Weapons burning scheduled for 2003

This story was published Aug. 7, 2001

By Mary Hopkin
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON - Incineration of 3,717 tons of chemical weapons stored at the Umatilla Chemical Depot won't start until February 2003.

The Army and Washington Demilitarization Co., the contractor that built and will operate the incinerator plant, had expected to start burning in July 2002. But permit modifications on the plant and construction delays pushed back that date.

Engineering changes, coupled with related Department of Environmental Quality permit modifications and construction delays caused by a series of bomb threats and a lack of electricians added to the delays, said Mary Binder, Army spokeswoman.

So did adding the new carbon-filtering system required by the DEQ, said Don Barclay, the Army's site manager. He said the many changes, such as the filtering system, were made for public safety and were well worth the time.

Barclay said the Army will not risk harming the environment or compromising public safety.

Construction began in June 1997 and ended May 10. Since then, teams have been testing every light bulb, socket, pulley and chain, to ensure everything in the 200,000-square-foot plant works properly. Binder said the Army plans to start test burns next summer.

Wayne Thomas of the DEQ said the Army still has plenty to do before it can begin test burns. Engineers must provide the DEQ with certification that the plant meets all state standards.

And the DEQ has to sign off on the trial burn plan, which must be received at least 180 days before testing begins, Thomas said.

In addition, there is still the issue of how secondary waste will be managed, Thomas said.

"It's going to be a very hard effort for not only the Army, but for the state to meet this date, but we are going to do everything we can to make this happen," Thomas said.

Thomas said if unresolved issues remain when February 2003 rolls around, the DEQ will not permit the Army to start burning the weapons.

"The bottom line is public safety and environmental protection," Thomas said. "It's in everybody's interest to start destroying the stockpile as soon as possible, but it must be done in a manner that's safe."

 

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