Caldwell: No decision on CVN-65 disposal method for more than a year

The Navy does not have a preferred option yet for disposing of the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and does not anticipate reaching that decision for another year, according to a top admiral overseeing the process.

The comments from Adm. James Caldwell, director of the naval nuclear propulsion program, followed remarks by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson at a Washington think tank today.

"As CNO said, we’re doing this correctly. We're studying options to see what’s affordable [and] we have an environmental impact statement that we're working on right now to look at several alternatives," Caldwell said.

"We don't currently have a preferred alternative, but we're working our way through that. I think it's going to take a year or more before we get the answer," he continued.

The Government Accountability Office issued a report in August about some of the methods the Navy is considering for disposing of the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN-65), Inside the Navy reported.

CNO added this is a "very predictable challenge" and that the Navy would dispose of CVN-65 in an "environmentally responsible" way.