[CPEO-MEF] 13 more Ghost Fleet ships to be scrapped

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Virginia
THE VIRGINIA-PILOT
13 more Ghost Fleet ships to be scrapped
By DALE EISMAN
May 24, 2003

WASHINGTON -- Environmental regulators have given permission for 13 of
the most hazardous ships in the James River Reserve Fleet, also known as
the Ghost Fleet, to be moved to England for scrapping, U.S. Sen. John W.
Warner, R-Va., announced Friday.

A waiver granted by the Environmental Protection Agency will allow the
U.S. Maritime Administration to negotiate with a firm in Tesside,
England, Able-UK, to remove and cut up the vessels. Congress
appropriated $31 million last year for disposal of surplus Navy ships.

Nearly 100 of the vessels are moored in the James; sixty-eight of those
have been declared obsolete and marked for scrapping.

The ships, many of which are rusting, are laden with nearly 12 million
gallons of fuel as well as toxins, including lead paint and asbestos,
according to the Maritime Administration.

MARAD officials were unavailable for comment Friday on the likely cost
of disposal of the ships covered by the EPA waiver or how quickly they
might be moved.

Lawmakers are expected to provide additional funds for the work this
year; a Defense Department spending plan approved Thursday by the House
of Representatives would permit expenditure of another $20 million.

This article can be viewed at:
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=54608&ran=166233

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