Barbara Boxer: Commerce Committee Passes Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill

Includes Boxer Provision on Suisun Bay; Legislation requires an environmentally sound plan for storing and disposing of "mothballed" World War II vessels

August 2, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee today passed the Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill, including language by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) that addresses her concerns about “mothballed” World War II vessels rotting in the Suisun Bay.

Boxer said, “I want to see these rotting ships moved out of the Bay, but first we need to make certain that we don’t cause more environmental damage in the process. This language will help ensure that we are moving forward in the most efficient, environmentally safe, and cost-effective manner possible. I want to thank the Senate Commerce Committee and in particular, Senator Maria Cantwell, for working with me to address this important issue in a way that respects environmental laws.”

The language included by Senator Boxer in the Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill states that within 30 days after enactment, the Secretary of Transportation must convene a working group, including senior representatives of MARAD, the Coast Guard, EPA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Navy, to review and make recommendations on environmental practices for the storage and disposal of the vessels.

The language also states that within 90 days after enactment, the Secretary of Transportation must submit a plan to the Senate Commerce and EPW Committees, as well as the House Armed Services Committee, on how to improve storage and disposal of the vessels in an environmentally sensitive way. Finally, the bill requires that the relevant federal agencies implement a disposal plan that is in accord with both federal and state laws.

There are currently 73 deteriorating National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels that have been rotting in Suisun Bay, California since the end of World War II. More than two-thirds of those vessels are beyond repair and awaiting disposal at sites around the country. Before MARAD can transfer the ships to the recycling facilities, the Coast Guard requires that the hulls be cleaned of any organic matter to ensure no invasive species are transported to other waters. Unfortunately, during this cleaning process, toxic paint flakes off the ships into the water, posing a serious health and environmental risk to Suisun Bay and the surrounding community.

Source: Senator Barbara Boxer