[...] "Artificial reefing benefits the economical environment of the respective state receiving the ship by relieving stress on the natural reef," said Capt. Lawrence M. Jones Jr., program manager for the Inactive Ships Program Office, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). "The program also saves tax dollars, which can be recycled into newer technology."

[...] The Reefing Program is budget driven, Jones explained. "Artificial reefing and remediation are about one fourth the cost of totally dismantling and recycling a ship." Jones continued, "The reefing area could also be designated by the receiving state as a memorial or an historical site and benefit the state through tourism, much like the USS Missouri (BB 63) Memorial in Hawaii."

Although historical artifacts had previously been removed for the Curator of the Navy and other materials had been removed by the Oriskany Museum of Oriskany, N.Y., the ship's memory will be further preserved by removing of a section of the wood deck and the ship's name from the transom during environmental preparation work ongoing in Corpus Christi, Texas. These materials will be sent to the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Fla. [...]

(From Navy Newsstand Story Number NNS040209-04, February 9, 2004, by Chief Journalist Milinda D. Jensen, Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs)

[...] The Navy completed a comprehensive 11-month remediation effort on ex-Oriskany in accordance with the draft Best Management Practices for Preparing Vessels Intended to Create Artificial Reefs. The remediation prepared the ship to be sunk as an artificial reef by removing fuels and oils, loose asbestos-containing material, capacitors, transformers or other liquid polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) components, batteries, HALON, mercury, antifreeze, coolants, fire extinguishing agents, black and gray water, and chromated ballast water.

Additionally, the wood flight deck and underlayment were removed due to high PCB concentrations found after the asphalt protective coating had been removed from the flight deck. These measures are intended to ensure that the ex-Oriskany reef is environmentally safe.

Because of the precedent-setting implications of this project, the Navy’s risk assessment model and the resulting risk assessments must undergo a broad-based internal review by EPA, followed by an external peer review. Once these reviews are complete, EPA expects to prepare a draft approval for ex-Oriskany and initiate the public participation process. A final permit decision will be made after the public comment period closes and EPA prepares a response to comments. [...]

(From Navy Newsstand Story Number NNS041213-06, December 13, 2004, by Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs)