Thank God something is actually happening at Hangar One.

Messed up.

Nice, can't wait to see the finished work.

Excellent that this iconic structure is being retained. If left to NASA/USN it would have been demo'd.

Thanks Google.

Something here doesn't make sense. The Navy removed the siding which contained all the bad stuff. At the time nothing was mentioned about any remaining hazardous materials in the steel girders. Google estimated it would cost 40 million to re-skin the hangar. Now they are estimating another 40 million to clean up the steel before they spend 40 million to re-skin.

The "bad stuff" is still present. It is not Google that makes the cleanup decision it is the EPA. Good for Google.

@mposch, it totally adds up! It adds up to a private company paying whatever it costs to do the clean up. We probably shouldn't complain much about that. But I am puzzled at the process of removing whatever other substances exist. Sandblasting and pressure washing will allow a fine mist of potentially hazardous particles to become airborne. Unless of course, the size of the particles will cause no potential damage in the way that they will do the work and cannot travel any significant distance. Still, that leaves the ground around the hangar susceptible to issues, dust, drippings from pressure washing, contaminated water from pressure washing. I'm sure I'm just not understanding the process and that someone smarter than I am has already thought of all these things.

Denver has some Superfund sites. The buildings were demo, some were saved but all had to have toxic waste particles trapped and disposed. The EPA decided to cap part of the affected area with a containment barrier. This was along the Santa Fe Drive ( US 85 ), which is a commuter route with lots of traffic like 101.
I'm sure the EPA will " advise " Google on what is to be done.

To mposch: You said "The Navy removed the siding which contained all the bad stuff. At the time nothing was mentioned about any remaining hazardous materials in the steel girders."

Actually, the Navy did not remove all the bad stuff. Reports at the time downplayed the bad stuff on the girders, implying that if they were covered and kept dry by a non-polluting skin, they would be OK. The non-polluting paint that was put on the girders at the time was said to serve the same purpose "for a while".

Now those short cuts are coming out and Google will get rid of the bad stuff on girders before re-skinning them.

To Cfrink: You said, "But I am puzzled at the process of removing whatever other substances exist. Sandblasting and pressure washing will allow a fine mist of potentially hazardous particles to become airborne."

Yes, it's hard to remove such bad stuff without making things worse. No doubt that's what Google's tests are all about. But "removing such bad stuff without making things worse" is not a new problem. Successful methods already used elsewhere can be adapted to Hanger One. The EPA and probably qualified independent test organizations need to check Google's work to make sure they are doing it right, but it can be done right and I'm confident Google will do it right.

Thank you Doug for clearing things up.

Dry ice blasting

Both lead and asbestos are removed with a liquid or gel and approved by EPA on homes. The hard part is doing the work 5 stores up.