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By Jaedda Armstrong
NORFOLK
It's been a long time coming, but in a matter of months, the Wisconsin finally may be Norfolk's battleship.
The Navy agreed to donate the battleship to the city in late 2007 for use as a floating museum, but it's taken much longer than expected to fulfill environmental requirements, said John Elliker, who's managing the project for the city.
The Wisconsin, one of the largest and last battleships built by the Navy, attracted about 212,000 people last year, according to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum.
In a survey, 85 percent of visitors said access to the interior of the ship would have improved their visit. Because the ship is so large, officials want to offer opportunities for people to come back again to see something new.
The delay stems from hazardous materials that might be on board, polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs.
PCBs have been used, in a liquid form, as coolants and lubricants in electrical equipment because they don't burn easily and are good insulators.
Their manufacture was stopped in 1977 because of evidence that they build up in the environment and can cause harmful health effects.
Navy ships built before 1979, such as the Wisconsin, may contain PCBs.
The Navy has removed most of the liquid PCBs inside the battleship. Under the terms of the handover from the Navy, the city needs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to approve a plan to test the air inside the ship for PCBs.
A few months ago, as the plan was awaiting approval, the EPA informed the city that it may change its testing standard and the plan cannot be approved until the new standard is established.
It's not clear when that will happen. To keep the Wisconsin project moving along, city officials are asking the EPA to allow them to test using an estimation of the new standard. An EPA spokeswoman declined to comment on the negotiations, except to say that the agreement "will provide for a safe environment for the people on the ship."
Elliker said he expects to have EPA approval in about two months.
The city has budgeted $839,000 for the environmental work, but Elliker said the actual cost is expected to be lower.
Visitors can tour the ship's deck for free now, but once the interior opens, they'll have to pay the Nauticus admission charge: currently $10.95 for adults and $8.50 for children ages 4 to 12.
The plan is to open the ship's interior in phases over the next several years.
"It's going to be a terrific addition to the downtown area," Elliker said. "Progress is being made."
Jaedda Armstrong, (757) 222-5846, jaedda.armstrong@pilotonline.com
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Seems to me ----
With the economy in the state it's in, it might just make more sense to leave the admission at ZERO for the first year. A lot of people would probably love to see this ship, but the admission, being at about fifty dollar for a family of four, could well be spent in nearby restraunts or shops instead. Sure would help some of the local merchants.
What?
If the Navy is taking care of getting the materials in question out of the ship,---- why does Norfolk need to spend $839,000 dollars for?
EPA my Aunt Nunie!
The EPA couldn't regulate their way out of a wet paper bag of fly ash. Why are the present standards for measuring PCBs not good enough? The PCBs are contained in cable and paint in small amounts. Any that leach into the air can be removed by ventilation. Any that run out of a cable can be cleaned up. Why the wait? Ans. No one wants to take the responsibility for giving the OK.
They could use the berthing
They could use the berthing for homeless people as well.
interior
I'm glad they're going to open it up. I had the chance to tour the inside of the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor and was really impressed. Seeing the interior is very enlightening and gives an excellent sense of what life was like for sailors in WW II. By way of comparison, general admission to the Mo is $16, with various guided tours going as high as $45. The USS North Carolina in Wilmington, probably a more similar situation to the Wisconson, costs $12, so $10.95 is in line with similar attractions.
Where's stimulus money when you need it?
Surely, someone with White House connections (are you listening Governor?) could get them to drop a couple of million on this project. What's a couple of million bucks? CHICKEN FEED in today's government largesse!
:)
I like the way you think
Combat Exchange
I think it is the Combat Information Center (CIC) Not the Combat Exchange Center!!
Admission will kill it
The admission price is going to kill visits to the ship, especially at that high a rate. If admission was $5 or less, it might work, but not eight or ten. I can hear it now: "Nice attraction, but too expensive. Let's go somewhere else, family."
Admission
Look at admission prices for other Battleships across the country. The USS New Jersey starts at $18.95 for adults. The Missouri starts at $16. Neither of these include museum admission, which will be included in the Wisconsin. $10.95 sounds like a bargain to me, and I'm looking forward to visiting!