Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska with a population of over 35,000. During the gold rush, Fairbanks was incorporated on November 10, 1903. Fairbanks is home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks and it is the oldest college in Alaska. Mining, tourism, the oil pipeline and lumbering are all vital to Fairbank's economy. Fairbanks is also an important trading, transportation and military center, including Fort Wainwright Army Post and Eielson Air Force Base. During World War II two U.S. military bases, Ladd Field and Eielson Air Force Base, were built in the Fairbanks region.

Gold was discovered here in the 1900s and by the 1930s the construction of the Alaska Railroad brought another boom to Fairbanks. In 1977, the largest growth was seen with the construction of the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline. Fairbanks and other Alaska officials are planning an 800-mile natural gas pipeline, which would run from the North Slope to a liquefied natural gas plant. This natural gas pipeline is to be developed to export natural gas to the rest of North America.

Fairbank's electricity is provided by Golden Valley Electric Association. Golden Valley Electric Power Plant had to shut down their Healy plant in 2000 due to hazardous conditions which included asbestos. Asbestos exposure at a Fairbanks’s power station can lead to the development of mesothelioma.

Large Jobsites in Fairbanks where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance has compiled information obtained from a number of sources to identify the following large job sites in Fairbanks where asbestos exposure was known to have occurred. These sites are listed below. Click on them to get more detailed information.

Other Jobsites in Fairbanks where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

These additional jobsites in Fairbanks, AK have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.