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Oriskany Starts Final Journey

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS041213-06
Release Date: 12/13/2004 4:01:00 PM

From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- A Navy contractor will commence towing ex-Oriskany from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Pensacola, Fla., in December, in preparation as the Navy's first aircraft carrier to be sunk as an artificial reef, in June 2005.

The commercial tug Dolphin I will tow Oriskany for the five-to-six-day transit. The ship will remain berthed at the Port of Pensacola pending completion of the risk assessment products, issuance of sink approval and completion of final sinking preparations.

Using ships as artificial reefs benefits the Navy by providing another reduction method to the inactive ship inventory, thereby reducing the environmental risk associated with storing inactive ships in sensitive waterways. The Oriskany reef will also benefit marine life, sport fishing and recreational diving off the coast of Florida.

"The Navy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are committed to working together toward the safe and expeditious sinking of the ex-Oriskany as an artificial reef," said Capt. Lawrence M. Jones Jr., program manager, Inactive Ships Program Office.

The Navy completed a comprehensive 11-month remediation effort on ex-Oriskany in accordance with the draft Best Management Practices for Preparing Vessels Intended to Create Artificial Reefs. The remediation prepared the ship to be sunk as an artificial reef by removing fuels and oils, loose asbestos-containing material, capacitors, transformers or other liquid polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) components, batteries, HALON, mercury, antifreeze, coolants, fire extinguishing agents, black and gray water, and chromated ballast water.

Additionally, the wood flight deck and underlayment were removed due to high PCB concentrations found after the asphalt protective coating had been removed from the flight deck. These measures are intended to ensure that the ex-Oriskany reef is environmentally safe.

Because of the precedent-setting implications of this project, the Navy's risk assessment model and the resulting risk assessments must undergo a broad-based internal review by EPA, followed by an external peer review. Once these reviews are complete, EPA expects to prepare a draft approval for ex-Oriskany and initiate the public participation process. A final permit decision will be made after the public comment period closes and EPA prepares a response to comments.