Yorktown, S.C. — Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) announced that the final phase for the USS Yorktown Environmental Assessment and Remediation project will start on February 24th.

“Beginning the final phase of toxic waste removal from the USS Yorktown is critical to protecting the way of life in the Lowcountry,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “Without removal, this waste seriously threatens the Charleston Harbor’s fragile ecosystem and the industries that define it—including commercial shipping and tourism. This undertaking ensures that our coastline remains protected.”

This comes after the Governor signed an Executive Order in 2022, calling on state agencies to remove more than 160,000 gallons of pollutants which could be detrimental to Charleston Harbor’s ecosystem. 

The USS Yorktown was an attack aircraft carrier in the 1950s. It was decommissioned in 1970 and donated to Patriots Point Development Authority and relocated to the Charleston Harbor in 1975.

The first phase of the project wrapped up in December of 2023 and included an environmental assessment study that identified the location and quantity of contaminates, as well as the completion of immediate repairs necessary to prepare the ship for the remediation process. 

This phase extracted 568,000 gallons of oily water, removed over eight tons of sludge and mud, disposed of four tons of asbestos waste, and 35 external hull repairs.

“The Yorktown is a valuable historical asset for our area and state, symbolizing America’s navel history in both war and peace. It is our responsibility to preserve it for future generations while protecting our environment,” said Representative Tom Hartnett Jr.

The next phase will involve the removal of fuel oil and other contaminants from the vessel including oily water, contaminated oils and liquids, and asbestos-containing piping insulation. The project is expected to be completed within ten months.