EPA Delays Shipment of Decommissioned Vehicle

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that a decommissioned World War II ship, docked at a California port, cannot be shipped to China due to high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls on the vessel.

The EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act prohibits the export of materials containing more than 50 parts per million of PCBs. The EPA analyzed samples from the ship and identified PCB concentrations greater than 125,000 parts per million.

The former USS Crescent City was to be sent to China to be scrapped for recycling last month. However, this week the EPA told the ship owners, Sanship, Inc. that they will need to properly remove and dispose of the toxic materials before the ship can be transported overseas.

"The EPA prohibits older ships from being sent overseas in situations where high levels of PCBs can end up endangering the health and safety of workers in other countries," said Enrique Manzanilla, director of the cross media division for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "We shouldn't transfer our hazardous materials to other countries that may not be as well-equipped or trained to deal with these materials."

During the two-day inspection, the EPA collected and analyzed more than 20 samples from a wide range of materials on the ship, including oil, paint, gaskets and electrical cables.

The EPA and the ship's owner are currently discussing options to ensure proper disposal of PCBs on the ship.