[CPEO-MEF] U.S.S. Oriskany reefing project (Pensacola, FL)

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Mighty O, mighty bill
$2.8 million project now $12.73 million and counting

Brett Norman
Pensacola News Journal (FL)
October, 2, 2005

This time last year, Navy officials had hoped to scuttle the aircraft 
carrier Oriskany 221⁄2 miles southeast of Pensacola Pass as the world's 
largest artificial reef project.

Congress had committed $2.8 million to turn the 888-foot flattop used in 
the Korean and Vietnam wars into an international fishing and diving 
destination, the pilot project for a new program to cheaply dispose of 
decommissioned vessels to the benefit of coastal communities throughout 
the country.

Twelve months later, the Navy has spent $12.73 million, more than 41⁄2 
times the original budget. The bill is growing, and there still are no 
guarantees the costly efforts will come to fruition.

As for the Oriskany, which was moored at the Port of Pensacola for seven 
months awaiting a sink permit from the Environmental Protection Agency, 
it was towed in June to Beaumont, Texas, to ride out the hurricane 
season. Although Hurricane Rita hit near Beaumont, the ship escaped damage.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051002/NEWS01/510020327/1006

--
Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org
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