Governor Kaine Highlights Environmental Efforts of James
River Reserve Fleet
– Removal of chemicals and non-serviceable ships among recent improvements –
NEWPORT NEWS – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today highlighted the environmental preservation efforts at the James River Reserve Fleet (JRRF) based at Fort Eustis. Recent accomplishments include removal of hazardous materials and pollutants from ships slated for disposal and installing a new mooring system to secure ships during storms.
"The progress made here by the U.S. Maritime Administration and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality reinforces the Commonwealth's commitment to protecting water quality and fisheries in the James River," Governor Kaine said. "This cooperation between state and federal agencies has greatly reduced the number of ships in the James River Reserve fleet in an environmentally sound manner."
The JRRF is part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), which is composed of sites in Beaumont, Texas, Suisan Bay, California, and the James River. Ships in the NDRF are classified as either ready reserve force ships (RRF), which can be put back into service in 10-120 days, and non-retention vessels, which are past their serviceable life and are slated for disposal.
Governor Kaine was joined today at Fort Eustis by Deputy Administrator David T. Matsuda of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Adminstration (MARAD) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) Tidewater Regional Director Frank Daniel.
"During the past two administrations, especially the Kaine administration, the number of non-retention ships has been greatly reduced," said Daniel. "Ships with poor hulls, most of the oil, and liquid PCBs have been removed. This has in large measure eliminated the environmental threat from the fleet to the James River."
Additionally, all ships with high- and medium-risk hulls have been removed. Approximately 30 ships have been removed during Governor Kaine's administration.
"We have substantially lowered the risk of environmental damage," said Matsuda. "However, it is not enough for us to have the James River fleet better than it was. We in the Obama Administration want to make this site, and our other fleet sites, the best possible models of environmental management and green practices. We will continue to work side by side with the Commonwealth of Virginia and with all concerned state and local governments."
Since 2001, 84 vessels have been removed from the JRRF site for recycling, including the ship Escape, which left the fleet on September 15. By the end of this year, it is predicted that only about 17 ships will remain in the JRRF.
MARAD now will turn most of its attention to the Suisan Bay Reserve Fleet just north of San Francisco, which has about 56 non-retention vessels – many of which are in worse shape then the remaining JRRF ships. DEQ will continue to monitor the JRRF.
Today's announcement comes as Governor Kaine continues to advance his "Renew Virginia" initiative-an effort to promote renewable energy, create green jobs, and encourage preservation of the environment. During his administration, Governor Kaine has incentivized the production of cleaner energy, surveyed the emissions of facilities previously grandfathered out of the Clean Air act, dedicated over a billion dollars to Chesapeake Bay cleanup, protected nearly 350,000 acres of open space, and led the effort to promote regional cooperation to combat climate change.
For more information on Renew Virginia, visit www.governor.virginia.gov.
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