SS United States and the Dog Days of Summer

by Charles Dragonette

Board of County Commissioners regular meeting: (this was a 5 1/2 hour marathon!)

With no SS United States Reefing Project item on the agenda there was no reason to expect any news from the meeting and there was none. If there’s any significance for us, it is that none of the on-going work requires Commissioners’ action or their vote. No public comment from visitors or any Commissioners’ Minute addressed the SS United States Reefing Project.

To catch everyone up, the last official act by the County was the 16 June vote to accept the final MOA as presented by the Army Corps (USACE) and the Florida State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). Subsequently on 16 July the MOA was signed by the principals and entered into force as a legally binding document.

The Consulting Parties have informed their supporters that this closes the Section 106 review and ended the consulting party status. (But see Other Voices Other Rooms, below). Next steps remain with USACE and have moved from the Regulatory Division that conducted the review to the Permitting Division.

Other County Activity:

We’ve become so used to things being removed from the ship it’s refreshing to report a change. This week will see placement of three plaques from Project donors, probably near the bridge. The County will provide coverage and photos. In addition full LIDAR scans are underway of the interior and exterior to fulfill (and exceed) the requirements of the MOA.

On a past visit to the ship Mike Strasbaugh took some pictures of challenge coins that have been attached high on a beam inside the bridge. They are hard to make out and he’s getting better ones to publish.

The remaining heavy lift from the ship involves her stem anchor, the only original anchor remaining after the port and starboard anchors were lost in Turkey. The stem anchor may be removed by mid-month to be preserved and anchors bought for the deployment put in board using the same crane availability.

Reports from Mobile say the ship’s tanks are being pressed up with river water and that may be done by now. This will increase draft to 21 feet forward and 29 feet aft for tow out. Being contained, this will not damage stability through free surface effect. Coast Guard is engaged as well as engineering firms to check these final deployment boxes.

The SS United States, with windows, mast, and funnels removed, awaits her final journey.

Other Voices, Other Rooms:

If the news both official and anecdotal comes mainly from the County, the NY Coalition and Preservation Foundation claim they’re still in the game.

On 30 July the Coalition’s Matt Lesiw stated, “The last update was the Section 106 close out, nothing since and that will be challenged soon. You might see some changes soon, don’t be surprised.” The update was USACE’s to them of 24 July when the parties were informed the review was ended. I have no idea what “changes” are hoped for or who would make them but, of potential partners already engaged, only the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) has the funds and legal expertise to engage effectively if something is really happening.

Unconnected, the Coalition is planning cooperation with “others”, presumably including the other consulting parties to the Section 106 review, to fight changes to the review process proposed by the Administration through the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). Though the draft future changes do not impact the SSUS Reefing Project, it’s apparent from the ACHP draft that the Section 106 review and resulting MOA in the case of the SSUS and permit SAJ-1996-03565 were consistent with the ACHP’s new goals. The Foundation has not publicly indicated it will join the Coalition challenge to the Administration.

For its part, the Foundation has been otherwise quiet with no representative at the County Commissioners’ meetings since June 16 when they inaccurately claimed the draft MOA being voted on was not final and that more votes would be required as it was modified. That, of course, did not happen.

Thanks to everyone who has kept information flowing! I promise it’s tucked away even if not used here immediately to protect sources.