Ex-USS CHEHALIS Pago Pago Harbor, American Samoa Overview of Fuel Removal Operations CDR Mike Day Circa: 1949

Government  U.S. Coast Guard:  D14  Sector Honolulu  MSD Samoa  Pacific Strike Team  NPFC  Dive Locker East  MLC Pacific  U.S. Navy:  SUPSALV  MDSU-1  CINCPACFLT  USNS SIOUX  Oceania Regional Response Team  U.S. EPA Region 9  Govt of American Samoa  NOAA Public & Private Parties Private  GPC/ESSM  Tug El Lobo Grande II T/B CAPELLA

3 USS CHEHALIS’ Service & Demise Displacement: 4,130 tons Length: 311' Beam: 49' Draft: 14'6" Speed: 15.5 knots (max); 8.8 knots (econ) Armament: 4 3"/50 DP;12 20 mm Complement: 124 Cargo DWT 2,120 Diesel electric engines, twin screws, 3,300 hp

8 Oct 1949 USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago Reported Cargo 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 320,000 gallons of Mogas 70,000 gallons of Avgas 20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. CHEHALIS Timeline USN Board of Inquiry

5 Current Location of Ex-USS CHEHALIS Pago Pago Harbor is located 14°16’S by 170°40’W Pago Pago Harbor is classified as UBC Seismic Zone 3 (ascending scale from 1 – 4).

8 Oct USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago Reported Cargo 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 320,000 gallons of Mogas 70,000 gallons of Avgas 20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM for salvage from USN. USN Board of Inquiry

8 Oct USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago Reported Cargo 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 320,000 gallons of Mogas 70,000 gallons of Avgas 20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage 1959 USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvage USN Board of Inquiry

Oct USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago Reported Cargo 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 320,000 gallons of Mogas 70,000 gallons of Avgas 20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage 1959 USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvage USN Board of Inquiry Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks

9 USS CHEHALIS’ Remaining Cargo The cargo deck and rolling oil-tight hatches (ROTHs) for bulk-fuel tanks B-1 thru B-10 are illustrated. AFT 115’ (approx) ‏ All tanks were inspected by direct visual inspection via diver access through ROTHs. Tanks B-2, B-8, B-9, and B-10 contain 115/145 Avgas. Tanks B-3 and B-6 contain Mogas as indicated by: FORWARD 49.5’ B-10B-8B-6 B-9B-7B-5 B-4 B-2 B-3 B-1 Port Side Starboard Side 15’ 20’ 16’ 9’ 10’ 2” 6” 4” ROTH

10 Satellite Photo of Ex-USS CHEHALIS Proximity Starkist Cannery SamPac Port Facility Pre-School Governor’s Residence B-P Oil Fuel Dock Convention Center Rainmaker Hotel LT Governor’s residence Sadie’s By-the- Sea Lee Auditorium Utulei Beach Samoana HS USS Chehalis

11 ‏ Bow Stern Vessel Resting on Starboard Side Fuel Dock Rainmaker Hotel USS CHEHALIS

Oct USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago Reported Cargo 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 320,000 gallons of Mogas 70,000 gallons of Avgas 20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage 1959 USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvage USN Board of Inquiry Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks 2008 AMSAM & EPA R9 – Petition USCG to remediate

13 From this position, the B-P Oil fuel dock and terminal is on the port side of the M/T AXIOS Location of USS CHEHALIS (approximate) ‏ The port deck rail of CHEHALIS is 120’ below this area M/T Axios often delivers fuel to Pago Pago Harbor. She is 603’ long and has a beam of 105’. Axios’ bulk-fuel capacity is 13 MG.

Oct USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago Reported Cargo 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 320,000 gallons of Mogas 70,000 gallons of Avgas 20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage 1959 USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvage Apr 2009 Phase I – Survey USCG/USN Conduct Dive ops to Quantify fuel remaining USN Board of Inquiry Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks 2008 AMSAM & EPA R9 – Petition USCG to remediate Surveyed Cargo (Estimated) 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 6,000 gallons of Mogas 65,000 gallons of Avgas 1,500 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

Oct USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago Reported Cargo 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 320,000 gallons of Mogas 70,000 gallons of Avgas 20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage 1959 USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvage Phase II – Removal Recoverable Fuel Off-Load Phase I – Survey USCG/USN Conduct Dive ops to Quantify fuel remaining Apr 2010 USN Board of Inquiry Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks 2008 AMSAM & EPA R9 – Petition USCG to remediate Surveyed Cargo (Estimated) 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 6,000 gallons of Mogas 65,000 gallons of Avgas 1,500 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. Apr 2009

Removal (Phase II)

Oct USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago Reported Cargo 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 320,000 gallons of Mogas 70,000 gallons of Avgas 20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage 1959 USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvage Apr 2009 Disposal of Product by Systech (EPA Certified Recycling Center) Cement Kiln Fuel July 2010 Phase II – Removal Recoverable Fuel Off-Load Phase I – Survey USCG/USN Conduct Dive ops to Quantify fuel remaining Apr 2010 USN Board of Inquiry Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks 2008 AMSAM & EPA R9 – Petition USCG to remediate Surveyed Cargo (Estimated) 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 6,000 gallons of Mogas 65,000 gallons of Avgas 1,500 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. Cargo Recovered & Disposed 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 700 gallons of Mogas 53,205 gallons of Avgas 600 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

Oct USS CHEHALIS Scuttled in Pago Pago 20XX Reported Cargo 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 320,000 gallons of Mogas 70,000 gallons of Avgas 20,000 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. CHEHALIS Timeline Ownership of CHEHALIS Transferred to AMSAM Govt. (Signed by Military Gov.) for salvage 1959 USS CURRENT (ARS 22) tasked with conducting Dive Salvage Assessment Ops. Conclusion: Costs of salvage operations far greater than benefits of a successful salvage Apr 2009 Disposal of Product by Systech (EPA Certified Recycling Center) Cement Kiln Fuel July 2010 Phase II – Removal Recoverable Fuel Off-Load Determination of Responsible Party Phase I – Survey USCG/USN Conduct Dive ops to Quantify fuel remaining Apr 2010 USN Board of Inquiry Limited Survey of Vessel by AMSAM: Fuel still in several tanks 2008 AMSAM & EPA R9 – Petition USCG to remediate Surveyed Cargo (Estimated) 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 6,000 gallons of Mogas 65,000 gallons of Avgas 1,500 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle. Cargo Disposed 2,000 rounds of 3” ammunition 16,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition 700 gallons of Mogas 53,205 gallons of Avgas 600 gallons of ship’s propulsion fuel (diesel)‏ Lube oil tank volumes un-determined due to their location below the aft end of the forecastle.

Lessons Learned  Planning Matters: High degree of coordination ensured successful outcomes. Planning for each phase started 6-months prior to each operational phase.  In a remote environment – redundancy and self-sufficiency are an operational imperative.  Survey phase provided valuable insight: Some pushed for one prolonged operation. In hind-sight, survey phase was critical to successful outcomes.  Synchronization of technical expertise: Multi-agency team that leveraged skills, knowledge, and capabilities worked very well. Flexibility of Incident Command System (ICS) allowed for flexibility and full integration of USN assets.

Thank-you

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