Depot's emergency radio system comes under fire

This story was published Fri, Aug 22, 2003

By Kathleen Gilstrap
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON -- What some police and fire officials have called a substandard communications system proved a sticking point during a meeting Thursday about the upcoming destruction of chemical weapons.

The Oregon Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Executive Review Panel is in the process of preparing a report for Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski on the community's readiness for the Umatilla Chemical Depot to begin incineration of mustard gas and other nerve agents.

But emergency workers say they aren't ready.

Hermiston police Chief Dan Coulombe said the communication system between agencies as it exists now is not adequate. He was speaking for emergency workers, police and fire personnel who would be on the front line of any incident at the depot once burning begins.

"It's the consensus of the first responders that without the 450 megahertz radios, we cannot guarantee you we are prepared," Coulombe said. "It's critical for us, make no mistake."

The Army depot is home to 220,604 munitions and containers filled with 7.4 million pounds of deadly nerve and mustard agents, set for destruction at an incineration plant just outside Hermiston.

Umatilla County, which is taking the lead in installing the radio system, expects it to be functioning next March. The tactical communications system for emergency agencies will use 12 microwave sites throughout Umatilla and Morrow counties to improve communications between emergency workers in case of a chemical leak.

Coulombe said those on the front lines are concerned because the Army and Washington Demilitarization Co., which will incinerate the chemical agents, have said they could be ready to begin destroying the chemicals as early as December.

But Dennis Murphey, administrator of the chemical demilitarization program for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, said he doubted the March installation of the radio system would have much of an impact on safety, because he doubted burning would start this year.

Murphey said just because the depot is ready to begin incineration in December or January doesn't mean the burning will begin then.

For one thing, he said, the Department of Environmental Quality will hold public hearings before incineration. And the installation of the radio system and burning most likely will take place about the same time.

"There are administrative processes that have to happen after the facility is physically ready," Murphey said. "I personally don't think there will be a significant lag between the two events."

Chris Brown, Eastern Oregon State CSEPP manager, told review panel members he will draft a report to the governor for their review and comments.

Generally, panel members appeared to agree that the community's preparations were adequate as defined by the depot's permit to do the work, issued by DEQ, and that any issues remaining in the process were being dealt with on an ongoing basis.

 

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