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County moves ahead with two vessels for artificial reef program; officials address contamination concerns
Summary
Okaloosa County commissioners approved contracts to acquire two vessels for deployment as artificial reefs and discussed environmental testing and regulatory compliance including PCB removal and paint contaminants.
Okaloosa County commissioners on Aug. 19 approved single‑source contracts with a contractor for purchase, transport and remediation of two vessels — the Bell Reynolds and the Henry Alex — that county staff identified as candidates for the county’s artificial reef program.
Natural Resources/Marine staff (presented by Miss Adams) said the Bell Reynolds had been idle in Louisiana and the Henry Alex is an offshore supply vessel about 225 feet long. The vendor has worked with the county on prior reef deployments, and staff said the contractor’s prices were below recent purchases for similar vessels.
Commissioners and members of the public raised environmental questions. A public commenter (Nicole Chase) earlier addressed the National Historic Preservation Act and environmental sampling for the SS United States, noting lab results for paint compounds; commissioners asked whether hexavalent chromium or PCBs present on older vessels could pose diver safety or ecological risks. Miss Adams said that vessels built before 1980 commonly contain PCBs and that the county now follows EPA guidance and removes PCBs during reef preparation. “The USS Oriskany that was deployed 20 years ago got a waiver to leave those PCBs on board. That proved to be a very bad idea, and that’s why PCBs are no longer allowed on artificial reefs,” she said.
A commissioner asked whether hexavalent chromium levels could harm divers; staff responded that the primary diver safety concern is structural and navigation hazards (risk of entrapment), not penetration of dive gear by particulate contaminants. Commissioners also asked whether the Gulf Test Range or the U.S. military might acquire vessels; staff said the military has on occasion acquired vessels for training and that could offset county costs.
The board approved the contracts unanimously. Staff said the two vessels are funded from the county’s five‑year artificial reef plan and that purchases may be paid for by partnerships if the military or other entities purchase deployments.
Ending: Staff said they will follow required environmental remediation procedures before deployment and return with cost details about burying utilities or additional deployment considerations as needed.
