23 May 2008

NEWSLETTER

REUNION DATES

Our next reunion will be August 26-31, 2008 in Norfolk, VA with our ship.
Members should have received information, forms, etc. in the April Badger.
Reunion information and forms can be downloaded from the home page of our website. www.usswisconsin.org

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REMINDER
If you have not paid your dues, the “M” (for member) next to your name on the website membership roster list has been removed. You will have to submit another application in order to reinstate the “M” indicator. If you believe this was done in error, please contact LaDonna Bradshaw, bb64members@aol.com
Membership Application

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Please keep your email address up to date with LaDonna even if you don’t want it posted online.

Please contact LaDonna Bradshaw, bb64members@aol.com. Or (601) 693-6096
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We are looking for a volunteer piper for our reunion memorial service.
You can contact Bill Lewis by email at bbb64usmc@yahoo.com or by phone (845) 528 -7987
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CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING TO SEE WHO IS ATTENDING THE AUGUST REUNION

REUNION ATTENDEES

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N O T I C E

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BATTLESHIP WISCONSIN TRANSFER.
The City of Norfolk and the Navy are now in the final stages of the donation of the ex-USS Wisconsin. We hope the following will be helpful in answering some of your questions and concerns.

HOW FAR ALONG ARE WE IN THE PROCESS?
The ship transfer is dependent upon 3 separate contract agreements.  The first, the actual Donation Agreement between the Navy and the City, is in final form. This is a basic donation contract is between the Navy and the City which includes a long list of what we can and cannot do to the ship, who we request permission of to make alterations, what the annual inspection is all about, what happens if we default, etc. The other two are separate agreement between the Navy and the EPA and the City of Norfolk and the EPA.

WHAT’S HOLDING THINGS UP?
The major sticking points to getting the ship donated are the two EPA contract/agreements which must be signed prior to finalizing the donation contract. Because the ship may possess items and materials which contain Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), cancer-related chemical compounds outlawed in 1979, the Environmental Protection Agency must 1) approve the donation by the Navy and 2) approve the way the City handles PCBs that may come to light in the future. The EPA is the only organization which can grant exemptions to the Toxic Substances Control Act, which otherwise prohibits the donation or the use of the ship as a memorial or attraction.
PCBs exist in two forms:

• In liquids used for lubrication or coolant in hydraulic oils and in electrical equipment. The liquids are authorized for use in existing older equipment and there are rules about how to deal with spills and disposing of that old equipment.

• In solids such as electrical cables, paint, felt gaskets between sections of AC ducts, a million places. The solids are out-and-out prohibited and are no longer manufactured. By law, without the exemption, the City of Norfolk might have to spend millions to remove all of these solids before ever opening the ship.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT?
To grant the exemptions, the EPA and the Navy must 1), agree on an inventory of actual items of concern, and then 2) the EPA and the City of Norfolk must agree on the processes by which the City, through Nauticus, will handle the PCBs, ensure proper environmental cleaning, and make appropriate reports to the EPA. At this writing, both agreements, in draft form, are being reviewed by the EPA. The EPA has also toured the Wisconsin to determine the extent of potential PCB hazards.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE ASSOCIATION’S VISIT IN AUGUST?
If the donation is completed and the EPA approves limited access to portions of the ship, Nauticus will be very pleased to offer guided tours below decks.

WHEN WILL WE KNOW?
After we agree in principle on the language of the agreements, Nauticus will request the EPA, on an interim basis, clarify limited access rules. These rules will apply only after donation, but before we start turning on ship’s systems that affect PCB exposure, particularly the ventilation system. There are no predictions, but we hope EPA will allow this phased approach to ship access and will recognize that some, if not many, of the areas of the ship are already safe from PCB exposure. Then, we can tour below decks.
The City of Norfolk, through Nauticus, is absolutely committed to providing a safe environment to all visitors, staff and workers who will be involved in the renovations below decks. There are no shortcuts to safety – only the right way to do things! That’s what we promise and what the EPA and the Navy expect
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PENDING APPLICATION
Franklin W. Ward	S1/c 7^th Division	11944-1945
EMAIL ADDITION
Walter Lyons	F1/c A Division	1946-1947
Gary Conaway	SN 1^st Division	1990-1991
John Gibbner John, your email address does not work.	FCSN FM Division	1990-1992
	EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGE
Michael Olson	SH3 S-3 Division	1988-1991
IN MEMORIAM
MEMBER		DATE OF DEATH
Roger J. Gaumont	SN 4^th Division 1952-1953	05/18/2008
LaDonna Bradshaw received the following from Milly Gaumont: Good Morning to all our friends: It is with a broken heart that I share with you that my beloved Roger passed away early this morning.  There was no pain or agony (except in my heart).  Arrangements will be finalized tomorrow.  Ken, please thank all our members for their cards and prayers; if seemed God needed him more. And thanks to all our local friends for all the good wishes. Milly
FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS SHIPMATE