Posted on 03/04/2005 8:18:56 AM PST by StuLongIsland
Judge Dismisses Groups' Complaint About "Ghost Fleet" Disposal
(AP) - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by two environmental groups objecting to plans for 13 deteriorating vessels in the so-called James River Ghost Fleet to be towed to Great Britain for dismantling and scrapping.
The lawsuit, filed in the fall of 2003 by Basel Action Network and the Sierra Club, claimed that the export of the aging ships would violate federal environmental laws.
But U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer's ruling Wednesday night clears the way for as many as nine retired ships moored in the James River to be towed to Great Britain this summer, where they will join four other ships now awaiting dismantling.
It also was a victory for the U.S. Maritime Administration, which has until September 2006 to dispose of more than 100 obsolete ships in reserve fleets in Virginia, Texas, California and Alabama. About 70 are part of the James River fleet.
The vessels, some of which date to World War II, are seen as environmental hazards because they contain toxic polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, asbestos and other hazardous materials. Some also have hulls so thin they can be pierced with a hammer.
The environmental groups sued claiming the effort to send the 13 ships to England would violate laws banning the export of hazardous waste. Collyer allowed the first four ships to depart last year, but issued a temporary restraining order blocking the rest from leaving the James until after a further review by the court.
Since 2001, the Maritime Administration said it has removed 38 ships from the James River fleet. That includes 12 disposal contracts that were awarded last year for some of the most environmentally risky vessels moored just off Fort Eustis in Newport News.
Despite losing its lawsuit, the Sierra Club claimed a victory Thursday.
"The Bush administration's decision to move these toxic ships was reckless," said Aaron Isherwood, an attorney for the Sierra Club. "Just bringing this case to court brought the time and scrutiny needed to reduce safety risks at home and abroad."
The environmentalists did not say whether they would appeal the ruling.
(Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
What did they want us to do? Allow them to just sink at their moorings?
So they want to keep these boats here??????????? That doesn't make any sense!
The havoc we could reek witha battleship.
Lets pool our money and buy one. This will be the Flagship for Freerepublic
Do they have a battleship? My, that would be fun. We could sail up to New York and shell the UN headquarters.
Not sure but I will investigate.
Even a destroyer would do a nice job on all those windows.
Can you imagine the horror of the enviromentalists!!!!! Us Freepers driving around in a boat with toxins in it. What a fun picture!
They're not battleships. They're unbelievably decrepit, falling apart World War II cargo ships.
Damn, I was hoping for some serious fire power. Should just sink them in the deep ocean and let them become reefs.
i'd say they were about five to ten wide in the river, mostly bow to stern for miles...
i've prolly been shaving with them for years by now though
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