U.S. agency to study mothball fleet pollution

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jul 11, 2008 | by Jessica A York

A federal agency this month will begin studying the environmental effects of the decaying ships moored in the Suisun Bay mothball fleet.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration took an interest after the Times last year revealed lead-laden paint and other materials were falling off the deteriorating ships into the water.

NOAA scientists will gather field samples this month and then test bay sediment and some marine life for heavy metals and other contaminants.

A flurry of attention from local, state and federal legislators followed revelations about the ships and their toxicity. U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer pushed for $1.5 million to fund a study.

The Suisun Fleet is one of nation's three excess-ship-storage moorings, designed to provide backup in national emergencies. As the former merchant and military ships deteriorate past the point of seaworthiness, federal mandates require their disposal. More than 70 obsolete ships are moored in Suisun Bay, overseen by the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Environmental groups San Francisco Baykeeper, Arc Ecology and the Natural Resources Defense Council sued the Maritime Administration in October to hold the agency accountable for any water pollution caused by the ships. The lawsuit seeks a court order for an agency- prepared environmental impact report, as well as the storage and disposal of any hazardous waste at an appropriate facility.

The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board is the lead agency working with the Maritime Administration on local compliance as it works to get rid of obsolete vessels. Ship removal has been halted because the Coast Guard's requirement for getting rid of marine growth from hulls before towing conflicted with local laws requiring that such cleaning be environmentally sensitive.

The Maritime Administration "has basically stated to us that they feel that since NOAA will be doing the study, that addressed the issue and they are no longer responsible for the sediment," said Bruce Wolfe, executive officer for the water board.

"We don't agree with that. We believe the Maritime Administration is still responsible for any of the sediment contaminated by the fleet."

Reach Jessica A. York at 707-553-6834 or at jyork@thnewsnet.com.