SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The U.S. Navy is resuming its practice of using old warships for target practice and sinking them in U.S. coastal waters after a nearly two-year moratorium spurred by environmental and cost concerns.
Later this month, the Navy plans to send three vessels — Kilauea, Niagara Falls and Concord — to a watery grave off Hawaii by battering them with torpedoes and other ordinance during the Rim of the Pacific naval exercises.
A Navy official told The Associated Press the moratorium had been lifted on Sinkex, short for sinking exercise, last year after a review of the requirements, costs, benefits and environmental impacts of the program.
Environmental groups who sued in federal court to halt Sinkex are asking the Navy to continue the moratorium until the case is settled.
