The final hurdle was cleared last week for the sinking of retired Navy carrier USS Oriskany, following years of delays in preparing the giant veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars for its final deployment.

The Environmental Protection Agency has given the go-ahead for approximately 700 pounds of the chemical toxin PCB to remain aboard when the ship is sunk off Pensacola late this spring if all goes according to schedule—which would be a first in the long struggle to create the world’s largest artificial reef. More than 2,500 Oriskany veterans originally planned on attending the ship’s scuttling almost two years ago. Hurricanes, permitting and the death of one of the lead project scientists conspired to postpone the event.

“The Oriskany puts Pensacola on the plans for virtually any diver or fisherman in the country,” said Ed Schroeder, Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce tourism director, commenting on the revitalization

the future reef will play in the city’s hurricane-savaged tourism industry.

If all goes as planned, the 900-foot-plus carrier will get a 5-day tow from Texas March 2, with a target sinking date of May 15. The Oriskany is the first of 20 retired ships the Navy hopes to convert to reefs rather than scrap.

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