Navy cancels RFP for USS Enterprise

The U.S. Navy has decided to cancel its earlier issued request for proposal for the commercial recycling of the nonnuclear portions of ex-USS Enterprise (CVN 65). In deciding to table the RFP, which was first published August 2016, the Navy has not offered any other action to be taken with the aircraft carrier.

The Navy has identified that it seeking more information on what to do with the USS Enterprise in regard to proper disposal, including the reactor plants, which is more technically executable, environmentally responsible and is an effective use of Navy resources. No decision on a preferred approach has been made to this point.

Several options that the Navy is considering includes the commercial recycling of the nonnuclear portions of the ship, followed by reactor compartment packaging at the Navy’s Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS&IMF) in Washington; or the commercial recycling of the entire ship, which includes dismantling the eight defueled reactor plants. The Navy also is considering another option that looks at placing CVN 65 in intermediate-term storage for a limited number of years and deferring a disposal decision for a later date.

The CVN 65 inactivation availability at Virginia’s Newport News Shipbuilding should conclude in August 2017. After that time, CVN 65 will be placed into temporary storage until the path ahead for disposal is determined. The Navy says it is working to identify a storage location.

The Navy says it will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate potential environmental impacts associated with each of the alternatives being considered. The EIS process will include the conduct of public scoping meetings and ensure the Navy understands public concerns with the alternatives.

Other aspects associated with the alternatives include executability, cost and regulatory considerations, which will continue to be evaluated in parallel with the preparation of the EIS.

The Navy says that it is taking these steps to ensure CVN 65 is recycled in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner. Given the complexities of the issues involved in recycling CVN 65, the Navy adds that it remains committed to a fully open and public process for conducting the first-ever disposal of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.