Army's ability to start depot burns on time questioned

This story was published Fri, Apr 5, 2002

By Karen Zacharias
Herald Oregon bureau

UMATILLA -- The Army will have a tough time keeping to its schedule to begin trial burns at the Umatilla Chemical Depot, according to a new state report.

And the employees who will operate the incinerator plant claim the Army's push to meet that schedule is a threat to worker safety.

The Army intends to start trial burns in May and agent burns in February, but the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality questions whether that goal can be met.

"They have a lot to get done. It'll be a challenge to meet that May date," said Wayne Thomas, administrator for the Chemical Demilitarization Program for the department.

Many of the incinerator's nearly 200 employees already are working 60 to 80 hours a week. At a meeting where workers who feared losing their jobs were granted anonymity, many said they felt pushed by the Army's unrealistic schedule.

"There's a lot of pressure because there's a deadline. We are working all the time," said one man as he yanked the brim of his cap.

Incinerator workers are frustrated about trying to meet a deadline that primarily benefits the private contractor that reaps a financial bonus if the schedule is met.

"Everybody preaches safety as being their No. 1, but when it gets right down to it, it's production that matters," another worker said.

These workers also said the deadlines are nothing more than a dog-and-pony show to make the private contractor look good.

That contractor, Washington Demilitarization Co., held a public celebration last August proclaiming the completion of construction. But these workers said the burn facility still isn't finished.

"We've got bundled wire everywhere. Exposed conduit. Software problems. We've got pumps that are decaying that haven't even been used yet," one worker said.

Workers are even changing the oil in machines that have never been cranked up.

"In other words, we've got a car that when you step on the brake pedal the headlights come on," another worker explained.

But these workers said meeting the deadline is feasible, sort of.

"If we burn just one drop of surrogate agent on May 25, then technically we're still on schedule, right?" the worker asked.

And these workers said they've been told that state regulators are going to put them out of a job if they don't stick with the deadline.

Thomas said he knows the Army is pushing staff hard to stay on schedule.

However, he noted, "I've been here four and half years, and during that whole time the Army has not met its schedule yet." So he wasn't alarmed when it missed a deadline recently.

Thomas said the Army assured regulators they would have 60 days to review reports from an independent engineer evaluating whether the incinerator meets state code. The facility cannot be approved for operation until the state reviews those reports.

"We're talking thousands of pages," Thomas said.

He said it's up to the independent engineers to look for cracks in concrete, ensure piping meets code, detect any gaps in welding and certify all equipment has been tagged appropriately. As of Thursday the state still did not have those reports. Other smaller issues also remain, he said.

"If the Army intends to start trial burns on May 25, then we should've received those reports by March 25. Our review time is being squeezed," Thomas said.

He said he asked about the delay, and the Army responded by offering to pay for the state to bring in extra people to help review documents once they arrive.

"We'll have another engineer get here Monday to help us out for the next six weeks," Thomas said.

Still, he said, "We need their review so we know whether the construction meets the standard for certification."

Washington Demilitarization Co. hired the independent engineers who are compiling the reports. Thomas said the engineers have been on-site at the depot for years.

But Rick Kelley, a spokesman for Washington Demilitarization, said he was unaware of missed deadlines.

"I know the study is under way, but I wasn't aware of any deadlines," he said. Moreover, he said, there's been no change in schedule.

"We're doing everything we can to stay on schedule for startup of trial burns May 25," Kelley said.

The Army did not have someone available to comment, referring inquires to Kelley.

The state assessment of the Army's readiness for trial burns can be reviewed by the public beginning Monday at the DEQ office, 256 E. Hurlburt St., Suite 105, Hermiston. A public comment meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. May 1 at Good Shepherd Medical Center, 610 N.W. 11th St., Hermiston.

 

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