Intentional Navy ship sinking in FL to create manmade reef
Article Added June 10th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story
Near Pensacola, Florida the decommissioned USS Oriskany was sunk to create a man-made reef and to help reduce the Navy's inactive ship inventory. This has created mixed feelings as locals welcome the increase in tourists interested in diving the site yet environmentalists are concerned about toxins, such as asbestos, being released into the water.
One of the contaminants, Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), is known to disrupt hormone systems of animals, and, over time, cause cancer in humans. PCB's were used in the wiring, insulation, paint, gaskets, caulking, plastic, and other non-metallic materials in almost all Navy ships built prior to 1976. The discovery of PCB's in the Navy ships forced the Navy to put the sinking of Navy ships on hold.
Even though fish and five endangered or threatened species of turtles are at risk of being contaminated, local FL dive shops were very active in pushing to have the USS Oriskany sunk off their shores. The EPA denies interference by locals, politicians or the Navy in its decision-making process. "There is a feisty competition any time there is one offered for reefing," acknowledged Mark Fite, chief of the EPA's Children’s Health, Lead and Asbestos Management Section of Region 4.
Article Added June 10th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story
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