In 1946, the United States Government initiated a contract with the General Electric Corporation (GE) in order to establish a facility committed to the research and development of electrical generation by means of nuclear energy. The federal government constructed the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) on the bank of the Mohawk River in Niskayuna, New York, and GE was contracted to operate the facility. After several years of research into civilian nuclear power generation and in 1951, the Knolls laboratory joined several other national laboratories researching nuclear propulsion for the United States Navy. Research and development conducted at KAPL led directly to the successful design, construction and operation of several types of reactors used in submarines, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers. Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory conducts reactor operator training for US Navy personnel at a separate site in West Milton, New York, about fifteen miles from KAPL. Over 50,000 officers and sailors have been trained at West Milton in the past 60 years. In 1993, GE transferred supervision of the Knolls laboratory to the Martin Marietta Corporation, which in 1995, became Lockheed Martin. In 2008, Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation took over operation of the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory.

Prior to the late 1970s, asbestos-containing materials were utilized in construction and maintenance at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Niskayuna, New York. Inhaling dust and particles from the application and removal of asbestos-containing materials placed workers at risk for developing serious health problems, such as mesothelioma. Even those who were not in direct contact with asbestos materials remain at risk for the development of asbestos-related diseases. If you or a loved one were once employed at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Niskayuna, New York, and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or another asbestos-related disease, we urge you to contact us regarding your legal rights.


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