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Of the 87 ships identified as potential polluters by NOAA, 52 were lost in World War II, up and down the Atlantic coastline. Others were lost in crashes, fires and storms, including the Edmund Fitzgerald. That ship's sinking in Lake Superior was turned into a classic 1970s ballad. That ship and another aren't even in U.S. waters but are close enough they can pollute American waters, NOAA officials said. Given that some vessels can't be found and others aren't as big a threat, NOAA has identified 17 ships that have a known location and that need to be investigated further to see if the oil could be removed. Removing oil in advance, before it leaks, is far easier than waiting till after it spills into the water, Symons said. The report is more than about potential pollution, said Jim Delgado, director of marine heritage for NOAA. He said, looking at these wrecks, he was struck by "the incredible human stories wrapped up in these ships." One ship not on the list, but a potential oil pollution threat, is the USS Arizona, the battleship sunk at Pearl Harbor. Symons said it is now a National Park Service monument and that agency and the U.S. Coast Guard are monitoring it for major leaks. The Arizona leaks oil every day, Symons said, adding that some people call them "sailors' tears." Next month, NOAA will examine the W.D. Anderson to see if it can or should be drained of oil, but they will be careful since it is a gravesite for 35 people, Symons said. Terry, the ship's sole survivor is conflicted. "I have friends in there," he said, but added that removing oil from the ship is "a very good idea. For one, it would give me closure. I don't sleep at night."
___ Online: The NOAA report: A searchable list of the 87 wrecks:
http://1.usa.gov/12Q5XiO
http://1.usa.gov/17VearC
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