Depot permit focus of hearing

Published Dec. 8, 2001

Karen Zacharias
Herald Oregon bureau

PORTLAND - Army officials claimed Friday that the public review process is delaying efforts to quickly dispose of one of the nation's largest stockpiles of chemical agents at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

"The public process needs to commiserate with the facility schedule so as not to continue to push that schedule out," Don Barclay, project manager for the Umatilla incinerator, told the state's Environmental Quality Commission in Portland.

The Army already is 18 months behind its original schedule for burning the chemical weapon agents. The Army hopes to start test burning by May with burning of agents to begin in early 2003.

But Barclay said officials fear holding public hearings on the incineration permit could delay them further.

"My focus is to keep the facility on schedule to reduce the risk to citizens in the Mid-Columbia Basin," he said.

Friday's hearing was one of several the state is holding to consider a request from the state Department of Environmental Quality. The DEQ is asking that the Army be required to obtain written consent from the state's environmental agencies before beginning any incineration, tests or otherwise.

So far, any delays have been because of the Army's own problems, said Wayne Thomas, manager of DEQ's chemical demilitarization program.

"There have been no delays in construction of the incinerator as a result of permitting actions or requirements from our agency," he said.

But incinerator officials testified that continued modifications to the incinerator permit would further slow the project.

Barclay also said some of DEQ's permit requirements are unnecessary. "They are not clearly defined, and we're not sure they'll be identified early enough for us to get on schedule," he said.

Dave Nylander, manager for Washington Demilitarization Co., the contractor responsible for burning the agents, added that the Army had not envisioned a formal public hearing process on the permits but rather "more of an open forum."

Commissioner Harvey Bennett responded by chiding project officials.

"If the word 'reduce' risk could be changed to 'remove' risk, we wouldn't be having these discussions. But you say 'reduce the risk.' The fact is you can't remove the risk until the project is done," Bennett said.

The Army opposes several parts of DEQ's permit modification request. In particular, it has denied DEQ's request for unescorted access to the site.

Lt. Col. Fred Pellissier, depot commander, said he is trying obtain security clearance for Thomas. But he said it is not safe for Thomas or others to roam the site without an Army escort.

"Unfortunately, we have soldiers with weapons and bullets. They might shoot anybody walking around without an escort," Pellissier said.

Despite the security concerns, Thomas said it is important that the agency have unescorted access to the site at any time.

"We need for our inspectors to be able to inspect the facility at any time, to be able to go on the facility 24/7 to see what's happening. It can take hours if we have to wait for an Army escort," he said.

Thomas stopped short of suggesting the Army is manipulating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to restrict public involvement. But he did say the Army is hindering the state's efforts and the public review process.

"After the events of Sept. 11, the Army's mode of operation is much more sensitive to security issues, and our access to information has been impeded on several occasions," he said.

Most recently, the Army notified Thomas that President Bush signed an order giving the Army construction authority that overrides any state laws. That order states that the "armed forces, the Secretary of Defense, without regard to any other provision of law, may undertake military construction projects ... not otherwise authorized by law."

At Umatilla, Pellissier responded by declining to submit a permit application for storage of secondary wastes. That application had been due Oct. 30.

Thomas said DEQ granted the Army a 30-day extension. Now he's not sure when the Army might apply for the permit or even if it is required to.

In a letter dated Nov. 29, Pellissier said, "This need for heightened security has had a dramatic effect on all chemical depots." He said the depot's security team must make sure the application addresses security concerns.

Also, Thomas said, the Army now is classifying documents regarding the Umatilla site that previously had been made public. The most recent involved plans if there was an accidental release of agents at Umatilla. That information would be helpful for emergency crews, Thomas said.

"The 9/11 events have become a veil for the Army to cover the eyes of DEQ and this commission," said Bob Palzer, who testified before the commission for the Sierra Club. The Ashland resident charged that the Army is manipulating the events of Sept. 11 to keep information out of the public domain.

Karyn Jones of Hermiston testified on behalf of GASP, a group that opposes incineration, and the Oregon Wildlife Federation. She said GASP supports the permit modification and encouraged the commissioners to not listen to Army "fear-mongering."

Jones also encouraged commissioners to enforce a secondary waste plan. "Secondary waste legacy was a nightmare at Hanford. I hope that's not going to be the case at Umatilla," she said.

 

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