Mechanical problems delay Army depot trial burn tests

This story was published Tue, Jan 28, 2003

By the Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON -- Surrogate trial burn tests of the liquid incinerator at the Umatilla Chemical Depot were delayed again Monday because of mechanical problems, state regulators said.

The Army had hoped to begin a 12-day test run Friday but a computer operator apparently punched in the wrong computer code and caused instrument readings to fail. The incinerator had to be manually turned off, state regulators said.

The Army hopes it can begin the surrogate burns today.

In other depot-related news Monday:

n Dennis Murphey began work as the new program administrator for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in Hermiston. He replaces Sue Oliver, who had been acting program administrator since former administrator Wayne Thomas left in November. He will provide regulatory oversight for the destruction of the 3,717 tons of chemical munitions stored at the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

n An Army spokesman confirmed that Army officials at the Umatilla Chemical Depot now are required to obtain approval from the Soldier Biological and Chemical Command in Washington, D.C., before issuing any news releases on unusual incidents at the depot. Jim Hackett, Army spokesman at Umatilla, said the eight weapons sites are now "taking more of a team approach to the news." That means news releases on incidents such as a recent accident in which a depot guard shot himself in the hand will first have to be cleared through the national headquarters, Hackett said.

n Army officials said they are ready to begin chemical agent destruction at the Anniston Chemical Depot in Alabama. The site is using an incinerator similar to that now being tested at Umatilla. Burning won't begin at Anniston, however, until some state reports are completed and concerns about the nearby communities' emergency preparedness are answered.

 

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