PENSACOLA, Fla. – A federal lawsuit filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida seeks to halt Okaloosa County’s plan to sink the historic ocean liner SS United States off the Gulf Coast. The SS United States Preservation Foundation, represented by co‑founder Steven R. Perry, alleges that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the project without completing a full environmental impact statement and without adequately addressing historic preservation concerns.
Legal claims focus on environmental and historic review
The foundation’s complaint asserts that the Corps failed to consider the presence of hazardous contaminants, including hexavalent chromium found in some of the ship’s original coatings. Experts consulted by the foundation warned that these substances could leach into marine life, sediment and the Gulf’s food chain. The suit also claims the county’s historic‑preservation review was deficient, noting that historic elements of the vessel were removed while the review was still underway.
Matt Lesiw, secretary of the preservation foundation, said, “Proceeding with an irreversible sinking while those scientific questions remain unanswered sets a troubling precedent.” The foundation does not oppose artificial‑reef projects in principle, but it urges officials to select a different vessel—suggesting a decommissioned SL‑7 fast sealift ship as a more suitable alternative.
County officials tout economic and environmental benefits
Okaloosa County officials have promoted the artificial reef as both an economic development opportunity and an environmental asset. They argue the sunken ship will become a premier diving attraction and a habitat for marine life, describing the project as “an exciting move forward to create a one‑of‑a‑kind resource for the environment and for our tourism industry.” The county plans to tow the ship from Mobile, Ala., and sink it approximately 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin in mid‑November, weather permitting.
Background on the SS United States
Launched in 1952, the SS United States still holds the trans‑Atlantic speed record for an ocean liner and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. After decades docked on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, the vessel was moved to Alabama last year for preparation as an artificial reef.
Next steps in the courtroom
The foundation filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, seeking to stop the scheduled tow and deployment. If the court grants the injunction, the sinking could be delayed pending a more thorough environmental and historic review.
Action News has reached out to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for comment but has not received a response at the time of publication.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
