Gjovik's Apple Office at 825 Stewart Drive (the TRW Microwave Superfund site)
Ashley Gjovik’s Apple office from 2017 until her termination was located at 825 Stewart Drive in Sunnyvale California. It was also known as the “TRW Microwave” Superfund site (part of the US EPA “Triple [Superfund] Site").
The “Triple Site” is the collective name for three adjacent [Superfund] sites in Sunnyvale that have jointly contributed to a groundwater solvent plume. The US EPA webpage for Triple Site states that, “a groundwater plume composed of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including TCE, extends from these [three Superfund] sites more than a mile. In addition, the “Offsite Operable Unit” is roughly a one-hundred acre area where shallow groundwater contamination from TRW Microwave, and the other two sites, has migrated to, and which “includes four schools and over 1,000 residences.” As of 2021, “residences are being sold in the [Triple Site Offsite Unit] and building permits for construction are being issued by the City without notification of site conditions and transmittal of mitigation system [Operations & Management] plans and EPA requirements to existing owners, prospective purchasers, and new buyers.”
Update: Read Ashley's Five Year Review submission
The “Triple Site” is the collective name for three adjacent [Superfund] sites in Sunnyvale that have jointly contributed to a groundwater solvent plume. The US EPA webpage for Triple Site states that, “a groundwater plume composed of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including TCE, extends from these [three Superfund] sites more than a mile. In addition, the “Offsite Operable Unit” is roughly a one-hundred acre area where shallow groundwater contamination from TRW Microwave, and the other two sites, has migrated to, and which “includes four schools and over 1,000 residences.” As of 2021, “residences are being sold in the [Triple Site Offsite Unit] and building permits for construction are being issued by the City without notification of site conditions and transmittal of mitigation system [Operations & Management] plans and EPA requirements to existing owners, prospective purchasers, and new buyers.”
Update: Read Ashley's Five Year Review submission
| us-epa-fyr-triple-site-gjovik-interview-final-full.pdf |
Read more about what happened below...
Geotracker page
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The Atlantic, 2013
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825 Stewart Dr; Current Day SSV vent Placement
The TRW Microwave Superfund site
Quoted from Fourth Amended Complaint in: Ashley Gjovik v. Apple Inc., 23-cv-04597-EMC (N.D. Cal. May 20 2024).
Decision and Order approving the two toxic torts to move forward: Order (May 20 2024).
Decision and Order approving the two toxic torts to move forward: Order (May 20 2024).
"Gjovik’s Apple office from 2017 until her termination was located at 825 Stewart Drive in Sunnyvale, California, also known as the “TRW Microwave” Superfund site, part of the US EPA “Triple Site.”[1] The “Triple Site” is the collective name for three adjacent Superfund sites in Sunnyvale that have jointly contributed to a mile-long groundwater solvent plume. In addition, the “Offsite Operable Unit” is roughly a one-hundred-acre area of groundwater contamination from TRW Microwave. It “includes four schools and over 1,000 residences.”
The “TRW Microwave” Superfund site is a former industrial semiconductor fabrication and manufacturing facility at 825 Stewart Drive (“Stewart 1”). The primary contaminants in the groundwater contamination plume are chlorinated volatile organic compounds, including the carcinogen trichloroethene (“TCE”) and its daughter products cis-1,2-dichloroethene and vinyl chloride. The contaminated groundwater under 825 Stewart Drive is as shallow as only 2.6 feet below the ground surface, with shallow TCE concentrations up to 1,400 μg/L and vinyl chloride up to 51 μg/L. [2]
The Responsible Party under CERCLA, Northrop Grumman Corporation, conducted an initial vapor intrusion evaluation at Stewart 1 in 2003 and 2004, which indicated that TCE concentrations in indoor air present an inhalation risk exceeding acceptable health and safety levels, with results at 5.1 µg/m3 and 5.2 µg/m3 respectively.[3] Indoor air pollution due to vapor intrusion worsened over time, and indoor air concentrations increased to 7.7 µg/m3 in 2013, the “accelerated action level” for TCE in commercial buildings. [In 2024, the US EPA proposed a full ban on TCE as a whole substance in the United States, prohibiting it under the TSCA as an unreasonable danger to human health).
In May 2015, Northrop Grumman installed a “sub-slab” ventilation system inside the building. (The “slab” refers to the concrete foundation, and “sub-slab” is under the “slab.”) Northrop Grumman installed a ventilation system (horizontal “collection pipes”) beneath the slab foundation, which allows vapors to move laterally, and connected the collection pipes to vertical vent risers that vent to the roof to provide a preferred pathway for hazardous waste vapors “that allow sub-slab contaminant vapors to discharge to the atmosphere.” The risers vent to the rooftop via wind-powered turbines.
Apple became a tenant in 2015. Apple’s installation of a new HVAC system for the building in late 2015 included Apple sawing the sub-slab exhaust vent stacks on the main building roof down from three feet to one foot and then installing the HVAC system intakes in “close proximity” to the sub-slab vapor exhaust vents, “without consideration for the function of the [sub-slab] system vents and their function.”[4] The HVAC intakes for the area of the building where Gjovik worked were in “the assumed sphere of influence” of the vent exhaust, including the chemicals TCE and vinyl chloride.
Apple’s tampering with the exhaust stacks and indifference towards the exhaust’s proximity to HVAC intakes resulted in a significant risk of re-entrainment of the hazardous waste vapors and gases into the HVAC system, and thus into the indoor air of the building where Gjovik and her coworkers would be exposed. Cal.Lab.C. § 5143(a)(1) and § 5143(c)(1) prohibit the exhaust of gas and vapor in a way that causes harmful exposure to employees. Cal.Lab.C. § 5154.1(e)(4)(d) requires that these types of stacks exhaust upward from at least seven feet above the highest portion of the roof. California Mechanical Code § 407.2.1 requires outdoor air intakes be placed at least 25 feet away from any “exhaust outlets of ventilating systems… that may collect …. noxious fumes.” Apple constructed the HVAC intakes only ten feet away from the exhaust vents.
In May 2015, Northrop Grumman’s vapor intrusion testing at Stewart 1 reported indoor air pollution of TCE, 1,2-DCE, Toluene, Chloroform, Methylene Chloride, and Ethylbenzene.[5] From December 2015 to January 2016, Apple managed and submitted a second vapor intrusion testing report to the US EPA.[6] Apple’s December 2015 vapor intrusion testing results showed an increase in indoor air pollution and the sub-slab ventilation system compared to the May 2015 results.[7] The highest indoor air reading of TCE doubled between May and December 2015. In May 2015, it was 0.58 µg/m³, and the highest indoor air TCE reading in December 2015 was 1.2 µg/m³.[8] Apple’s report also noted a “noticeable increase” of TCE, PCE, and chloroform in the sub-slab venting system, and high levels of toluene and ethylbenzene in the indoor air.[9] Apple moved employees in and never tested again.
US EPA issued a formal letter to the current building owner in 2016 explaining that if there were any issues with the integrity of the slab, such as cracks, the U.S. EPA must be notified, consulted, and oversee the repairs and subsequent evaluation that the repairs were successful. Similarly, there is a public land use covenant attached to the property and that runs with the land, which instructs that major issues with the engineering controls and vapor intrusion systems must be reported, and US EPA must be consulted on the next steps.
On March 17, 2021, Apple announced to Gjovik and her boss’ management team that it would test Stewart 1 for “vapor intrusion” but said nothing more. Gjovik informed her coworkers that their office was a Superfund site on March 17 2021, providing a link to the US EPA website for the site, and news articles referring to their office as a “paved over environmental disaster zone” [10] due to the “massive amounts of trichloroethylene in the soil and groundwater from nearly 30 years of chip manufacturing.”[11]
Gjovik’s manager immediately forwarded Gjovik’s email to Human Resources and her manager, complaining “I think Ashley should be keeping these emails private and not needlessly scaring the team about something she doesn’t know about. I want to have a talk with her.” Her manager gave Gjovik a ‘warning’ during their next 1:1 meeting and told her she is not allowed to talk about safety or toxic waste dumps with her coworkers. Things went downhill from there.
On March 26, 2021, the SF Bay View newspaper published an article Gjovik wrote about her chemical exposure experience with the air around ARIA.[12] More victims and witnesses promptly came forward; some were also Apple employees. On April 5, 2021, Gjovik told her manager about the other victims, and her manager warned her she was “kicking a hornet’s nest.” Her manager asked Gjovik not to send information about Gjovik’s chemical exposure at her apartment next to ARIA to his personal work email, saying: “Can you send that stuff to my Gmail instead of work? My mail account is routinely scanned for lawsuits.”
On April 5 2021, Gjovik notified the Director of Apple “AC Wellness” employee medical Centers and Clinical Engineering, that after her article was published, more people came forward from the apartments next to ARIA, reporting illness. “Two are Apple employees. At least one went through AC Wellness, but no one could figure out what was wrong with them.” Gjovik suggested Akhtar direct the clinic to “screen local folks” with unexplained symptoms that match solvent exposure.
Gjovik emailed the U.S. EPA and CalEPA about the issues from September 2020 through April 2021; many Apple leaders knew she did so. Starting in early 2021, Gjovik also contacted and met with local, state, and federal politicians about what occurred to her next to ARIA – and Apple was aware of this. For example, Gjovik met with Senator Weickowski and his staff on April 7 2021. Gjovik also met with Assembly Member Lee’s staff once and Mayor Gillmor several times. On April 7 2021, Gjovik told her manager about the meetings. On April 9 2021, Gjovik contacted the County District Attorney’s office, talked to the Supervising Deputy District Attorney for Environmental Crimes, and met with him on April 16 2021.
Gjovik was also meeting with the California Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health office where she was volunteering her time to assist in creating state-wide education resources for tenants and workers around chemical exposure from toxic waste dumps. Around this time Gjovik was also meeting with a prior Silicon Valley mayor who has been involved in advocated for clean up of Silicon Valley’s toxic waste sites for decades. Gjovik shared his analysis of the testing and concerns about the clean-up of the property where Gjovik got sick with Mayor Gillmor and asked her for further investigation from the city.
Gjovik explained to her team what vapor intrusion means, told them to take it seriously, and expressed concerns that Apple employees “should be better informed about these types of environmental risks at our offices.” Gjovik added, “The chemicals under [the Stewart 1 office], if in high enough quantities, can cause cancer.” Gjovik asked in her email for details of what type of testing was to be performed and for what duration, if there would be a risk assessment, and if EH&S would share the findings with the employees in the building. EH&S initially agreed to meet with Gjovik to discuss her concerns.
Gjovik’s coworkers thanked her for sharing this information and informing them about the site. Two of Gjovik’s friends, a manager and senior manager at Apple, texted her, affirming her concerns were reasonable and appropriate. One called it “a really important life-threatening situation,” and another, after reviewing documentation for the site, questioned, “Why is the building still open?” One of the managers noted: “What is crazy is … they say no daycare, no elder care, no residential, etc. So, it is fine & dandy for everyone else to get slowly poisoned?… So glad you are digging into this stuff for all of us.” Around this time, Gjovik also raised concerns about COVID-19 safety, wildfire smoke safety, Right to Know/Prop 65, and Apple’s reporting/tracking of injuries.
In late March 2021, Gjovik repeatedly raised concerns about the Superfund site to her supervisors. After reviewing hundreds of pages of documentation for the site, Gjovik advised Apple that Apple had been negligent, that the site was not safe, and she complained Apple seemed unwilling to comply with CERCLA and health/safety regulations. She said she now believed her fainting spell in 2019 in her office was due to vapor intrusion. She was also shocked and distressed to see the ‘hot spot’ for the building was her desk with 1,900 ug/m3 of TCE in the sub-slab ventilation system. Her manager threatened her and ordered her to stop talking with her coworkers about her safety and environmental concerns. He said she must believe whatever EH&S tells her. Her manager first claimed the poisonous gas was sealed under the floor but, after learning the floor was cracked, told Gjovik to quit Apple.
Gjovik met with Apple EH&S on April 2 2021, May 17 2021, and July 7 2021. For some reason, Employee Relations (ER) was also there. ER refused to tell Gjovik why she was involved, as her manager had asked for Employee Relations assistance in trying to silence Gjovik about Gjovik’s concerns.
Gjovik asked questions about the status of the site and the rationale for certain design and monitoring decisions. Gjovik expressed that she was disappointed with some of the answers. EH&S told her Apple Legal and EH&S intentionally do not tell employees if they work on Superfund site and admitted that Apple deliberately does not train workers about safety procedures related to toxic waste exposure from clean-up sites. Gjovik said that was both unsafe and unwise. Gjovik also complained that the prior testing used insufficient durations and methods, had concerning results, there were known open risks for vapor intrusion vectors (such as ‘compromised’ sub-slab ports), and the land use covenant is outdated and requiring revision. Gjovik complained that Apple should have tested the indoor air more frequently than every six years.
Gjovik also contacted the US EPA on April 22 2021, asking to consult with their manager for the site and emailed back and forth with the U.S. EPA CERCLA and public relations teams from April through August 2021, and Apple knew she was doing so.
In response to Gjovik’s concerns and escalations, her manager and ER issued gag orders against Gjovik. ER went so far as to provide Gjovik with a five-point balancing test if Gjovik wanted to make statements about Superfund sites or workplace safety to her coworkers and ultimately told Gjovik that there should be no discussions about workplace safety with her coworkers. In their final meeting about the site on July 7, 2021, ER and EH&S told Gjovik that Stewart 1 is safe because they say it is safe, they still have no plans to test the air now, and they will not answer any more of her questions about the site or workplace safety ever again.
ER also responded by opening a non-consensual sexism investigation into Gjovik’s bosses, where she did not investigate anything but told at least three leaders that Gjovik complained about them. She also harassed Gjovik’s friends and bullied Gjovik to the extent that she repeatedly made Gjovik cry in front of her. ER also told Gjovik she had to submit an ADA accommodation request if she did not want to be exposed to the vapor intrusion, attempted to get Gjovik to release all of her medical requests to “Apple Inc.,” and then suggested Apple get her an air purifier at her desk for the TCE.
Gjovik complained to a senior ethics leader at Apple and their friend that what Apple was doing related to environmental compliance and employee chemical exposure was “morally wrong,” and Apple was publicly misrepresenting their actual operations.
Gjovik also complained to a friend in Lisa Jackson’s Environmental lobbying team about what was going on at her office and complained Apple’s public statements seemed fraudulent, and her coworker agreed, saying: “uhhh... I kind of feel the need to make sure Lisa is aware. I'm about to present a proposal to several execs on an Environmental Justice program and this kind of feels like not consistent with that.”
On April 29 2021, Gjovik visited an occupational exposure doctor about her apparent chemical exposure in the apartments next to Apple’s ARIA factory and at Stewart 1.[13] The UCSF visit notes summarized Gjovik’s 2020 medical symptoms saying:
“She was experiencing severe dizzy spells, a large decrease in resting heart rate, palpitations, hypotension, fatigue, chest pain, numbness, spasms, rash, shortness of breath, multiple growths (mole, polyp, nodules), nausea, paresthesias, blurry vision, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and swollen glands”….“there remains a concern about potential pathways for residential exposures, and the county and State environmental agencies should address these…. she also notes an unexplained episode of fainting at work in Sept 2019 at her office on a Superfund site with a long history of vapor intrusion issues..."
Apple EH&S and Employee Relations notified Gjovik on June 2 2021, that the foundation of Stewart 1 and they need to repair it, and then after, they will test the air. Gjovik told them they needed to notify the U.S. EPA, have the U.S. EPA oversee the repair and testing plan, and test the air before and after the repairs. (US EPA later confirmed this). Apple refused and told Gjovik they do not have to tell U.S. EPA anything; they will repair the floor but will not provide details on how/when, and now they may not test the indoor air. Gjovik reported Apple’s failure to notify and consult with the U.S. EPA about the cracked slab to the U.S. EPA. Gjovik notified Apple that she was snitching on them to U.S. EPA.
Gjovik complained about ER in May and June 2021 to no avail and then began meeting with ER's manager, in mid-June 2021. Gjovik complained that Apple was acting insane, and if this is usually how Apple handles employee concerns, then Apple is lying to its employees and the public that it acts in good faith. ER agreed with Gjovik and said Apple’s marketing makes “his job harder.” Gjovik asked what type of issues his team would take seriously, and he responded when managers “send pics of their junk.” Gjovik complained to ER that ER had already ruined her career at Apple, that she was already constructively terminated by her manager, that her manager was harassing her more than ever, and that he should have to investigate all of the terrible things Apple’s done to her for nearly seven years.
In July 2021, Gjovik discovered that her manager had been reassigning her best projects (things that would help her receive a positive review). Then her manager suddenly quadrupled her workload with highly unfavorable projects (things that were certain to upset people and fail). her manager was snapping at her and harassing her, her manager was ignoring her, and Gjovik reported these issues to ER and the HR business partner Helen Polkes. Still, Apple did nothing, or they also harassed Gjovik. Gjovik became more vocal about her concerns about systemic retaliation and fraud at Apple on Apple’s Slack discussion tool and also began threatening ER that she planned to sue Apple for what they’ve done to her and that she is also talking to the press (NYT) about Apple. This led ER to assign a new investigator and open a new investigation into all of Gjovik’s concerns going back to 2015.
By late July 2021, Gjovik was openly complaining on Slack, to reporters, with coworkers, and now also on Twitter about Apple’s terrible behavior (including intimidation, retaliation, cover-ups, and fraud). Gjovik complained about the Superfund and safety issues, Apple’s offensive use of ADA accommodations, the persistent suggestion that she take FMLA leave in response to their harassment, Apple’s illegal NDAs and gag orders, and Apple’s antagonistic and obstinate attitude towards legitimate and important concerns. Gjovik repeatedly told Employee Relations and Human Resources that she refused to take leave in response to retaliation and harassment; instead, they needed to fix the issues.
Gjovik had still been lobbying legislatures about the need for additional safety protections for workers and tenants on toxic dump sites. A state Senator told Gjovik he would talk to CalEPA about her concerns. Gjovik checked with his office for a status update on that conversation. On July 16 2021, the Senator’s Legislative Director wrote to Gjovik confirming and adding her concerns were shared even further, writing: “I conveyed them myself on the Senator’s behalf with the Govender’s staff and leadership of both houses.”
On July 23 2021, Gjovik was quoted by the New York Times, where she criticized Apple’s COVID-19 response. On July 24, 2021, New York Times made Gjovik’s quote “Quotation of the Day” for the entire NYT.[14] ER expressed to Gjovik that Apple was upset that Gjovik did this. Gjovik told ER she was taking Labor Law and learned she could speak about her work conditions regardless of NDAs. ER told her it is “annoying” to Apple when employees “figure that out.”
On July 26 2021, Gjovik posted on Apple’s Slack discussion tool complaining that Apple’s response to her concerns was to retaliate against her and intimidate her into silence. Gjovik asked if anyone else had been retaliated against for raising concerns. Many of Gjovik’s coworkers responded that they had also experienced retaliation from Apple for raising real and reasonable concerns. ER then swiftly interrogated Gjovik for over an hour about her Slack posts and the responses she received from coworkers – repeatedly asking her to stop posting about her concerns and to stop encouraging other employees to post their concerns, and instead to direct all employees to speak privately. Gjovik told him no. she would not help him retaliate against her coworkers.
Apple and Northrop Grumman were notified on July 26 2021 that US EPA was demanding an inspection of Stewart 1 due to Gjovik’s reports about the cracked slab and Apple’s obstinate and obstructive response; and because US EPA discovered what Apple did with the hacksaw, vents, and HVAC on the roof of Stewart 1 in 2015, with the US EPA QA team exclaiming it was “not appropriate” and asking for air samples.
On July 27 2021, a non-profit organization asked Gjovik to testify as a witness to state Senator Dave Cortese about her experience with hazardous waste clean-up sites in Santa Clara County, and Gjovik accepted.
On July 28 2021, Gjovik emailed ER about her discussions with coworkers, and she discovered a pattern of discrimination and harassment issues across Apple; and what appeared to be systemic cover-ups of those issues instead of actually resolving the problems. She complained Apple fraudulently holds itself out publicly as caring about human rights and the law. It was clear to Gjovik that ER would not investigate in good faith and Apple was still trying to get her to quit or else would fire her, and she began fervently complaining about their bad faith behavior and culture of intimidation.
Apple said they may give Gjovik a severance package of around $600,000 if Gjovik would sign a preemptive litigation waiver. Apple agreed Gjovik would not have to sign another NDA but did make the severance negotiation contingent on Gjovik executing a waiver of all claims, while Apple concurrently intentionally concealed material facts about harm Apple caused to Gjovik through chemical exposure at her office and her apartment. Gjovik expressed concerns about the settlement amount and her potential medical costs if she were to get cancer from the exposure at her office, not even yet knowing about the ARIA facility or what Apple did to the HVAC at Stewart 1. Apple wanted all claims waived and denied the severance on those conditions, violating California law. [Cal. Gov't Code § 12964.5(a)].
A few days before Apple forced her on leave, Gjovik discovered that one of the only two women who ever reported to her manager at Apple had quit Apple due to the harassment she faced. Gjovik complained to her manager and her manager told her this was a secret and not to tell anyone.
On July 30 2021, Gjovik posted on Twitter complaining about Apple. “They offered EAP and suggested medical leave after I spoke up about sexism, discrimination, and a hostile work environment. They also suggested requesting ADA disability accommodations after I raised concerns about unsafe work conditions.”
After posting this, ex-Apple employees contacted Gjovik to share they had similar experiences. Other Big Tech and ex-Apple employees supported Gjovik for speaking out, sending her many encouraging and grateful messages and comments. Gjovik then decided to start sharing more of what was happening between her and Apple on social media to help others understand the issues so they could advocate for the employees, hoping it may pressure Apple to act more reasonably.
On July 30 2021, Gjovik posted on Apple’s Slack discussion tool complaining in detail about Apple’s misconduct, including retaliation, unsafe work conditions, and cover-ups. Around this time, Gjovik created a new, private Slack group for her coworkers to discuss concerns about Apple retaliating against them for raising concerns, but with more privacy due to fear of more retaliation. Many women asked to join the group, and they had just started a discussion.
On August 2 2021, out of frustration with ER refusing to re-investigate anything ER said was fine during the first (sham) investigation – Gjovik proceeded to start posting on Twitter about several of the more minor things she complained to ER about. She told ER that it was work conditions, and they claimed they investigated and found no problems, so she is free to talk about it and she would do so. Gjovik posted several examples of the evidence on Twitter, and her posts quickly went viral.
In response, on August 2 2021, Apple suddenly announced they were conducting extensive maintenance at Stewart 1 starting on August 4 2021. Then, on August 3 2021, Lisa Jackson’s team scheduled a Public Relations blitz about how safe and thoughtful Apple is, actually. [15] Apple also attempted to make the US EPA sign a four-page single-spaced NDA about the inspection of Stewart 1 that would prohibit the US EPA from speaking about the inspection. The US EPA declined to sign the NDA.
When Gjovik saw Apple’s EH&S notice on August 2 2021 about maintenance at Stewart 1, she quickly arranged for coworkers in the office to gather evidence of the cracks, warning them that Apple was trying to cover up environmental and safety issues. Gjovik’s coworkers gathered photos of the cracks for Gjovik on August 3 2021 and the morning of August 4 2021. They also asked many of the same questions Gjovik had asked EH&S. Gjovik shared EH&S’s responses, and they were concerned about Apple’s position and conduct. Gjovik informed Apple she and her coworkers were gathering evidence before Apple could cover up the cracks.
On August 4 2021, ER immediately forced Gjovik on indefinite administrative leave and refused to provide any ETA for the next steps. ER informed her Apple removed her “from the workplace and all workplace interactions.” Gjovik was very upset and protested, arguing she just wanted to stop interactions with her managers while ER investigated because of the work assignment changes and harassment. Gjovik also complained that it was illegal for them to tell her to stop talking to her coworkers. ER made it clear he also wanted her off Slack. Gjovik told ER he could not keep her off Twitter....."
The “TRW Microwave” Superfund site is a former industrial semiconductor fabrication and manufacturing facility at 825 Stewart Drive (“Stewart 1”). The primary contaminants in the groundwater contamination plume are chlorinated volatile organic compounds, including the carcinogen trichloroethene (“TCE”) and its daughter products cis-1,2-dichloroethene and vinyl chloride. The contaminated groundwater under 825 Stewart Drive is as shallow as only 2.6 feet below the ground surface, with shallow TCE concentrations up to 1,400 μg/L and vinyl chloride up to 51 μg/L. [2]
The Responsible Party under CERCLA, Northrop Grumman Corporation, conducted an initial vapor intrusion evaluation at Stewart 1 in 2003 and 2004, which indicated that TCE concentrations in indoor air present an inhalation risk exceeding acceptable health and safety levels, with results at 5.1 µg/m3 and 5.2 µg/m3 respectively.[3] Indoor air pollution due to vapor intrusion worsened over time, and indoor air concentrations increased to 7.7 µg/m3 in 2013, the “accelerated action level” for TCE in commercial buildings. [In 2024, the US EPA proposed a full ban on TCE as a whole substance in the United States, prohibiting it under the TSCA as an unreasonable danger to human health).
In May 2015, Northrop Grumman installed a “sub-slab” ventilation system inside the building. (The “slab” refers to the concrete foundation, and “sub-slab” is under the “slab.”) Northrop Grumman installed a ventilation system (horizontal “collection pipes”) beneath the slab foundation, which allows vapors to move laterally, and connected the collection pipes to vertical vent risers that vent to the roof to provide a preferred pathway for hazardous waste vapors “that allow sub-slab contaminant vapors to discharge to the atmosphere.” The risers vent to the rooftop via wind-powered turbines.
Apple became a tenant in 2015. Apple’s installation of a new HVAC system for the building in late 2015 included Apple sawing the sub-slab exhaust vent stacks on the main building roof down from three feet to one foot and then installing the HVAC system intakes in “close proximity” to the sub-slab vapor exhaust vents, “without consideration for the function of the [sub-slab] system vents and their function.”[4] The HVAC intakes for the area of the building where Gjovik worked were in “the assumed sphere of influence” of the vent exhaust, including the chemicals TCE and vinyl chloride.
Apple’s tampering with the exhaust stacks and indifference towards the exhaust’s proximity to HVAC intakes resulted in a significant risk of re-entrainment of the hazardous waste vapors and gases into the HVAC system, and thus into the indoor air of the building where Gjovik and her coworkers would be exposed. Cal.Lab.C. § 5143(a)(1) and § 5143(c)(1) prohibit the exhaust of gas and vapor in a way that causes harmful exposure to employees. Cal.Lab.C. § 5154.1(e)(4)(d) requires that these types of stacks exhaust upward from at least seven feet above the highest portion of the roof. California Mechanical Code § 407.2.1 requires outdoor air intakes be placed at least 25 feet away from any “exhaust outlets of ventilating systems… that may collect …. noxious fumes.” Apple constructed the HVAC intakes only ten feet away from the exhaust vents.
In May 2015, Northrop Grumman’s vapor intrusion testing at Stewart 1 reported indoor air pollution of TCE, 1,2-DCE, Toluene, Chloroform, Methylene Chloride, and Ethylbenzene.[5] From December 2015 to January 2016, Apple managed and submitted a second vapor intrusion testing report to the US EPA.[6] Apple’s December 2015 vapor intrusion testing results showed an increase in indoor air pollution and the sub-slab ventilation system compared to the May 2015 results.[7] The highest indoor air reading of TCE doubled between May and December 2015. In May 2015, it was 0.58 µg/m³, and the highest indoor air TCE reading in December 2015 was 1.2 µg/m³.[8] Apple’s report also noted a “noticeable increase” of TCE, PCE, and chloroform in the sub-slab venting system, and high levels of toluene and ethylbenzene in the indoor air.[9] Apple moved employees in and never tested again.
US EPA issued a formal letter to the current building owner in 2016 explaining that if there were any issues with the integrity of the slab, such as cracks, the U.S. EPA must be notified, consulted, and oversee the repairs and subsequent evaluation that the repairs were successful. Similarly, there is a public land use covenant attached to the property and that runs with the land, which instructs that major issues with the engineering controls and vapor intrusion systems must be reported, and US EPA must be consulted on the next steps.
On March 17, 2021, Apple announced to Gjovik and her boss’ management team that it would test Stewart 1 for “vapor intrusion” but said nothing more. Gjovik informed her coworkers that their office was a Superfund site on March 17 2021, providing a link to the US EPA website for the site, and news articles referring to their office as a “paved over environmental disaster zone” [10] due to the “massive amounts of trichloroethylene in the soil and groundwater from nearly 30 years of chip manufacturing.”[11]
Gjovik’s manager immediately forwarded Gjovik’s email to Human Resources and her manager, complaining “I think Ashley should be keeping these emails private and not needlessly scaring the team about something she doesn’t know about. I want to have a talk with her.” Her manager gave Gjovik a ‘warning’ during their next 1:1 meeting and told her she is not allowed to talk about safety or toxic waste dumps with her coworkers. Things went downhill from there.
On March 26, 2021, the SF Bay View newspaper published an article Gjovik wrote about her chemical exposure experience with the air around ARIA.[12] More victims and witnesses promptly came forward; some were also Apple employees. On April 5, 2021, Gjovik told her manager about the other victims, and her manager warned her she was “kicking a hornet’s nest.” Her manager asked Gjovik not to send information about Gjovik’s chemical exposure at her apartment next to ARIA to his personal work email, saying: “Can you send that stuff to my Gmail instead of work? My mail account is routinely scanned for lawsuits.”
On April 5 2021, Gjovik notified the Director of Apple “AC Wellness” employee medical Centers and Clinical Engineering, that after her article was published, more people came forward from the apartments next to ARIA, reporting illness. “Two are Apple employees. At least one went through AC Wellness, but no one could figure out what was wrong with them.” Gjovik suggested Akhtar direct the clinic to “screen local folks” with unexplained symptoms that match solvent exposure.
Gjovik emailed the U.S. EPA and CalEPA about the issues from September 2020 through April 2021; many Apple leaders knew she did so. Starting in early 2021, Gjovik also contacted and met with local, state, and federal politicians about what occurred to her next to ARIA – and Apple was aware of this. For example, Gjovik met with Senator Weickowski and his staff on April 7 2021. Gjovik also met with Assembly Member Lee’s staff once and Mayor Gillmor several times. On April 7 2021, Gjovik told her manager about the meetings. On April 9 2021, Gjovik contacted the County District Attorney’s office, talked to the Supervising Deputy District Attorney for Environmental Crimes, and met with him on April 16 2021.
Gjovik was also meeting with the California Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health office where she was volunteering her time to assist in creating state-wide education resources for tenants and workers around chemical exposure from toxic waste dumps. Around this time Gjovik was also meeting with a prior Silicon Valley mayor who has been involved in advocated for clean up of Silicon Valley’s toxic waste sites for decades. Gjovik shared his analysis of the testing and concerns about the clean-up of the property where Gjovik got sick with Mayor Gillmor and asked her for further investigation from the city.
Gjovik explained to her team what vapor intrusion means, told them to take it seriously, and expressed concerns that Apple employees “should be better informed about these types of environmental risks at our offices.” Gjovik added, “The chemicals under [the Stewart 1 office], if in high enough quantities, can cause cancer.” Gjovik asked in her email for details of what type of testing was to be performed and for what duration, if there would be a risk assessment, and if EH&S would share the findings with the employees in the building. EH&S initially agreed to meet with Gjovik to discuss her concerns.
Gjovik’s coworkers thanked her for sharing this information and informing them about the site. Two of Gjovik’s friends, a manager and senior manager at Apple, texted her, affirming her concerns were reasonable and appropriate. One called it “a really important life-threatening situation,” and another, after reviewing documentation for the site, questioned, “Why is the building still open?” One of the managers noted: “What is crazy is … they say no daycare, no elder care, no residential, etc. So, it is fine & dandy for everyone else to get slowly poisoned?… So glad you are digging into this stuff for all of us.” Around this time, Gjovik also raised concerns about COVID-19 safety, wildfire smoke safety, Right to Know/Prop 65, and Apple’s reporting/tracking of injuries.
In late March 2021, Gjovik repeatedly raised concerns about the Superfund site to her supervisors. After reviewing hundreds of pages of documentation for the site, Gjovik advised Apple that Apple had been negligent, that the site was not safe, and she complained Apple seemed unwilling to comply with CERCLA and health/safety regulations. She said she now believed her fainting spell in 2019 in her office was due to vapor intrusion. She was also shocked and distressed to see the ‘hot spot’ for the building was her desk with 1,900 ug/m3 of TCE in the sub-slab ventilation system. Her manager threatened her and ordered her to stop talking with her coworkers about her safety and environmental concerns. He said she must believe whatever EH&S tells her. Her manager first claimed the poisonous gas was sealed under the floor but, after learning the floor was cracked, told Gjovik to quit Apple.
Gjovik met with Apple EH&S on April 2 2021, May 17 2021, and July 7 2021. For some reason, Employee Relations (ER) was also there. ER refused to tell Gjovik why she was involved, as her manager had asked for Employee Relations assistance in trying to silence Gjovik about Gjovik’s concerns.
Gjovik asked questions about the status of the site and the rationale for certain design and monitoring decisions. Gjovik expressed that she was disappointed with some of the answers. EH&S told her Apple Legal and EH&S intentionally do not tell employees if they work on Superfund site and admitted that Apple deliberately does not train workers about safety procedures related to toxic waste exposure from clean-up sites. Gjovik said that was both unsafe and unwise. Gjovik also complained that the prior testing used insufficient durations and methods, had concerning results, there were known open risks for vapor intrusion vectors (such as ‘compromised’ sub-slab ports), and the land use covenant is outdated and requiring revision. Gjovik complained that Apple should have tested the indoor air more frequently than every six years.
Gjovik also contacted the US EPA on April 22 2021, asking to consult with their manager for the site and emailed back and forth with the U.S. EPA CERCLA and public relations teams from April through August 2021, and Apple knew she was doing so.
In response to Gjovik’s concerns and escalations, her manager and ER issued gag orders against Gjovik. ER went so far as to provide Gjovik with a five-point balancing test if Gjovik wanted to make statements about Superfund sites or workplace safety to her coworkers and ultimately told Gjovik that there should be no discussions about workplace safety with her coworkers. In their final meeting about the site on July 7, 2021, ER and EH&S told Gjovik that Stewart 1 is safe because they say it is safe, they still have no plans to test the air now, and they will not answer any more of her questions about the site or workplace safety ever again.
ER also responded by opening a non-consensual sexism investigation into Gjovik’s bosses, where she did not investigate anything but told at least three leaders that Gjovik complained about them. She also harassed Gjovik’s friends and bullied Gjovik to the extent that she repeatedly made Gjovik cry in front of her. ER also told Gjovik she had to submit an ADA accommodation request if she did not want to be exposed to the vapor intrusion, attempted to get Gjovik to release all of her medical requests to “Apple Inc.,” and then suggested Apple get her an air purifier at her desk for the TCE.
Gjovik complained to a senior ethics leader at Apple and their friend that what Apple was doing related to environmental compliance and employee chemical exposure was “morally wrong,” and Apple was publicly misrepresenting their actual operations.
Gjovik also complained to a friend in Lisa Jackson’s Environmental lobbying team about what was going on at her office and complained Apple’s public statements seemed fraudulent, and her coworker agreed, saying: “uhhh... I kind of feel the need to make sure Lisa is aware. I'm about to present a proposal to several execs on an Environmental Justice program and this kind of feels like not consistent with that.”
On April 29 2021, Gjovik visited an occupational exposure doctor about her apparent chemical exposure in the apartments next to Apple’s ARIA factory and at Stewart 1.[13] The UCSF visit notes summarized Gjovik’s 2020 medical symptoms saying:
“She was experiencing severe dizzy spells, a large decrease in resting heart rate, palpitations, hypotension, fatigue, chest pain, numbness, spasms, rash, shortness of breath, multiple growths (mole, polyp, nodules), nausea, paresthesias, blurry vision, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and swollen glands”….“there remains a concern about potential pathways for residential exposures, and the county and State environmental agencies should address these…. she also notes an unexplained episode of fainting at work in Sept 2019 at her office on a Superfund site with a long history of vapor intrusion issues..."
Apple EH&S and Employee Relations notified Gjovik on June 2 2021, that the foundation of Stewart 1 and they need to repair it, and then after, they will test the air. Gjovik told them they needed to notify the U.S. EPA, have the U.S. EPA oversee the repair and testing plan, and test the air before and after the repairs. (US EPA later confirmed this). Apple refused and told Gjovik they do not have to tell U.S. EPA anything; they will repair the floor but will not provide details on how/when, and now they may not test the indoor air. Gjovik reported Apple’s failure to notify and consult with the U.S. EPA about the cracked slab to the U.S. EPA. Gjovik notified Apple that she was snitching on them to U.S. EPA.
Gjovik complained about ER in May and June 2021 to no avail and then began meeting with ER's manager, in mid-June 2021. Gjovik complained that Apple was acting insane, and if this is usually how Apple handles employee concerns, then Apple is lying to its employees and the public that it acts in good faith. ER agreed with Gjovik and said Apple’s marketing makes “his job harder.” Gjovik asked what type of issues his team would take seriously, and he responded when managers “send pics of their junk.” Gjovik complained to ER that ER had already ruined her career at Apple, that she was already constructively terminated by her manager, that her manager was harassing her more than ever, and that he should have to investigate all of the terrible things Apple’s done to her for nearly seven years.
In July 2021, Gjovik discovered that her manager had been reassigning her best projects (things that would help her receive a positive review). Then her manager suddenly quadrupled her workload with highly unfavorable projects (things that were certain to upset people and fail). her manager was snapping at her and harassing her, her manager was ignoring her, and Gjovik reported these issues to ER and the HR business partner Helen Polkes. Still, Apple did nothing, or they also harassed Gjovik. Gjovik became more vocal about her concerns about systemic retaliation and fraud at Apple on Apple’s Slack discussion tool and also began threatening ER that she planned to sue Apple for what they’ve done to her and that she is also talking to the press (NYT) about Apple. This led ER to assign a new investigator and open a new investigation into all of Gjovik’s concerns going back to 2015.
By late July 2021, Gjovik was openly complaining on Slack, to reporters, with coworkers, and now also on Twitter about Apple’s terrible behavior (including intimidation, retaliation, cover-ups, and fraud). Gjovik complained about the Superfund and safety issues, Apple’s offensive use of ADA accommodations, the persistent suggestion that she take FMLA leave in response to their harassment, Apple’s illegal NDAs and gag orders, and Apple’s antagonistic and obstinate attitude towards legitimate and important concerns. Gjovik repeatedly told Employee Relations and Human Resources that she refused to take leave in response to retaliation and harassment; instead, they needed to fix the issues.
Gjovik had still been lobbying legislatures about the need for additional safety protections for workers and tenants on toxic dump sites. A state Senator told Gjovik he would talk to CalEPA about her concerns. Gjovik checked with his office for a status update on that conversation. On July 16 2021, the Senator’s Legislative Director wrote to Gjovik confirming and adding her concerns were shared even further, writing: “I conveyed them myself on the Senator’s behalf with the Govender’s staff and leadership of both houses.”
On July 23 2021, Gjovik was quoted by the New York Times, where she criticized Apple’s COVID-19 response. On July 24, 2021, New York Times made Gjovik’s quote “Quotation of the Day” for the entire NYT.[14] ER expressed to Gjovik that Apple was upset that Gjovik did this. Gjovik told ER she was taking Labor Law and learned she could speak about her work conditions regardless of NDAs. ER told her it is “annoying” to Apple when employees “figure that out.”
On July 26 2021, Gjovik posted on Apple’s Slack discussion tool complaining that Apple’s response to her concerns was to retaliate against her and intimidate her into silence. Gjovik asked if anyone else had been retaliated against for raising concerns. Many of Gjovik’s coworkers responded that they had also experienced retaliation from Apple for raising real and reasonable concerns. ER then swiftly interrogated Gjovik for over an hour about her Slack posts and the responses she received from coworkers – repeatedly asking her to stop posting about her concerns and to stop encouraging other employees to post their concerns, and instead to direct all employees to speak privately. Gjovik told him no. she would not help him retaliate against her coworkers.
Apple and Northrop Grumman were notified on July 26 2021 that US EPA was demanding an inspection of Stewart 1 due to Gjovik’s reports about the cracked slab and Apple’s obstinate and obstructive response; and because US EPA discovered what Apple did with the hacksaw, vents, and HVAC on the roof of Stewart 1 in 2015, with the US EPA QA team exclaiming it was “not appropriate” and asking for air samples.
On July 27 2021, a non-profit organization asked Gjovik to testify as a witness to state Senator Dave Cortese about her experience with hazardous waste clean-up sites in Santa Clara County, and Gjovik accepted.
On July 28 2021, Gjovik emailed ER about her discussions with coworkers, and she discovered a pattern of discrimination and harassment issues across Apple; and what appeared to be systemic cover-ups of those issues instead of actually resolving the problems. She complained Apple fraudulently holds itself out publicly as caring about human rights and the law. It was clear to Gjovik that ER would not investigate in good faith and Apple was still trying to get her to quit or else would fire her, and she began fervently complaining about their bad faith behavior and culture of intimidation.
Apple said they may give Gjovik a severance package of around $600,000 if Gjovik would sign a preemptive litigation waiver. Apple agreed Gjovik would not have to sign another NDA but did make the severance negotiation contingent on Gjovik executing a waiver of all claims, while Apple concurrently intentionally concealed material facts about harm Apple caused to Gjovik through chemical exposure at her office and her apartment. Gjovik expressed concerns about the settlement amount and her potential medical costs if she were to get cancer from the exposure at her office, not even yet knowing about the ARIA facility or what Apple did to the HVAC at Stewart 1. Apple wanted all claims waived and denied the severance on those conditions, violating California law. [Cal. Gov't Code § 12964.5(a)].
A few days before Apple forced her on leave, Gjovik discovered that one of the only two women who ever reported to her manager at Apple had quit Apple due to the harassment she faced. Gjovik complained to her manager and her manager told her this was a secret and not to tell anyone.
On July 30 2021, Gjovik posted on Twitter complaining about Apple. “They offered EAP and suggested medical leave after I spoke up about sexism, discrimination, and a hostile work environment. They also suggested requesting ADA disability accommodations after I raised concerns about unsafe work conditions.”
After posting this, ex-Apple employees contacted Gjovik to share they had similar experiences. Other Big Tech and ex-Apple employees supported Gjovik for speaking out, sending her many encouraging and grateful messages and comments. Gjovik then decided to start sharing more of what was happening between her and Apple on social media to help others understand the issues so they could advocate for the employees, hoping it may pressure Apple to act more reasonably.
On July 30 2021, Gjovik posted on Apple’s Slack discussion tool complaining in detail about Apple’s misconduct, including retaliation, unsafe work conditions, and cover-ups. Around this time, Gjovik created a new, private Slack group for her coworkers to discuss concerns about Apple retaliating against them for raising concerns, but with more privacy due to fear of more retaliation. Many women asked to join the group, and they had just started a discussion.
On August 2 2021, out of frustration with ER refusing to re-investigate anything ER said was fine during the first (sham) investigation – Gjovik proceeded to start posting on Twitter about several of the more minor things she complained to ER about. She told ER that it was work conditions, and they claimed they investigated and found no problems, so she is free to talk about it and she would do so. Gjovik posted several examples of the evidence on Twitter, and her posts quickly went viral.
In response, on August 2 2021, Apple suddenly announced they were conducting extensive maintenance at Stewart 1 starting on August 4 2021. Then, on August 3 2021, Lisa Jackson’s team scheduled a Public Relations blitz about how safe and thoughtful Apple is, actually. [15] Apple also attempted to make the US EPA sign a four-page single-spaced NDA about the inspection of Stewart 1 that would prohibit the US EPA from speaking about the inspection. The US EPA declined to sign the NDA.
When Gjovik saw Apple’s EH&S notice on August 2 2021 about maintenance at Stewart 1, she quickly arranged for coworkers in the office to gather evidence of the cracks, warning them that Apple was trying to cover up environmental and safety issues. Gjovik’s coworkers gathered photos of the cracks for Gjovik on August 3 2021 and the morning of August 4 2021. They also asked many of the same questions Gjovik had asked EH&S. Gjovik shared EH&S’s responses, and they were concerned about Apple’s position and conduct. Gjovik informed Apple she and her coworkers were gathering evidence before Apple could cover up the cracks.
On August 4 2021, ER immediately forced Gjovik on indefinite administrative leave and refused to provide any ETA for the next steps. ER informed her Apple removed her “from the workplace and all workplace interactions.” Gjovik was very upset and protested, arguing she just wanted to stop interactions with her managers while ER investigated because of the work assignment changes and harassment. Gjovik also complained that it was illegal for them to tell her to stop talking to her coworkers. ER made it clear he also wanted her off Slack. Gjovik told ER he could not keep her off Twitter....."
Quoted from Fourth Amended Complaint in: Ashley Gjovik v. Apple Inc., 23-cv-04597-EMC (N.D. Cal. May 20 2024).
Decision and Order approving the two toxic torts to move forward: Order (May 20 2024).
Decision and Order approving the two toxic torts to move forward: Order (May 20 2024).
Images
Map of Eastern Sunnyvale groundwater plumes
825 Stewart Dr; Current Day
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825 Stewart Dr; Current Day
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825 Stewart Dr; Current Day SSV Vent Placement
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EPA is Concerned Northrop Grumman & Apple do not know how the HVAC works or where it is
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TRW Microwave Superfund remediation history
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TRW Microwave Superfund remediation history
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TRW Microwave Superfund remediation history
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TRW Microwave Superfund remediation history
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TRW Microwave Superfund remediation history
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825 Stewart Dr; 2020 SSD Inspection (not released until May 2021 after Ashley Gjovik complaints)
825 Stewart Dr; 2020 SSD Inspection (not released until May 2021 after Ashley Gjovik complaints)
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825 Stewart Dr; 2020 SSD Inspection (not released until May 2021 after Ashley Gjovik complaints)
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825 Stewart Dr; 2020 SSD Inspection (not released until May 2021 after Ashley Gjovik complaints)
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825 Stewart Dr; 2020 SSD Inspection (not released until May 2021 after Ashley Gjovik complaints)
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825 Stewart Dr; 2020 SSD Inspection (not released until May 2021 after Ashley Gjovik complaints)
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825 Stewart Dr; 2020 SSD Inspection (not released until May 2021 after Ashley Gjovik complaints)
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Photos from August 19 2021 EPA inspection of TRW Microwave Superfund site
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Photos from August 19 2021 EPA inspection of TRW Microwave Superfund site
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Photos from August 19 2021 EPA inspection of TRW Microwave Superfund site
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Photos from August 19 2021 EPA inspection of TRW Microwave Superfund site
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Northrop Grumman's April 2022 Memo about Apple's Hacksaw Misadventures
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Northrop Grumman's April 2022 Memo about Apple's Hacksaw Misadventures
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Northrop Grumman's April 2022 Memo about Apple's Hacksaw Misadventures
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Northrop Grumman's April 2022 Memo about Apple's Hacksaw Misadventures [Northrop notes incorrect HVAC intake location]
825 Stewart Dr; SSV post-mortem
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2015 HVAC planning with no mention of SSV/SSD system
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2015 HVAC planning with no mention of SSV/SSD system
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2015 HVAC planning with no mention of SSV/SSD system
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2015 HVAC installation
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825 Stewart Dr; 2014 SSV Plans
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825 Stewart Dr; 2014 SSV Plans
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April 2022 letter from US EPA to Northrop about TRW Microwave SSD vents
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April 2022 letter from US EPA to Northrop about TRW Microwave SSD vents
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May 2022 letter from consultant to US EPA about TRW Microwave SSV vents
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May 2022 letter from consultant to US EPA about TRW Microwave SSV vents
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2015 joint and crack sealing; Orion inspection & sign-off
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2015 joint and crack sealing; Orion inspection & sign-off
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2015 joint and crack sealing; Orion inspection & sign-off
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Aug 19 2021 inspection photos - cracks in the floor sealed sometime between Aug 4 2021-Aug 18 2021
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Aug 19 2021 inspection photos - cracks in the floor sealed sometime between Aug 4 2021-Aug 18 2021
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Aug 19 2021 inspection photos - cracks in the floor sealed sometime between Aug 4 2021-Aug 18 2021
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May 2015 VI test report; notes on slab penetration and conduits
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December 2015. VI test report; notes on additional slab penetration and conduits
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2014-2015; penetrating the slab
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2014-2015; penetrating the slab
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Aug 19 2021 inspection photos - conduits sealed sometime between Aug 4 2021-Aug 18 2021
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Aug 19 2021 inspection photos - conduits sealed sometime between Aug 4 2021-Aug 18 2021
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Aug 19 2021 inspection photos - sub slat vent plugs
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Aug 19 2021 inspection photos - sub slat vent plugs
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Aug 19 2021 inspection photos - sub slat vent plugs
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Dec 2015 indoor air vapor intrusion testing
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2023 indoor air vapor intrusion testing plan
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Map of Triple Site plumes
Resources
TRW Microwave Superfund (825 Stewart Dr, Sunnyvale)
Existing Public Resources:
Overall:
Existing Public Resources:
- US EPA TRW Site Homepage: https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0901181
- US EPA TRW Docs: https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.docdata&id=0901181
- US EPA Triple Site Homepage: https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0900265
- California Water Board TRW Site: https://geotracker.waterboards.ca.gov/profile_report?global_id=SL721251223
Overall:
Public Records Requests
FOIA Request: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC-2022-000071)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2022-002062)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2022-002063)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2022-002064)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2022-006063)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-2022-006433 & EPA-2022-006434)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-000314)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-000312)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-000509)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-001513)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-001514)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-001515)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-002298)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-002299)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-2023-002361)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-2023-002362)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-003283)
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-004018)
PRA Request: SF Bay Area Water Boards (not posted online)
PRA Request: City of Sunnyvale, California (not posted online)
U.S. National Reconnoissance Office (Req 525791)
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (link)
U.S. National Security Agency (link)
- Topic: "Radioactive material licensing records, registration of radioactive materials generally licensed devices, radioactive materials compliance records, inspection reports related to radioactive materials, any Radiation Health Unit records, and any other NRC files related to the location: 825 Stewart Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 from January 1, 1963 to December 31, 2000."
- Submitted: 01/21/2022; Granted: 03/14/2022
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2022-002062)
- Topic: "any communications (letters, documents, emails, etc) between Apple Inc ( search per [email]@apple.com ) and the U.S. EPA from January 01 2021 through January 01 2022. If this request is too burdensome or too broad, please provide communications between Apple Inc ( [email]@apple.com ) and the EPA from January 01 2021 through January 01 2022 specifically about EPA Superfunds sites in California/Region 9."
- Submitted: 01/22/2022; Interim: 06/27/2022; Granted: 09/01/2022
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2022-002063)
- Topic: "copies of any communications (letters, documents, emails, etc) between Northrop Grumman and the U.S. EPA about the TRW Microwave (Building 825) Superfund site between January 1 2018 and January 1 2022."
- Submitted: 01/22/2022; Interim: 08/12/2022; Granted: 10/12/2022
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2022-002064)
- Topic: "copies of any communications or reports (emails, letters, documents, reports, etc) about the TRW Microwave Superfund site (EPA ID CAD009159088) from January 01 2020 to January 1 2022 in the EPA's possession."
- Submitted: 01/22/2022; Granted: pending
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2022-006063)
- Topic: delta from Jan 1 2022 - Aug 14 2022
- Submitted: 08/14/2022; Granted: pending
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-2022-006433 & EPA-2022-006434)
- Topic: Lisa Jackson/Apple & Michael Reagan (EPA admin)
- Submitted: 09/06/2022; Granted: 12/18/2022
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-000314)
- Topic: More about the office.
- Submitted: 10/14/2022; Granted: 11/16/2022
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-000312)
- Topic: Office & Independent UK
- Submitted: 10/14/2022; Granted: 12/07/2022
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-000509)
- Topic: Vapor intrusion testing plan for the office + emails
- Submitted: 10/26/2023; Granted: 4/21/2023
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-001513)
- Topic: Delta of records from Jan 1 2022 - Dec 31 2022
- Submitted: 12/30/2022; Granted: pending
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-001514)
- Topic: Phase I Env Assessment Report (2016)
- Submitted: 12/30/2022; Granted: 3/24/2023
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-001515)
- Topic: Lisa's friend Margot in Public Relations
- Submitted: 12/30/2022; Granted: 4/7/2023
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-002298)
- Topic: Preparation of 2023 vapor intrusion testing plan
- Submitted: 2/9/2023; Granted: 3/20/2023
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-002299)
- Topic: Apple's CBI claim to Superfund information
- Submitted: 2/9/2023; Granted: 3/29/2023
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-2023-002361)
- Topic: Who at EPA has Apple been talking to since 2021?
- Submitted: 2/13/2023; Granted: pending
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-2023-002362)
- Topic: Was Apple declined the Safe Partner prize in 2022? Or didn't apply?
- Submitted: 2/13/2023; Granted: 3/30/2023
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-003283)
- Topic: delta on TRW from Jan 1 2023 - March 26 2023
- Submitted: 3/26/2023; Granted: pending
FOIA Request: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-R9-2023-004018)
- Topic: results of vapor intrusion testing
- Submitted: 5/31/2023; Granted: closed; claimed there's no records
PRA Request: SF Bay Area Water Boards (not posted online)
- Topic: recent comms about TRW and/or Triple Site
- Submitted: 2022; Granted 2022
PRA Request: City of Sunnyvale, California (not posted online)
- Topic: "any records in possession by the city about the building/property at 825 Stewart Drive Sunnyvale CA from January 1 2013 to December 1 2022 including any complaints, reports, applications, permits, communications (emails, letters), or other records including but not limited to related to: building code, renovation, fire code, toxic substances, groundwater, drinking water, air quality, noise, electrical, etc"
- Requests: SR-00050906, SR-00050910, SR-00050911, SR-00050913, SR-00050914
- Releases: CRM-0032400000473 through CRM-0032400000477
- Submitted: 12/27/2022; Interim: 12/27/2022; Granted: 01/05/2023
U.S. National Reconnoissance Office (Req 525791)
- Topic: TRW Microwave at 825 Stewart Drive
- Submitted: 12/27/2022; Granted: 3/20/2023
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (link)
- Topic: TRW Microwave at 825 Stewart Drive
- Submitted: 12/27/2022; Granted: pending
U.S. National Security Agency (link)
- Topic: TRW Microwave at 825 Stewart Drive
- Submitted: 12/27/2022; Denied: claimed National Security concerns