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Navy Ship Still Heading To Bottom To Become Reef

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A Delaware official says Navy plans to recycle rather than sink four retired warships won't affect plans to scuttle a destroyer off the coast of Maryland.

The coordinator of the artificial reef program for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control says the ship is to be sunk this year. Jeff Tinsman says the department is working with the Navy and the federal environmental officials to prepare the ship and receive approval.

Crews are removing asbestos and other hazardous materials from the destroyer in a Philadelphia shipyard A Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman says the decision to scrap four other ships was an economic one made in response to high prices for scrap metal.

An environmental group says the ship should be recycled and not sunk.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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