U.S. Delays Sending Toxic-Laden WW II Ship to China
by Reuters
4 May 2004 (Washington) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday it has delayed sending a decommissioned World War II ship to China because it contains toxic PCBs.
The former USS Crescent City, docked at the former Mare Island Naval shipyard, south of San Francisco, was scheduled to be sent to China for recycling last month.
However, EPA told the ship's owners, Sanship, Inc., that they will need to remove and dispose of the toxic materials before the ship can be sent overseas. Agency and company officials are discussing options to ensure the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are properly taken off the ship.
Before being banned in 1978, PCBs were manufactured in the United States and were commonly used in insulation, oil, paints, industrial equipment, plastics and rubber products.
EPA regulations prohibit the export of materials that contain more than 50 parts per million of PCBs, which have been shown to cause cancer in animals. The EPA found that samples from the ship had PCB concentrations greater than 125,000 parts per million.
"We shouldn't transfer our hazardous materials to other countries that may not be as well-equipped or trained to deal with these materials," said Enrique Manzanilla, spokesman for EPA's Pacific Southwest regional office.
During its two-day inspection, the EPA collected and analyzed more than 20 samples from a wide range of materials on the ship, including oil, paint, gaskets and electrical cables.
The USS Crescent City was used during World War II to transport troops and supplies. Between 1971 and 1995 the ship was used for training exercises at the California Maritime Academy.
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