USS Chehalis Assessment; Pago Pago, American Samoa

Pago Pago, American Samoa | 2009-May-03

Initial Notification: This hotline will follow progress on a salvage assessment being conducted by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard on the sunken USS Chehalis. The assessment of the vessel's condition and fuel load is being conducted in preparation for potentially pumping off the remaining fuel later this year. The USS Chehalis reportedly has been periodically releasing small amounts of oil ever since it sank in Pago Pago Harbor in 1949. The salvage assessment in being conducted by US Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving and the Navy Mobile Underwater Diving Salvage Unit out of Honolulu, with logistical support from the US Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team, the US Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment in American Samoa, US Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, and US Coast Guard District 14. The assessment activities are scheduled to occur from April 23 through May 9, 2009. A previous assessment conducted by American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency indicated that the fuel remaining aboard the vessel includes 40,000 gallons of motor gasoline ("Mogas"), 70,000 gallons of aviation gasoline ("Avgas") and 5000 gallons of marine diesel. There is also ammunition aboard.