'-8" x 74'-4" x 28'-3", 8,449 tons full load; single-ship Glacier class; documents that fiberglass thermal insulation was installed in crew spaces 'rather than the usual cork' used in previous designs. The survey contains no asbestos statement.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1953-2008 (documentation); survey fieldwork c. 2007-2008
- Population
- Construction trades (Ingalls, 1953-55); USN crew 1955-66; USCG crew 1966-87
- Limitations
- The most detailed official materials/engineering recordation of this hull; it documents fiberglass (not asbestos) for habitability insulation but does not inventory exhaust lagging, gaskets, packing, electrical insulation, or deck materials, and its silence on asbestos is a negative finding about the record - not proof of absence aboard. Draft dated ~2008; pre-dates 2012 dismantling.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-glacier-agb4-02
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[3]MARAD, 'National Register Eligibility Assessment - Vessel: USS Glacier (AGB-4) USCGC Glacier (WAGB-4)' (Jan 14, 2011; determination: ELIGIBLE under Criteria A, B, C) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- NR eligibility assessment, Vessel History / Description / Integrity / Statement of Significance sections; determination dated Jan 14, 2011
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Official MARAD assessment: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula began construction August 1953 and delivered to the Navy May 1955; 4th ship of the name, named for Glacier Bay; USN Deep Freeze flagship and service record; transferred to USCG June 30, 1966; USCG decommissioning July 7, 1987; entered Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet October 3, 1991; diesel-electric propulsion; world's most powerful icebreaker when built; crew 339 (Navy) / 241 (USCG); hull painted red 1972; vessel condition degraded/poor after ~20 years in reserve; no major modifications over service life; NRHP-eligible.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1953-2011
- Population
- USCG crew (241) and embarked scientists; MARAD custody workers
- Limitations
- Ship-specific history and condition assessment; contains no asbestos, insulation-content, or hazmat survey information - the fiberglass-insulation statement is a habitability-materials note only. 'Condition poor' reflects 2011 reserve-fleet status, not a materials characterization.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-glacier-agb4-03
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[4]DANFS, Glacier IV (AGB-4) (verbatim transcription; live NHHC DANFS page returned HTTP 404 on 2026-09-20, consistent with the standing NHHC link-rot noted in Batch-01) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS Glacier IV (AGB-4) entry, full text
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS entry: launched August 27, 1954 by Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Miss.; sponsored by Mrs. Roscoe F. Good; commissioned May 27, 1955; Boston homeport; shakedown merged into Operation Deep Freeze I (ice harbor at Kainan Bay for Little America V, channel to McMurdo Sound, Weddell Sea survey, first landings on Princess Martha and Princess Astrid coasts); spearhead of Deep Freeze II; rockoon launch platform during IGY; Operation Sunec (DEW-line resupply) summer 1958; Bellingshausen Sea exploration; Navy Unit Commendation; 11th Deep Freeze participation before return to Boston spring 1966; transferred to Coast Guard June 30, 1966 and struck from the Navy List July 1, 1966. Characteristics: dp. 8,650; l. 310'; b. 74'; dr. 29'; s. 16 k.; cpl. 339; a. 2 5"; cl. Glacier.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1953-1966
- Population
- USN crew (339) 1955-1966
- Limitations
- Operational history only - no asbestos, materials, or refit detail. Transcription mirror used because the live NHHC page 404s; transcription prints the commissioning CO as 'Comdr. E. H. Mater' while the ship's association and NavSource print 'Maher' - spelling conflict logged in gaps, not resolved.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-glacier-agb4-04
-
[5]MARAD ShipHistory database - GLACIER (WAGB-4), Detail 1964 (milestones, status card, documents); plus MARAD-California SHPO Memorandum of Agreement re disposition of ex-Glacier (executed Aug 2011; 5-page scan, OCR'd) [marad_nrc]
- Locator
- ShipHistory Detail 1964 milestone table + Documents section (Glacier_NHPA_History.pdf, Glacier_Memorandum_of_Agreement.pdf, Glacier_HAER_Survey.pdf)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- MARAD custody milestones: Entry Oct 3, 1991 (reimbursable USCG custody, Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet); MARAD title Dec 1, 1998; donation hold expired Aug 2007; historic review completed Aug 1, 2011; Withdrawal Apr 17, 2012 - 'Vessel departed under domestic sale contract with ESCO Marine, Inc. in Brownsville, TX'; fate 'Sold - Scrap.' The Section 106 MOA documents that MARAD listed Glacier for donation 2001-2007 with the Glacier Society as potential donee (no viable application by the Dec 31, 2007 deadline), held a 90-day public comment period in Sept 2005, and stipulated HAER recordation as mitigation for dismantlement.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1991-2012
- Population
- NDRF custody workers (1991-2012); ESCO Marine dismantling workers (2012)
- Limitations
- Authoritative for federal custody and disposal milestones; contains no asbestos, hazmat, or materials-survey content - the disposal contract's hazardous-material terms, if any, are not in the public record located. MOA is an image-only scan; content verified by OCR (tesseract), minor character noise possible.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-glacier-agb4-05
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[6]KQED Climate Watch, 'Iconic Icebreaker Makes Last Voyage - to Scrapyard' (May 7, 2012); corroborating contemporaneous AP/Juneau Empire reporting via Deseret News (Apr 17, 2012) on the Glacier Society effort, ESCO Marine contract ($146,726, Feb 16, 2012), and Alaska senators' intervention [reputable_press]
- Locator
- KQED article body; Deseret News AP piece (deseret.com/2012/4/17/...)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Contemporaneous reporting: the retired icebreaker departed ADR's Mare Island dry dock (former naval shipyard, Vallejo, CA) under tow for a Brownsville, Texas scrapyard on May 7, 2012, after hull preparation; the Glacier Society (Ben Koether) had pursued museum/research conversion since ~2000 and sought a last-minute vessel swap; sale contract to ESCO Marine reported at $146,726 (Feb 16, 2012); vessel arrived Brownsville June 19, 2012 and dismantling proceeded on MARAD's order in early July 2012.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 2012
- Population
- ADR Mare Island yard workers (2012 hull prep); ESCO Marine dismantling workers
- Limitations
- Press documentation of disposal events; hull cleaning at Mare Island addressed marine growth/hull prep for tow - no asbestos or interior hazmat abatement is documented by these articles. Arrival/scrapping-start dates via secondary reporting; MARAD milestone (Apr 17, 2012 departure under sale contract) controls the custody event.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-glacier-agb4-06
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[7]Malone v. Air & Liquid Systems Corp., No. 14-406-GMS-SRF (D. Del.) - Report and Recommendation on summary-judgment motions of Cummins, Foster Wheeler, and CBS (recommending grant) [court_record]
- Locator
- D. Del. No. 14-406, R&R PDF (ded.uscourts.gov, opinions 14-406 series)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Docketed asbestos personal-injury litigation documenting Ingalls Shipyard, Pascagoula as an alleged asbestos-exposure workplace: plaintiffs alleged Mr. Malone's mesothelioma resulted from exposure to asbestos-containing products during work at Ingalls Shipyard ~1964-1982 (ship fitter and contractor roles incl. Badham Insulation and Frigitemp Marine). The recommending disposition was for defendants on product-identification grounds.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 2014-2016 (litigation); 1964-1982 (alleged exposure)
- Population
- Ingalls Pascagoula workers (1964-82 alleged window)
- Limitations
- Yard-level context only - does NOT name USS Glacier and the alleged exposure window (1964-1982) postdates this hull's 1953-55 construction. Establishes that the builder's yard was a documented asbestos-litigation site, not that asbestos was aboard this ship. Disposition described exactly: report and recommendation to grant defendants' summary-judgment motions (merits-stage product-ID failure for those defendants).
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-glacier-agb4-07
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[8]GAO, 'Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure,' HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented the Navy's asbestos-protection program and insulation-removal policies (1975/1979) - the era framework in effect during the latter part of this hull's federal service (USN to 1966; USCG 1966-87, subject to USCG practice).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; fleet maintenance personnel (era context)
- Limitations
- Program/era-level documentation only; fieldwork concerned naval shipyards (Long Beach, Norfolk), not this vessel; supports era context for in-service-period asbestos handling, not conditions aboard Glacier. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403) - content via product-page description.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-glacier-agb4-08
-
[9]Batch-697 search ledger (this record): NHHC DANFS (404; transcription mirror used), MARAD ShipHistory + NR assessment + MOA + HAER documents, govinfo H.R. 2585, NVR (pre-1987 disposal - not covered), CourtListener API/web (blocked), USCG Historian PDF (blocked 403), general web index [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-glacier-agb4-01 through sl-uss-glacier-agb4-09
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No affirmative ship-specific asbestos record located: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, hazmat disclosure, product-identification record, or docketed asbestos case naming USS Glacier / USCGC Glacier / AGB-4 / WAGB-4 was found in the public sources searched. The most detailed federal recordation of the hull (HAER CA-341; MARAD NR assessment) contains no asbestos statement. The ship-specific regulatory record (H.R. 2585) is precautionary conveyance language, not a materials finding.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 2026-09-20
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1953-55 naval auxiliary is era-consistent with asbestos-containing materials, and no demolition-era hazmat survey is public. Litigation check is INCOMPLETE: CourtListener returned HTTP 429 (125/day limit, ~11h backoff) on the API and 403 on the web UI on 2026-09-20; the query must be re-run before 'no litigation' can be asserted.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-glacier-agb4-09
-
[10]Archival leads (not retrieved - no box-level research or spend authorized): U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office Glacier file (Ship's Characteristics Card; 'USCGC Glacier (WAGB-4) Booklet of General Plans,' 2001; cutter history PDF GLACIER1966.PDF - fetch blocked HTTP 403); NARA RG 26 (USCG records incl. deck logs) and RG 24 (USN deck logs, Boston-era 1955-66); MARAD Office of Ship Disposal contract file for the 2012 ESCO Marine sale (any hazmat certifications); Library of Congress final HAER CA-341 package stipulated by the 2011 MOA [other_primary]
- Locator
- HAER CA-341 bibliography (USCG Historian's Glacier file citations); NARA Guide to Federal Records RG 24/26; media.defense.gov GLACIER1966.PDF (403)
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Record-group and file mapping for future retrieval: the USCG Historian's Glacier file (cited throughout HAER CA-341) holds the Ship's Characteristics Card and 2001 Booklet of General Plans - the likeliest detailed machinery/materials source short of the construction specs; the MARAD disposal file may hold hazmat certifications for the ESCO contract; NARA RG 24/26 hold deck logs for the Navy and Coast Guard service periods.
- Verification
- unverified
- Role
- archival_lead
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-20
- Study period
- 1953-2012 records
- Limitations
- Record-group mapping only - no box-level retrieval performed; existence of asbestos-specific documents in any of these files is unknown until surveyed. Nothing in this row is an asbestos finding.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-glacier-agb4-10