Palmetto State News

Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) have announced the start of the final phase of the USS Yorktown Environmental Assessment and Remediation project. This initiative aims to remove hundreds of thousands of gallons of toxic pollutants from the retired aircraft carrier, beginning on February 24, 2025, following a notice to proceed issued on February 17, 2025. The project is part of an executive order from Governor McMaster in 2022 to prevent potential leaks into Charleston Harbor.

"Beginning the final phase of toxic waste removal from the USS Yorktown is critical to protecting the way of life in the Lowcountry," said Governor Henry McMaster. He emphasized that without this action, there would be significant threats to Charleston Harbor's ecosystem and industries like commercial shipping and tourism.

The USS Yorktown was commissioned in 1943 as an Essex-class aircraft carrier and underwent conversions before being decommissioned in 1970. It was then relocated to Charleston Harbor in 1975 by Patriots Point Development Authority. At that time, strict decommissioning procedures were not in place, leaving potentially hazardous materials onboard.

In July 2022, SCOR was tasked with identifying contaminants on the ship and planning their removal. The remediation project received funding through an American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds grant totaling $29.9 million across two phases.

“This project highlights the power of collaboration in tackling complex challenges,” said Chief Resilience Officer Ben Duncan. He credited partners like Research Planning, Inc., and Patriots Point Development Authority for their role in completing immediate repairs.

The cleanup effort is urgent due to ongoing corrosion risks with no current leaks reported. However, potential leaks could damage local natural resources significantly. Phase I concluded with an environmental assessment identifying contaminants and necessary repairs completed by December 2023.

“The Yorktown is a valuable historical asset for our area and state," said Representative Tom Hartnett Jr., expressing gratitude for prioritizing environmental protection alongside historical preservation efforts.

Phase II will focus on removing fuel oil and other contaminants over ten months using findings from Phase I conducted by HEPACO LLC.