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Officials: Navy Divers Aware Of Previous Death

ABERDEEN, Md. (AP) -- Officials say two Navy divers who died at a military testing center in Maryland this week were made aware of a previous death at the site just weeks earlier.

The two divers died Tuesday during a routine operation at the Aberdeen Proving Ground's Underwater Test Facility, known as the "Super Pond," where an Army technician died Jan. 30 while performing maintenance.

Aberdeen officials said Friday that this week's dive was planned before Jan. 30 and remained scheduled by agreement between Navy and Aberdeen officials.  Officials said the Navy team made appropriate risk assessments and used its own procedures, equipment and personnel.

The Jan. 30 incident resulted in halting of operations supporting civilian dive operations and a safety stand down.

The underwater test site remains closed while the deaths are investigated.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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