Save Our Sub
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Launched |
Commissioned |
Illustrious Service |
Decommissioned |
Awaiting Disposition |
Future? |
SOS –Save Our Sub
Dear Drum Shipmates, Fellow Submariners and Friends, Did you receive your tax rebate, win a lottery lately, or maybe just have lots of money? We need your help! Can you spare $25, $50, $100, $200, or more to Save Our Sub? The MIHPF - Mare Island Historic Park Foundation - is at a point where they need additional funds to move forward with their efforts to obtain and restore the USS Drum SSN-677. So, your contribution is needed now! The folks at the MIHPF, mostly volunteers, have been working very hard preparing proposals, making plans, meeting with Navy, Government and Political officials trying to wrestle the Drum away from the scrap yard. Some of this work gets frustrating, so imagine the encouragement they would get if financial support started flowing especially from former Crewmen and Submariners. In addition to a personal donation, you can also help with the fundraising efforts by asking your family, friends and co-workers to consider sending in a donation. Also, please check with your employer to see if they will match your donation. You can send your donation by check (payable to Mare Island Historic Park Foundation) to: Mare Island Historic Park Foundation If you prefer to get more information about the MIHPF, then send your name and mailing address to Ken Zadwick (e-mail: kenzad01@sbcglobal.net), and he will send you a pamphlet and donation application. IMPORTANT! Please make sure you identify yourself as a Drum Crewman. We want to make sure that our shipmates are properly recognized. The MIHPF is a 501(C)(3) publicly supported, non-profit organization, so your donation is tax deductible. The following documents will give you some background and status of the Drum donation efforts. Let’s Save Our Sub! Yours truly, Rick Wetmore (rdwetmore@ussdrum.org) Former ET1 (SS) Drum Plankowner
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Message from Ken
Zadwick, Founder and President of the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation Congress has
authorized the Now it is critical that we all invest in the process
required by the Navy before the USS DRUM can make the journey from the
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Much work has been done to prepare for the coming of
the DRUM to the place where she was built in 1970.
The DRUM was the last of 513 ships to be built at the yard founded
by David Glasgow Farragut in 1854. The
Foundation has in place long-term agreements to use berthing space at the The USS DRUM will be the centerpiece of
the National Historic Landmark established in 1975 to honor The investment in the Drum project will bring many thousands of tourists to restore the economy lost when the Shipyard closed in 1996. A highly experienced consulting firm, Economic Research Associates, has confirmed these projections in a report abut the DRUM display project. The DRUM will join the Historic Landmark properties
managed by the Foundation. These
include the 1901 St. Peter’s Chapel with it’s 29 Tiffany Stained Glass
windows, the Shipyard Commander’s Mansion
, the 1855, 50,000 sq. ft. Artifacts Museum, and the huge There is only limited time to raise the needed funds. We must not miss out on the opportunity to save the DRUM from the cutting torch. This historic submarine represents a very important era in our Country’s history. The display will honor the Submariners of the cold war, and the Shipyard employees who toiled to make her. Your generous donation or multiyear pledge will assure the success of the long efforts of all the donors and volunteers. Sincerely,
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September 5, 2003 The Honorable George Miller Dear Congressman Miller: We are writing to request that you coordinate the
joint signature of the attached letter to the Secretary of the Navy
requesting that the Navy fund and perform the engineering and cost
estimates necessary to refine their previous class F cost estimates for
donation of the USS DRUM to the City of You have been instrumental to date in efforts to
preserve and display the USS DRUM to honor The Navy has requested that the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation fund additional Navy engineering and cost estimates on a reimbursable basis with an upfront payment of $198,000. The point paper enclosed with the attached letter outlines why requiring the MIHPF to fund these Navy required studies is inappropriate and, further, that Navy funding of these studies is: - in the Best interest of Navy, the City and MIHPF - within discretionary authority of the Navy - is consistent with the intent of Congress Among other positive outcomes of Navy funding the refinement of their previously provided cost estimates the refined cost estimate may identify a $3,270,000 cost savings opportunity for Navy by approving the Donation in lieu of recycling the ship. We have enclosed a letter to the Secretary of the Navy for signature by you , Congressman Thompson and Senators Boxer and Feinstein urging the Navy to complete their required engineering studies and cost estimates. Thank you for your attention to this matter. If we can provide you with any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact either of us. Sincerely, Anthony J. Intintoli, Jr.
Ken Zadwick Attachment cc: Senator Dianne Feinstein Senator Barbara Boxer Congressman Mike Thompson
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Mare Island Historic Park Foundation Point paperPurpose:This
point paper has two purposes. -
To establish that it is within the authority, and in the best interest,
of the Navy to fund the engineering and design studies necessary to refine
their previous class F cost estimates for donation of the USS DRUM to the City
of Vallejo (City) represented by the Mare
Island Historic Park Foundation (MIHPF). -
To provide a plan of action and milestones (POAM) to cause the Navy to
exercise their discretion to fund and proceed with refining their cost
estimates within the next fiscal year. Navy Funding of Engineering and Design studiesThe
acquisition of the USS DRUM by the MIHPF on behalf of the City has been
delayed since March of 2000 when the Navy responded to the City’s
application for donation of the ship advising that the City’s
application for the ship would not be approved until such time as the
estimates for the cost of donating the ship were refined.
Further, the Navy advised that the cost of $198K needed to refine
these estimates was to be borne by the City or MIHPF.
It should be noted that the estimates in question were provided by
Navy in 1998 at MIHPF request specifically for the purpose of inclusion in
the City’s application and related business plan.
This point paper establishes that Navy funding of engineering and
design studies is in the best interest of the Navy, City and MIHPF; is
within the discretionary authority of Navy; and is consistent with the
intent of Congress. As background1.
Legislation (Public Law 104-201, Subtitle B, Section 1023) was
signed into law in 1996 directing the Secretary of the Navy to donate the
Drum to the City of -
A ship donation application is satisfactorily completed -
The donation is made at no cost to the 2.
In November of 1998 the Navy advised the MIHPF that: -
no work will be done on the DRUM to prepare it for donation until
after an application is approved; -
based on preliminary estimates the cost of donation exceeds the
cost to recycle by $410K and the MIHPF would be liable for this amount.
However due to the inaccuracy associated with the estimate for the
donation workload package ($9.21M ±40%) the possibility exists that
either Navy could realize a significant cost savings or the MIHPF
liability could increase significantly.
The possible outcomes range from a $3.27M savings for Navy to a
cost to the MIHPF of $4.09M. -
engineering and design studies to better define unbudgeted efforts
are estimated to cost $198K and would be a liability of the MIHPF to fund 3.
June 1999 City of 4.
March 2000 Navy responds to application advising that: -
a “minimum” of $198K is needed immediately from the MIHPF to
fund Navy activities to refine the Navy estimates Navy Funding is in the Best interest of Navy, the City and MIHPFBy
funding the engineering and design studies necessary for the Navy to
refine their estimates all parties will realize a number of positive
outcomes as follows: -
The true Navy cost of donation will be refined allowing better decision
making by all parties. -
Based on the existing Navy cost estimate, this refined cost estimate may
identify a $3.27M cost savings opportunity for Navy. -
The refined estimate will eliminate over $7M in uncertainty from the
existing MIHPF business plan due to the inaccuracy of the current Navy
estimates. -
The refined cost estimate will provide the City and MIHPF will a much
more accurate picture of the capitalization requirements for operating the
DRUM monument. -
The refined estimate will allow decision making process for all parties
to move forward allowing either donation or recycling to proceed. -
Expedited decision making regarding the donation will eliminate or
reduce ongoing Navy caretaker costs associated with berthing and
maintaining the USS DRUM. Navy Funding is within Navy Discretionary AuthorityIt
is clear that the Navy has the discretion/authority to fund the cost of
the estimate for engineering and design studies.
It is a rather insignificant amount in the larger order of Navy’s
ship recycling program. The
legislation directs the Navy to donate the ship provided the
“donation” is at no increased cost to the Navy Funding is Consistent with the Intent of CongressCongress
acted in a somewhat unique manner regarding the donation of the USS DRUM
in that the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) was given no discretion in the
donation of the ship to the City. Typically,
legislation would authorize to SECNAV to make such a donation by using the
word “may,” but in this case, Congress use the word “shall.”
The use of this language makes clear Congress’s intent and places
a clear obligation on the Navy to exercise available discretion in favor
of the donation. Such
discretion would include funding of the refinement of the Navy’s cost
estimates.
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