Firm moving ahead with plans to revive Mare Island dry docks

Firm moving ahead with plans to revive Mare Island dry docks
By Jessica A. York/Times-Herald staff writer
Posted: 07/17/2009

Just 24 steps could lower Mare Island shipyard's future air, soil, visual and noise pollution to nonexistent levels, city officials say.

The Vallejo Planning Division recently released an environmental impact assessment on a proposed venture that would put two cavernous 13-year-vacant dry docks back into service.

The study finds that likely environmental impacts from a proposed ship and marine-related business could be alleviated through certain steps.

California Dry Dock Solutions is seeking to perform ship re-fit, maintenance, repair, overhaul, new construction and dismantling, according to a city planning division notice.

Some mitigation measures include review for any new site construction and/or demolition, a limitation on docked and moored ships at any given time, specific dump truck operating times, airborne debris oversight, compliance with local and state oversight agency regulations and noise and emission-reducing equipment.

California Dry Dock Solutions, still must gain Army Corps of Engineers go-ahead to dredge more than a dozen years of sludgy sediment buildup in the Mare Island Strait before the former naval base docks can reopen.

The company took dredge sediment samples last week, and are awaiting unofficial results on the soil's toxicity levels. Official results will not be formalized for at least six weeks, said company CEO Jay Anast.

The company is in talks to secure federal contracts to dis-assemble four vessels anchored with Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, otherwise referred to as the Mothball fleet, without which the company will have difficulty negotiating a lease with property owner Lennar Mare Island, a spokesman for the company said. Lease discussions are planned in the near future, Lennar Mare Island spokesman Jason Keadjian wrote in an e-mail.

Those interested in providing written comment on the recommended environmental impact mitigation -- known as mitigated negative declaration, have until Aug. 7 to do so.

A public copy of the study is available in the Planning Division at Vallejo City Hall, 555 Santa Clara St., or online at www.ci.vallejo.ca.us under e-government, downloadable documents, Planning Division (http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/GovSite/default.asp?serviceID2=Documents).

A public hearing before the Vallejo Planning Commission will follow a month later, on Sept. 9.

Contact staff writer Jessica A. York at (707) 553-6834 or jyork@thnewsnet.com.