Umatilla officials anxiously awaiting changes at depot

This story was published Tue, Dec 17, 2002

By Karen Spears Zacharias
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON -- The nation's chemical demilitarization program is in flux as the new Homeland Security Department's umbrella is opened.

And that's leaving people in charge of public welfare for the Umatilla Chemical Depot anxiously watching the changes.

"Nothing is stable right now," said Dennis Doherty, Umatilla County commissioner and chairman of the Governor's Board for Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program. "How all this does or doesn't affect us, we'll find out in due course."

The security changes also come as the chemical demilitarization program is expected to get a new leader. The reported shift from Mario Fiori to retired Maj. Gen. Claude Bolton is "in the final, final stages," a Pentagon spokesman said Friday.

The shifting landscape has left local officials who are responsible for public safety "in the fog," said Ken Franz, director of emergency services for Hermiston's Good Shepherd Medical Center. "We don't know how it's going to impact those of us on the front lines."

Apprehension in the chemical stockpile communities is increasing as the time to begin burning chemical agents gets closer, said Beverlee Venell, director of Oregon Emergency Management and a member of the governor's board for the Umatilla depot.

The Army hopes to begin burning the 3,717 tons of deadly nerve agent at Umatilla in July.

"There's too much up in the air to know how it will all work out," Venell said. She was referring to concerns about the "new roles and new responsibilities and new relationships" that may be in the works for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army.

Joe Allbaugh, FEMA's national director, announced Monday that he will step down in March. He's part of a growing cadre of Bush administration officials leaving their jobs, according to The Associated Press.

Venell added there's also concern about the state's budget crisis and how it might affect public safety.

And there's worry about how much of a priority the depot will be for Oregon's new governor-elect. So far, he has not toured the depot site, although Venell said she has briefed him on the public's concerns.

Morrow County Judge Terry Tallman said he hopes the new governor appreciates the importance of the project. He has been unhappy about past political leadership.

"We didn't have a governor or senators who would step up to the plate and support us" the way those in Alabama have, Tallman said.

Under the new homeland security mandate, protection for the Umatilla Chemical Depot should be one of the state police's top priorities, said Oregon State Police Lt. Darin Helman, supervisor for Umatilla and Morrow counties.

But given the state's budget shortfall, Helman said he's going to be hard-pressed to get the job done.

"We're no longer going to have 24-hour coverage. Our ability to respond to any incident at the depot is going to be affected. We won't be doing business as we have in the past. We can't," Helman said.

 

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