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Residents and preservationists urge deeper testing before Okaloosa reefs the SS United States ship
Summary
Speakers at the Okaloosa County meeting urged commissioners to require more remediation and testing before sinking the SS United States as an artificial reef, citing alleged high levels of hexavalent chromium and zinc chromate paint across the vessel and pointing to an overseas case where inadequate remediation and storm damage created long‑term hazards.
Multiple public commenters on March 24 urged the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners to pause or require additional remediation before reefing the SS United States. Representatives of the SS United States Preservation Foundation presented laboratory results and cited EPA guidance that list oil, asbestos, PCBs and heavy metals (including chromium and zinc) among materials of concern for vessels placed as artificial reefs.
Justin Ruby, the foundation’s chief sustainability…
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