Thought this might be of interest to some:

NNS041213-06. Oriskany Starts Final Journey

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.

For related news, visit the Naval Sea Systems Command Navy
NewsStand page at:

www.news.navy.mil/local/navsea

-USN-