Depot almost prepared for spills

This story was published Wed, Jun 13, 2001

By Mary Hopkin
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON - Emergency managers have two critical obstacles before they can say they're prepared for a chemical spill at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

That's the report Gov. John Kitzhaber will receive at the end of June from the Oregon Chemical Stockpile Executive Review Panel.

Kitzhaber appointed the 20-member group a year ago to evaluate the ability of the community's emergency crews to protect the public in case of a spill.

The state Department of Environmental Quality permit for the disposal incinerator requires the governor to sign off on the emergency response program before test burning can begin.

The program has come a long way in a year, according to the panel's report.

Even if every "T" isn't crossed, Umatilla County Commissioner Dennis Doherty, a panel member, doesn't think it's wise to postpone testing until every detail is taken care of.

"The primary risk here is the risk of storage," Doherty said. "That's what we have been telling people for years. If we say we need to delay disposal, then we are telling them the risk of storage is acceptable."

In December, there were five critical projects under way that had to be completed by emergency managers.

Now, they've whittled it down to two - upgrading radio communications and purchasing chemical monitoring equipment for first responders, such as firefighters and paramedics.

The need for those monitors was proved during the annual CSEPP exercise May 8.

"Such equipment is vital for re-entry, decontamination and patient treatment operations," the report says. "It was known in advance that even if all actions were performed perfectly, the absence of monitors would result in those measures being graded as failures."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is coming up with the money for 11 hand-held chemical monitors for first responders, which should be delivered by Sept. 30.

In addition, new radios have been ordered.

The panel will issue its final report to Kitzhaber in November.

 

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